Apple : Best Nvidia graphics cards 2019: finding the best GPU for you |
- Best Nvidia graphics cards 2019: finding the best GPU for you
- The best graphics cards 2019: all the top GPUs for gaming
- Walmart's 'The Big Save' sale continues: deals on TVs, laptops, and more
- The truly new MacBook Pro 2019 will be a 16-inch LCD laptop debuting in October
- Xbox Project Scarlett games: all the games confirmed and expected on the next Xbox
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: what we want to see
- Windows 7 to Windows 10 migration is going too slowly for many businesses
- Pandora launches Voice Mode on iOS and Android
- Windows 10 20H1 has a lot of changes in store for the operating system
- Facebook Libra scams already on the rise
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super vs RTX 2080: what has changed?
- Pokémon Go updates: all the news and rumors for what's coming next
- The best Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus deals in July 2019
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro sounds all-powerful in this new specs leak
- Ford's electric truck prototype can tow 500 tons
- New iPhone 11 leak points to a camera upgrade that will fix your photos
- The best iPhone 5S deals in July 2019
- Major rise in password-stealing malware detected
- The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles and deal prices in the July sales 2019
- Optical zoom vs digital zoom: understand your camera phone's close-up potential
| Best Nvidia graphics cards 2019: finding the best GPU for you Posted: 23 Jul 2019 01:05 PM PDT Nvidia's graphics cards have long been pack-leaders when it comes to performance, often making them the best graphics cards around. Where AMD may offer a great value, Nvidia's flagship cards like the RTX 2080 Ti push performance to the limit. So, when you're looking for a card to spend your money on, it's worth seeing what the best Nvidia card you can get is. Whether you want to build the most powerful gaming rig possible, are looking to put together a compact Mini ITX build, or just want to get the most framer per second for your dollar, there's an Nvidia graphics card to fit the bill. We've got our rankings for the best Nvidia graphics cards in a variety of categories, so you can find the right GPU for your build.
Until Nvidia actually rolls out that Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super, the RTX 2070 Super might just be the best Nvidia GeForce purchase you’ll make. This graphics card is impressive, especially in 1440p gaming and if you’re looking to get on the ray tracing bandwagon, a souped up RTX 2070 that’s also very affordable so pretty much everyone can add it to their setup without breaking the bank. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super
There's no doubt that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is a total pain in the budget, coming in a price higher than plenty of complete gaming rigs. But, there's also nothing else that can compete with a RTX 2080 Ti in terms of performance besides maybe a board partner's version of the RTX 2080 Ti . If you want the highest frame rates at 4K or the best looking ray-traced graphics, the RTX 2080 Ti is the way to go. That is, as long as your budget can handle it. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super is hardly perfect – that is, it can’t handle 4K gaming. However, this graphics card positioned as the more affordable alternative to the RTX 2070, giving you the same level of performance as the popular mid-range GPU at a much cheaper price and offers great 1440p gaming. The RTX 2060 Super is what most gamers are looking for, and it definitely deserves a spot on our list of the best Nvidia graphics cards. Read the full review: Nvidia Geforce RTX 2060 Super
Given how few games are using Nvidia's ray tracing and Deep Learning Super Sampling technologies, it's not necessarily the most delightful thing to see the price hike on Nvidia's RTX graphics cards. That's what makes the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti so great. It eschews the ray tracing and DLSS to offer a focus on value that helps make it worth every penny. When it comes to card that offer the most performance per dollar, it doesn't get much better than the GTX 1660 Ti, and this PNY model offers a healthy dose of extra performance with its overclocking. You'll be able to enjoy almost any game smoothly at 1080p, and shouldn't be afraid to check out 1440p either. Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC
If you're involved in creative workloads like 3D design or video editing, you might be running into some serious VRAM needs. In those cases, it can be worth it to have a graphics card that is going to give you tons of headroom to keep information in the GPU's memory, instead of constantly needing to load it in from your storage solution. While it comes at a high price, Nvidia's Quadro RTX 6000 loads up on 24GB of GDDR6 memory while also packing plenty of performance. And, you can combine multiple cards for even more performance.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super may just be your match made in heaven if you’re all about the best VR games. This latest addition to the Super RTX lineup is VR-ready and packed with the latest Turing architecture, so it’s smooth and buttery VR performance all the way. Even outside of VR, it handles all your favorite PC games at 1440p without breaking a sweat, and gets you closer that that incredible 4K gaming that the RTX 2080 Ti delivers. And, did we mention it’s a lot cheaper than the RTX 2080, offering a better price-to-performance value? Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super
If you're trying to keep your build small so it doesn't take up a ton of space in your room, you might be looking at a Micro ATX build. And, mini graphics cards can be a major helper there, since a graphics card tends to be one of the bigger components attached to a motherboard. EVGA has a well-priced model in the RTX 2060 XC Black Gaming. It may be thicker than your typical dual-fan variant, but that extra radiator thickness helps it dissipate heat with the single fan, and its short length can help it fit in tight builds.
While the higher end graphics cards get all the hype, they tend to have a worse performance-per-dollar value then budget cards. And, while AMD often hits that sweet spot, Nvidia sometimes remembers to offer value as well. That is represented nowhere better than the GTX 1660. Gigabyte offers the GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G for an excellent budget price while still giving you a touch of overclocking, so you can enjoy 1080p or even 1440p with some tweaked settings. Best of all, you won't need to take out a mortgage to afford this card. Read the full review: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G
With all the new Turing cards coming out, Pascal may be easy to forget about. But, if you're into eSports games, you're probably more concerned with getting 1080p at 120+ FPS. And, you can do that with the older Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 no problem. For popular eSports titles, the GTX 1060 has enough power to run 1080p even at high settings and still get smooth visuals. Best of all, the prices are driven down by newer cards, so you can score a GTX 1060 at a discount. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
When you're trying to maximize performance for your graphics card, you might turn to liquid cooling. And, the Gigabyte's Aorus RTX 2080 TI Xtreme Waterforce 11GB comes with the card, radiator, tubing, and fans you need to get started. The serious water cooling solution allowed Gigabyte to push the RTX 2080 Ti well beyond its base specs. This model has a base clock higher than the Founders Edition's boost clock. And, to top it off, there's a little flair of RGB lighting on the radiator fans and card's metal backplate.
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| The best graphics cards 2019: all the top GPUs for gaming Posted: 23 Jul 2019 12:45 PM PDT With the best graphics cards better than ever, now's perhaps the best time to take one of them home. Nvidia Turing powerhouses like the RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2060 have been on the shelves for a while now, to start. In addition, AMD recently unleashed several of its next generation AMD Navi GPUs on July 7th. It’s, without a doubt, an exciting time for graphic cards. Still, this brings up an excellent question: is it worth it to shell out some serious cash on a pricey flagship? Or, is the more budget-friendly graphics cards, like the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660, a better value? Keep in mind that the best graphics cards for you will depend on what kind of PC want to build. Which ever one's the best match for you, you want the best graphics cards that will let you play the best PC games from Rage 2 to The Division 2. We know that finding the perfect GPU can be a confusing process, so we are here to help. We’ve put together a list of the best graphics cards that are currently on the market, each of which have been tested and reviewed by us at TechRadar. Before you go out to pick up that shiny new graphics card, let us help you decide on the perfect one for your setup.
Image credit: TechRadar This absolute powerhouse of a graphics card has barely hit the streets, and it’s already topping our list of the best graphics card, knocking reigning champion and its direct rival, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, off the top spot. At $349, this mighty mid-range machine brings 1440p gaming at Ultra or Max settings to the mainstream market, making it affordable and accessible to everyone. At that price point, it doesn’t need to be perfect – those hoping for ray tracing will have to wait. But, for what it offers and how much it costs, it’s well-deserving of its title as THE best graphics card of 2019 for most people. Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 5700
If you need the best graphics card, and compromises aren’t an option, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti might be one of the best graphics cards for you. This is the most powerful graphics card money can buy without going for a professional graphics solution. And, now that games like Battlefield V, Metro Exodus and Shadow of the Tomb Raider actually use the RTX features, there’s never been a better time to jump on the ray tracing bandwagon. Just brace yourself for that lofty price. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
The souped up Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super isn’t just impressive because its a supercharged version of the highly popular RTX 2070, offering excellent 1440p gaming. It’s also impressive as it gives all that power at a very affordable price, making it a compelling purchase for most users, even the budget ones. Plus, if you’re curious about ray tracing, here’s the best card to try it – you don’t have to break open that piggy bank for the RTX 2080 or RTX 2080 Ti anymore. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super
While the GeForce RTX 2060 Super is currently taking the 1440p gaming world by storm, its predecessor, the RTX 2060, is still king of 1080p gaming. This mid-range GPU will get you in the door with ray tracing maxed out at 1080p. Plus, it is fully capable of delivering 1440p experiences, as well as 4K ones, if you don’t mind the more pedestrian frame rate of 30 fps. And, while this card was pricier at launch than the one it replaced, its excellent 1080p performance should be enough to make that price tag a non-factor. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
Image credit: TechRadar We’ve been longing for a new high-end graphics card from AMD since 2017’s Radeon Vega 64, but a lot has happened in the graphics market since then – namely Nvidia Turing. With the AMD Radeon VII, Team Red attempted to reclaim a piece of the high-end graphics pie, and it largely succeeded. The AMD Radeon VII holds its own in 4K gaming, but it particularly excels in content creation. Packed with 16GB of HBM2 memory, the AMD Radeon VII can compete with much pricier creative-focused competitors, making it one of the best graphics cards 2019 has on offer. Read the full review: AMD Radeon VII
If you’re all about the best VR games, you’re going to need the best graphics cards to do the job. And, nowadays, that honor goes to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super. VR-ready and packed with the latest Turing architecture, you won’t have to worry about a choppy VR experience that will make you sick. Outside of VR, it should also be able to handle all your favorite PC games at 1440p and 4K without breaking a sweat. The best part might just be that it’s a lot cheaper than the RTX 2080, offering a much better value. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super
Image credit: Zotac Setting out to build a microATX or a mini-ITX gaming PC? You shouldn’t have to settle for a low-end GPU. Go for mini graphics cards like the Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Mini instead. It’s not the latest and greatest GPU out there anymore, but the 1080 Ti still has a lot of juice, and it’s among the best graphics cards to power your microATX. And, when you can get that power in a card that’s only 211 x 125 x 41mm, the small loss in performance is completely worth the beautiful mini PC you’ll get.
Image credit: Gigabyte With all those fancy (read: pricey) graphics cards dominating the market, the budget-friendlier products sometimes go unnoticed. That’s a shame, especially because cards like the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 deserves its turn in the spotlight for delivering excellent 1080p performance at a very affordable price. With the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G, you’re also getting a healthy factory overclock and all the outputs you’ll ever need, so you can play all your favorite games with several monitors attached. We’d call that a bargain, maybe even the best we’ve ever had, and it certainly warrants a spot in our best graphics cards list. Read the full review: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G
When Nvidia first rolled out its Turing lineup, it was hard to find a model that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. However, with the launch of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti – more specifically, the PNY XLR8 Gaming OC model – next-generation performance became accessible to everyone. You won’t be able to do 4K 60 fps gaming with this card, but it’s one of the best graphics cards for anyone still using a 1080p panel, and it can handle most esports games well above 60fps. At that resolution, you’ll have trouble running into any title that will slow you down. Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC Images Credit: TechRadar
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| Walmart's 'The Big Save' sale continues: deals on TVs, laptops, and more Posted: 23 Jul 2019 12:27 PM PDT If you missed out on Prime Day, then fear not. Walmart's 'The Big Save' sale continues with massive savings throughout the site. Walmart is competing with Amazon with an extended summer sale with prices that rival the tech giant. Walmart has a lot of stuff on offer right now, with a wide range of devices and categories that are at an all-time low price. We've scoured the site, and listed the best deals that are worth your time. Here are out top choices: Shop more Walmart TV deals with our roundup of the best 4K TV deals that are happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The truly new MacBook Pro 2019 will be a 16-inch LCD laptop debuting in October Posted: 23 Jul 2019 12:07 PM PDT We may have already seen new MacBook Pro models refreshed for 2019, but the true MacBook Pro 2019 is expected to land this October as a 16-inch LCD laptop, according to Taiwan’s United Daily News (UDN). Given that this would be Apple’s largest MacBook Pro laptop since 2012’s final run of the 17-inch MacBook Pro, the company reportedly plans to slap a gargantuan baseline price tag onto this year’s model - which could rise above $3,000 (about £2,450, AU$4,350). This laptop will likely be pushed heavily toward content creators and developers as a demonstration of Apple’s sincerity in serving those audiences. Here’s to hoping it will somehow satisfy the cross-section of folks that also like to game on their workhorse machines. MacBook Pro 2019 backs down from OLEDThis report corroborates one published by London-based market analysts IHS Markit, adding the pricing element to the mix. More importantly, this is the second report to state that the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 display will not be an OLED product. Instead, it will be an LCD to the tune of a 3,072 x 1,920 pixel resolution, which would give the display a rather competitive 226 pixels per inch (ppi) rating and a total of 5.9 million pixels. LCD or not, this is going to be a sharp 3K display. Will that alone be enough to justify such an exorbitant starting price? Hardly. There are surely other features that Apple has cooking for this device. We know that Apple is planning to allow this MacBook Pro up to 32GB of memory (RAM), which is already possible on the 15-inch MacBook Pro. And, of course, every report mentions an entirely new design likely focused on smaller screen bezels. Exactly what kind of processor technology will be inside these laptops is also up in the air. Is Apple’s supposed ARM laptop processor to be finished in time for these new laptops? Or, will Apple go all in with AMD considering Intel’s faltering pole position in the laptop computing space? We’ll almost certainly see more about these missing MacBook Pro 2019 details as we get closer to October 2019.
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| Xbox Project Scarlett games: all the games confirmed and expected on the next Xbox Posted: 23 Jul 2019 11:31 AM PDT Microsoft officially announced Xbox Project Scarlett during its E3 2019 keynote conference. It's real, and it's coming. Faster and capable of more advanced graphics than its predecessors, the next-generation hardware promises to be the most powerful games console (or perhaps consoles) in the world when it launches late in 2020 – even more so than the PS5, which is expected to hit shelves around the same time. While Microsoft has confirmed at least one game that's coming to Xbox Project Scarlett, we're fairly in the dark as to what other titles we will see hitting the platform. So without further ado, we've gathered together this handy guide to all the Xbox Project Scarlett games Microsoft has confirmed - and some that we expect to see...
Confirmed Xbox Scarlett titlesHalo Infinite
Image credit: Microsoft Halo Infinite is currently the only title that Microsoft has actually confirmed for Xbox Project Scarlett - so we definitely know Master Chief is making the jump to the next-generation console. Not only that, but Halo Infinite will be a launch title for Project Scarlett, releasing in Holiday 2020 alongside the console (or consoles). It's not particularly a surprise, considering Master Chief has served as the face of Xbox for nearly 18 years... Suspected Xbox Scarlett titlesCyberpunk 2077
Image credit: CD Projekt Red CD Projekt Red has already confirmed that its dystopian cyberpunk title is being developed with next-generation consoles in mind. In an interview with VG247 last year, CD Projekt Red revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 will be able to work with future gaming technology. “Next gen hasn’t been announced yet, so we can only speculate,” CD Projekt Red president Adam Kiciński explained. “Technology-wise, Cyberpunk is very advanced. Our technology is ready to interface with future generations. “The game is developed in such a way that it can use very powerful future equipment." With Cyberpunk 2077 due for release in April 2020, and Xbox Project Scarlett not due to launch until late 2020, it's likely that it'll be a cross-generation title - but this is still open to speculation. We think it's safe to say it seems like Cyberpunk 2077 will be a Xbox Project Scarlett game. Starfield
Image credit: Bethesda Bethesda has quite a lot of projects in the works, but the one we seem to know the least about is Starfield. All we know so far is that Starfield is the gaming behemoth's first new IP in 25 years and will be a single player RPG set in outer space. Having only seen an announcement trailer, we don't expect Starfield to release until at least 2020 which means it will land in the prime window to become an Xbox Project Scarlett game. Bethesda hasn't let slip if this will be the case, but it seems likely we will be venturing into Bethesda's galaxy on next-generation consoles. The Elder Scrolls 6
Image credit: Bethesda As we said, Bethesda has been pretty busy behind the scenes since E3 2018. Not only is Starfield on the cards, but the long-awaited Elder Scrolls 6 has also been confirmed to be in the works. Bethesda's Todd Howard has already stated that The Elder Scrolls 6 won't be coming out until after Starfield. So it'll be a while before we venture into Tamriel again, likely on next-generation consoles. Grand Theft Auto 6
Image credit: Rockstar Games Ok, yes, we are being a bit hopeful here - mainly because Grand Theft Auto 6 has not been announced by Rockstar Games. But it's almost guaranteed that we will see a new instalation in the Grand Theft Auto series, and it's not going to be for a while. Therefore, it is likely that a release date will fall into the next generation, making GTA 6 a Project Scarlett game. Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Image credit: Square Enix Again, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake has not been confirmed to be an Xbox Project Scarlett game but Square Enix has confirmed the title will come to PS4 first - with an Xbox One and PC release likely in the future . Given the age of the Xbox One, and the ambitious nature of the game - it's coming in multiple episodes across a multi-year release schedule - a cross-generation title with next-gen platforms isn't out of the question. So we're definitely hoping to see the Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox Project Scarlett. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: what we want to see Posted: 23 Jul 2019 11:25 AM PDT The original Surface Laptop is more than two years old now, but when it first came out, stuck with Windows 10 S Mode, it didn’t make that much sense compared to the rest of the Surface lineup. Still, when the Surface Laptop 2 was finally released last year, it refined the formula enough and redefined the Surface Laptop image, becoming one of the best laptops on the market. So, that leaves us thinking: what will the Surface Laptop 3 look like? Beyond obvious upgrades to the internals, like Intel Whiskey Lake or Ice Lake processors, a higher resolution and Thunderbolt 3 are the highest on our wishlist. However, Microsoft would likely have to be willing to abandon its proprietary Surface connector.
Currently, we don’t have any solid information about the Surface Laptop 3 – even rumors are thin on the ground – but that doesn’t mean we can’t craft a wish list of what we want to see in the third Surface Laptop. So that’s what we did. Based on the past Surface Laptop releases, here are our Surface Laptop 3 speculations, predictions and rumors we heard through the grapevine. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any Surface Laptop 3 news or rumors that we find. Cut to the chase
Surface Laptop 3 release dateUnlike something like the Surface Pro 7, there have only been two Surface Laptop releases, and it’s a product line that’s been around for less than two years. So, we have less info to work from when guessing at a release window. The original Surface Laptop came out in June 2017, alongside the Surface Pro. However, the Surface Laptop 2 saw an October 2018 release. So, while we might end up seeing the Surface Laptop 3 sometime in 2019, it’s hard to predict exactly what month it will get released. It is, however, very possible that we’ll see it launch in or before September, as it’s popular for students. However, if Microsoft does roll it out then, it’d have to use Intel Whiskey Lake processors instead of the next-gen Ice Lake chips, and that may not be a substantial enough upgrade from the Kaby Lake Refresh chips in the Surface Laptop 2. So, we could see Microsoft waiting until 2020 to launch the Surface Laptop 3 – depending on when Intel launches its new processors, of course. This is all speculation, of course, so you should take it with salt. We’ll update this section as soon as we hear anything about the Surface Laptop 2 release date.
Surface Laptop 3 priceThe original Surface Laptop launched a $799 (around £560, AU$1,000), with an Intel Core m3 processor and Windows 10 S out of the box. The Surface Laptop 2, on the other hand, significantly raised the price of entry, charging users $200 more at $999 (£979, AU$1,499). To be fair, this higher price point did come with full-fat Ultrabook processors in every configuration, plus the full Windows 10 Home. It’s highly likely that Microsoft will charge the same $999 (£979, AU$1,499) for the Surface Book 3, to keep it competitive with similar Ultrabooks, like the Dell XPS 13.
What we want to seeThe Surface Laptop 2 already improved so much on the Surface Laptop that it’s hard to think of what else Microsoft could do to make it even better. Still, we’ve come up with a few things we’d like to see in the Surface Laptop 3, using our tech expertise as our guiding hand. Faster processors There are technically faster Ultrabook-class processors out already, touting Intel’s Whiskey Lake chips. But, those provide such a small upgrade in performance, that it really isn’t worth upgrading. At CES 2019, Intel announced its 10nm Ice Lake processors, promising to increase performance two fold in certain workloads. While Intel’s performance claims should be taken with a grain of salt, the gains to performance and battery life that a 10nm process would afford are still exciting. And, we’d very much like to see that in the next Surface Laptop. Thunderbolt 3, please Fortunately, Microsoft has patented a new magnetic USB-C charger, that would have the best of both worlds. We just hope the technology is ready and on the Surface Laptop 3 before it hits the streets. Freshen up the design And, it’s not like Microsoft isn’t pursuing thinner designs. Microsoft has patented a thinner Type Cover, with a touchpad built right into the printed circuit board. This could potentially lead to the Surface Pro 7 having a smaller footprint overall, but we’d also be interested to see if this design philosophy would carry over to other Surface devices. Thinner laptops are always in demand, so a thinner and lighter Surface Laptop 3 is definitely possible. However, we have seen a recent patent from Microsoft that could make the fur-coated design of the Surface Laptop 3 make a little more sense. The patent describes a touch-sensitive fabric, that could give the Surface Laptop 3 more touch controls on the chassis of the device, maybe for volume or brightness. A fuzzy Touch Bar, perhaps? Image Credit: TechRadar This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Windows 7 to Windows 10 migration is going too slowly for many businesses Posted: 23 Jul 2019 10:50 AM PDT As the Windows 7 end of life approaches, new research from the endpoint management and security company 1E has revealed that many organizations remain significantly behind in completing their Windows 10 migration. The firm found 32 percent of endpoints were left unconverted which raises serious questions about the risks organizations are willing to take when it comes to cybersecurity. According to the report, 82 percent of organizations say security is a motivating factor in completing the migration yet over half (56 percent) acknowledge that it is just not happening quickly enough.
The retail, distribution and transport industries are the furthest behind with just 65 percent of devices migrated but financial services, public sector, construction and property, and media, leisure and entertainment are just slightly ahead at 66 percent. Windows 10 updatesWhile many organizations have not completed their Windows 10 migration, 1E warns that of those who have, maintaining Windows 10 with its massive bi-annual updates could still prove problematic without the right tools. The company's CEO Sumir Karayi explained how automated endpoint management solutions could help organizations deal with Microsoft's frequent updates, saying: “If you’re already struggling with Windows 10 migration, you will continue to struggle even more with the updates, and it all comes down to the same problem: a lack of endpoint reach and control. It’s clear organizations still have a long way to go and not much time left to get there. Investing in an automated endpoint management solution today can give you a massive jumpstart on migration and set you up for a much fewer headaches when the first updates roll out.” Of those surveyed, nearly 80 percent said that software migration automation is the top cybersecurity investment their organizations must make in the next year. If you're organization has not yet migrated to Windows 10, now is the time to do so as Windows 7 end of life is quickly approaching and January 14th, 2020 is just around the corner.
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| Pandora launches Voice Mode on iOS and Android Posted: 23 Jul 2019 10:26 AM PDT Long after Siri, Cortana, Alexa, Bixby and a half-dozen others, Pandora has finally launched a 'voice assistant' helper of its own called Voice Mode for its iOS and Android apps that will begin rolling out to devices starting today. Voice Mode was unveiled at CES earlier this year, and entered into early beta with a small percentage of users having access to the update. Now it's available to everyone. Voice Mode, which is really a set of specified voice commands rather than a robust assistant in the vein of Siri or Alexa, can be activated by saying “Hey Pandora” while the app is open. Powered by SoundHound's Houndify Voice AI platform, Voice Mode is designed to play a specific artist, album, radio station or playlist when asked to, but it can also be used to match your mood when you give it commands like “play music for relaxing” or “play workout music”. This request is then personalized by Pandora's algorithm and you'll then hear a personalized result that's tailored to your music tastes... sometimes. In our short time playing around with the app, results were hit or miss. Some requests went smoothly (asking “Hey Pandora, who is this?” was a useful feature when we weren’t right next to our phone) while others - like “Hey Pandora, give this song a thumbs up” or "Hey Pandora, play today's latest hits" - didn’t really work as intended. Don't worry, Siri, you're safe for now. Putting the 'personal' back in personal assistantsWhat separates Pandora’s Voice Mode apart from the other umpteen competing helpers already on the market is that it will return personalized results. Ask it to play new music, for example, and it will play new music that it knows you’ll like, rather than feeding you the same new music playlist it feeds everyone else. If you've been using Pandora's app to listen to podcasts, you'll even be able to apply the service's patented personalization algorithm to get its assistant to recommend new podcasts based on what you've already heard. Rolling Voice Mode out to iOS and Android is really just the first step for Pandora’s 'virtual helper' – it could really come into its own if Pandora decides to deploy it on smart speakers sometime down the road. If you want to check out the Pandora personal assistant for yourself, download the Pandora app and press the search icon in the top right-hand corner. Source: Pandora Editor's note: This story was updated on July 23 to reflect the news that the service is now available to everyone.
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| Windows 10 20H1 has a lot of changes in store for the operating system Posted: 23 Jul 2019 10:18 AM PDT Windows 10 updates keep coming whether you install them or not. They generally bring a whole host of bug fixes and new features, but they've also been known to come with their own share of issues. While we don't know what possible problems next year's Windows 10 Version 20H1 will introduce, we've got some details on the new features coming. Builds of Version 20H1 have been available to Fast Ring Insider testers since early this year, and that's made plenty of information available. We're going to lay out all of the most exciting, interesting, and generally useful features that are coming up in Windows 10 20H1 within – you guessed it – the first half of 2020. Cut to the chase
Windows 10 20H1 brings a new lookWe've seen more than one hint that Version 20H1 could be making a move toward a more rounded design instead of the sharp angles seen currently in Windows 10. This would extend from windows and buttons to sliders and pop-up dialog boxes. This would work to provide some more consistency between the desktop user interface and apps, as well as aligning it more with modern web and app style. This change isn't certain though, but has been hinted at more than once. Windows 10 20H1 brings new virtual desktop namesWhen you make virtual desktops in Windows 10 right now, they get rather unhelpful, numbered names: Desktop 1, Desktop 2, etc. Version 20H1 should introduce the option to create custom names for each virtual desktop. So, if you use virtual desktops to separate work and play or various projects, you can make sure each is clearly labeled for which project each is dedicated to. And, as Windows Central notes, the custom virtual desktops can be saved so they aren't reset after each reboot. Windows 10 20H1 brings commitment to Windows HelloMany computers are now built with fingerprint scanners or advanced cameras that provide facial recognition to work with Windows Hello. This lets you sign on without a password, but Windows still requires a password for the account even if you don't have to use it to sign on every time. The 20H1 update may include an option to make your device password-less, letting it exclusively rely on Windows Hello for signing into your Microsoft account, Windows Central reports.
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| Facebook Libra scams already on the rise Posted: 23 Jul 2019 10:00 AM PDT Ahead of the launch of Facebook Libra, a new investigation by The Washington Post has discovered a dozen accounts, pages and groups on both Facebook and Instagram that claim to be official hubs of the social networking giant's new cryptocurrency. Some of these fraudulent pages even advertise that they are selling Libra at a discount through third-party websites despite the fact that Facebook's new digital currency is currently slated for a 2020 launch. Given its experience with cryptocurrency related scams in the past, the social network should have been prepared that fraudsters would take advantage of Libra.
However, Washington Post's investigation into fake Libra pages has revealed that Facebook wasn't prepared and to make matters worse, the news comes at a time when the company is facing increased government and public scrutiny over its plan to launch its own cryptocurrency. Libra scamsThe scammers trying to impersonate Facebook used the company's official logo, Libra's official marketing images and even photos of CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear more legitimate according to the Washington Post's findings. For instance, one page contained links to a site called BuyLibraCoins.com that was both well-designed and even included links to buy Libra tokens even though they have yet to have been released. On the other hand, other pages appear to have been setup to reserve important Libra brand names for future use. In addition to fake pages on Facebook and Instagram, the investigation also discovered an influx of scam pages and videos on Twitter and YouTube regarding Libra. Facebook has now removed many of the pages discovered by the publication but this is likely not the last we'll hear of Libra scams as we get closer to the launch of the social network's cryptocurrency.
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| Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super vs RTX 2080: what has changed? Posted: 23 Jul 2019 09:39 AM PDT Step into the arena, and witness for yourself the battle of the greats, with Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 vs RTX 2080 Super. Before the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super, the RTX 2080 was one of the best graphics cards on the market, second only to the Nvidia Turing flagship, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Of course, with a premium price, especially at launch, the RTX 2080 is hardly for everyone. So with the release of this ‘Super’ version, we’re here to find out whether the new RTX 2080 Super offers noticeably improved performance at a better value. So, is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super worth the hype and trading in your hardly aging RTX 2080?
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super in its packaging Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 vs RTX 2080 Super: specsThe full implementation of Nvidia’s TU104 GPU, the RTX 2080 Super boasts 3,072 CUDA Cores with a boost clock of 1,815MHz, 48 RT Cores (for ray tracing), 192 texture units and 8GB of GDDR6 clocked in at 15.5Gbps. On the other hand, the older RTX 2080 has 2,944 CUDA Cores and 46 RT cores,, a boost clock of 1,710MHz, 184 texture units, and 8 GB of GDDR6 at 14Gbps. That’s not exactly a huge bump in specs, but it’s a decent one that gets closer to the RTX 2080 Ti – with the RTX 2080 Super surpassing it in clock speed, as well as memory bandwidth. In fact, Nvidia itself promised this card to “deliver a robust 4K experience along with real-time ray tracing and other advanced gaming features.” The RTX 2080 Super also brings a bump in power consumption, from 215 Watts to 250 Watts, which makes sense, considering that the RTX 2080 Super is more powerful than its predecessor (up to 10% faster, to be exact) or even RTX 2070 Super, which also consumes 215 Watts of power.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 in its test bed Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 vs RTX 2080 Super: priceWhile we previously speculated leading up the Nvidia Super RTX launch that the RTX 2080 Super will cost as much as the RTX 2080 when it’s rolled out, we now know that it’s actually $100 cheaper at $699 (£669, about AU$993). The RTX 2080 Founders Edition was released at $799 (£749, AU$1,199). With AMD recently rolling out its AMD Navi, including the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT that is in direct competition with RTX 2070 this lower price might just be Nvidia’s attempt at making their high-end cards much more accessible to gamers who want competitive 4K performance without burning a hole in their pockets. Plus, considering that there are already cheaper RTX 2080 cards out there, with Zotac having its own at only $679 (£629, about AU$964), we’re hoping that the release of its more powerful yet cheaper successor will result in a more affordable third-party RTX 2080 Super cards, as the RTX 2080 will be discontinued. Those who want to jump on the RTX 2080 Super bandwagon and spend $699 will be happy to know that more savings can be had, at least for a limited time. Qualifying purchases of the card will include a copy of two games with real-time ray tracing, Control and Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super has plenty of ports Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 vs RTX 2080 Super: performanceNvidia says that this high-end card is, like its predecessor, faster than the Pascal-based Titan Xp, and up to 10% faster than the stock RTX 2080. Also according to Nvidia, the RTX 2080 Super is designed to offer ray tracing and 60-65fps at 1440p, as well as deliver solid 4K gaming. While it was never created to outmatch the RTX 2080 Ti, which is still pretty much king here, the RTX 2080 Super is looking very promising based on the benchmark results provided by the Santa Clara manufacturer. Unsurprisingly, it outperforms the RTX 2060 Super and RTX 2070 Super by a decent margin. In our testing, however, the RTX 2080 Super is only about 4-5% faster than the RTX 2080 Founders Edition, even in synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme, where the 2080 Super scored 4,869 points compared to the RTX 2080’s 4,656. However, if you take into account that this card is much cheaper, it still makes sense if you’ve been waiting to jump on the RTX bandwagon.
The full RTX Super lineup Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 vs RTX 2080 Super: which should I buy?Now, obviously it all boils down to what you can afford and what graphics card you already have inside your rig. If you’re upgrading from any of the GTX series cards, but you don’t have the funds to shell out for a $1,199 RTX 2080 Ti, the RTX 2080 Super is as close as you’re going to get to robust 4K gaming experience without breaking the bank. However, if you already have one of the existing RTX series cards, and you’re looking to get a performance boost, you might want to just keep waiting. The RTX 2080 Super does provide improved performance over the RTX 2080, but it probably isn’t worth an upgrade if you’re already in Nvidia’s ray-traced environment. And, especially if you’ve already got an RTX 2080 powering your graphics needs, you might want to think twice about shelling out another $699. From what we’re seeing here, there’s not a huge performance difference between the two. Yes, this card is $100 cheaper and offers many advantages, but only if you’re upgrading from a considerably less powerful card. If you’re already on an RTX 2080 setup, it’s not going to be worth it. Either wait until Nvidia rolls out a more powerful card in the next couple of years, or – if you’ve got deep pockets – go big with the RTX 2080 Ti.
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| Pokémon Go updates: all the news and rumors for what's coming next Posted: 23 Jul 2019 09:37 AM PDT Pokémon Go: the world's first augmented reality app to become a household name. Niantic's mobile AR game is still going strong two years after it first released, with a constant drip of events and updates keeping budding trainers glued to their phones and pounding the streets. And while it hasn't managed to top the peak of its popularity in 2016, it's still going strong and finding plenty of new ways to improve its player experience. So what's the latest news for Pokémon Go? As you'd expect, brand new features are being added all the time and community events are still going strong. Plus we have another summer of Pokémon Go Fest events to look forward to. But without further ado, here's our guide to all the latest Pokémon Go news and updates.
Pokémon Go news and Pokémon Go updates
Team Rocket has finally landed in Pokémon Go and grunts are appearing at Pokéstops to battle players. You'll know a grunt awaits because the Pokéstop will be darker and have an 'R' appear over it. If you win the battle then the Team Rocket member will leave behind their Shadow Pokémon which you can attempt to catch with Premier Balls. You can choose to catch and keep Shadow Pokémon as they are, or you can purify them - for that you'll need the required candy and stardust. When's the next Pokémon Go event?Pokémon Go Fest Pokémon Go Fest gatherings have been taking place around the world this summer and we’re now approaching the final one. While these gatherings take place in specific cities, even if you can't make it it's worth keeping an eye out for the ways you can participate from a distance.
Global Challenge Alongside Pokémon Go Fest Professor Willow has set some challenges on a global scale this summer for each of the team leaders - Spark, Blanche and Candela - and their followers so that everyone can take part no matter where they are. When a team successfully completes their task, they'll get special rewards. Spark and Candela’s challenge periods in tandem with Chicago and Dortmund events have already taken place. The final challenge is for Blanche, revolving around Stardust. This challenge ties in with the Fest in Yokohama and runs from August 5 to August 12. This time around players must complete 25 million research tasks globally (there's a little more time, after all). On successful completion, Team Instinct will 3000 Stardust per Raid, Team Valor will get triple Hatch Stardust and Team Mystic will unlock 1-hour Star Pieces. Any unlocked bonus will then run from August 13 until August 20. Unlock all of the bonuses? Then you can look forward to Suicune Raids on August 13.
When's the next Pokémon Go Community Day?
Now that Slakoth has had its day, the next Pokémon Go Community Day takes place on July 21. The featured Pokémon for the event has been confirmed as Mudkip. While the exclusive move for the event is still to be confirmed, bonuses for the day will be 3x catch XP and 3 hour lures. Pokémon Go update: what's next?Niantic hasn't revealed any more plans for what's coming next in Pokémon Go in terms of the big picture but there are always new creatures and new events happening in the game. Big reveals can happen at any time, though, and we'll report them right here if and when any announcement happens. As far as rumors are concerned, there have been rumblings following a recent datamine that Team Rocket and Shadow Pokémon could be making an appearance in the game sometime soon. Posted to Twitter, the datamines suggest that Team Rocket grunts may make appearances at Pokéstops where players will have the chance to battle them. If defeated, they’ll drop the Pokémon they’re carrying which will be a Shadow Pokémon. This will then have to be purified through some unknown method. It’s a similar set up to Pokémon Coliseum released on GameCube all the way back in 2004, where players would have to catch and purify Shadow Pokémon. While no details have been officially confirmed just yet, the rumors that Team Rocket will be blasting their way into the mobile game have only increased since Pokémon Go Fest in Chicago and Dortmund where Team Rocket were spotted photobombing AR photos.
Pokémon Go Plus dealsWant to buy yourself a Pokémon Go Plus wearable? Check some of today's best deals down below. (Image credits: Niantic/Pokémon Company) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus deals in July 2019 Posted: 23 Jul 2019 09:15 AM PDT It wasn't that long ago that the Galaxy S8 Plus was the big dog in the Samsung yard. It was the go to Android phablet for any looking for a bigger phone for a good six months or so after its release in 2017. With the S9 Plus, Note 9 and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus deals all now available, the S8 Plus has been slowly replaced. But Galaxy S8 Plus deals are still well worth a look - possibly now more than ever. A year might have passed since its release, but the S8+ remains one of our absolute favourites, especially as the Galaxy S9 Plus doesn't offer much in the way of massive improvements. The S8 Plus is a way more affordable alternative to its successor, as well as to the Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone XS Max. If that's got you sold, then you'll want to hear a little about pricing. We have the full rundown of the best Galaxy S8 Plus deals right here in our comparison chart, with the cheapest prices from the major networks - EE, O2, Vodafone and Three - including sub-£25pm tariffs that have really got our pulses racing. The prices on the Galaxy S8+ are lower than ever, but if they still look a little rich for your blood, then you can buy the smaller Galaxy S8 for less or head over to our best mobile phone deals page for something completely different. If it's the Plus-sized screen that you need though, then we'll find you the best S8 Plus deal here. See also: Galaxy Note 8 deals | Galaxy S9 Plus deals | Galaxy S8 deals | Samsung phone deals | iPhone 8 Plus deals | Mobile phone deals | SIM only deals
If you want a huge Android phone with market leading specifications, an incredible display and a superb camera, then the Galaxy S8 Plus is a must for your shortlist. The price will be a bit cheaper than some of the newer flagships but it still holds a lot of the same features Read TechRadar's full Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus review This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro sounds all-powerful in this new specs leak Posted: 23 Jul 2019 09:10 AM PDT The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 launch on August 7 is right around the corner, but the flood of leaks keeps coming – including a new one revealing the specs for both it and the more powerful Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus. The Note 10 specs come courtesy of noted leaker Steve H. McFly in a two-tweet burst of info. The biggest revelation? Both phones are, in fact, getting the new higher-powered Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset, which goes against a previous report claiming they’d get the standard Snapdragon 855. The specs also note that the alternative chipset is the Exynos 9825 (presumably for handsets going to non-US regions), despite prior rumors asserting it would get the slightly older Exynos 9820. Note (har) the differences between the normal version and the Note 10 Plus: a larger 4,300mAh battery, a Time-of-Flight sensor, and a larger 6.8-inch screen – all of which appeared in previous Samsung Galaxy Note 10 leaks. Also cool? The S-Pen with “Air Actions” gestures - which could be the ‘gesture control’ we heard about in a very recent rumor. And while we’re still not totally clear how fast the Samsung Galaxy S10 phones’ battery-donating Wireless PowerShare feature is - one PhoneArena report claims 4.5W - these leaked specs suggest the Note 10 will be able to use its version of the feature to pump out 15W of power. Not bad for wireless charging! Cameras: just like the Galaxy S10 phones...or not?Today's Note 10 specs leak also details the rear cameras: a triple-lens setup with a main 12MP wide, a 16MP ultrawide and 12MP zoom lens (along with the aforementioned ToF depth lens on the bigger Note 10 Pro phone). Sound familiar? It’s the exact same setup as the rear cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S10. Or is it? Samsung has packed its flagships with dual-aperture main lenses - in the S10’s case, that 12MP wide - that automatically switches between f/1.5 and f/2.4 depending on the level of light. But another new rumor on SamMobile reaffirms a previous prediction that the Note 10 phones will get a third aperture setting - f/1.8 - for more nuanced phone photography. That new Note 10 camera rumor also touches on another inconclusive feature: whether or not it will get a microSD slot. The report claims it won’t, but asserts that the bigger Note 10 Pro will get one.
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| Ford's electric truck prototype can tow 500 tons Posted: 23 Jul 2019 09:10 AM PDT Ford is serious about electric trucks – and to prove the point, it's released a video showing an all-electric pickup hauling a load weighing over 100 pounds along a makeshift test track, set up in a railway yard. The truck is a new prototype of Ford's classic F-150. In the clip, it hauls 10 double-decker railway freight cars containing 42 of its combustion-engine forebears (one for every year since its launch).
The load weighs over a million pounds in total and, as Engadget notes, could mean the electric truck will have a higher recommended towing capacity than its gas-guzzling counterpart when it goes into production. Greener truckingWhile towing with an electric vehicle is certainly possible (the forthcoming Tesla Model Y will be equipped with a towbar, and there will soon be one available for the Model 3 too), few current vehicles have the battery capacity to make it practical. The limitations of its batter mean that an electric F-150 wouldn't be able to keep towing for as long as a gas-powered truck, but this tech demo certainly seems like a step in the right direction. Commercial trucks are recognized as a major source of CO2 emissions, so a shift towards electric vehicles could make a real difference. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New iPhone 11 leak points to a camera upgrade that will fix your photos Posted: 23 Jul 2019 08:53 AM PDT A new iPhone 11 leak suggests that Apple is squarely focusing on the camera, adding a wide-angle lens and 'Smart Frame' feature to help you adjust your photos in post and save them from being ruined. Smart Frame is supposed to let users tweak the standard crop or perspective of photos and videos taken with the normal lens by collecting extra detail with the new wide-angle camera, according to 9to5Mac. In other words, if your subject is clipped from the photo and not fully in frame (like, say, the tip of a tall skyscraper or the top of someone's head), you theoretically could just adjust the photo in post and save it from being unusable. What's interesting is the report notes that the extra information from the wide-angle lens will automatically be discarded over time for privacy reasons. It may also take up less space, like how Apple Messages discards voice messages after two minutes. Other iPhone 11 changes due in SeptemberThe front-facing iPhone 11 camera is reportedly getting an upgrade, too, adding slo-mo recording at 120 frames per second (fps). The current iPhone XS series has a rear camera that can record in slow motion with 240fps at 720p or 120fps at 1080p. Today's report also re-affirms the idea that will be three iPhones: the 5.8-inch iPhone 11, 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Max, and 'cheaper' 6.1-inch iPhone 11 XR. Besides the square-shaped rear camera, little change is expected over the last-generation iPhones.
The Lightning port will live to see another iPhone cycle The Taptic Engine – which provides haptic feedback through vibrating motors – is being refined in an unknown way for the iPhone 11. This is likely on account of 3D Touch going away with the introduction of iOS 13. It appears as if the Lightning port will live to see one more iPhone cycle instead of Apple switching to a USB-C port, like it did for the iPad Pro 11, iPad Pro 12.9, and MacBooks. This means the redesigned 2020 iPhone may be the first with USB-C. Finally, in a surprise to no one, the Apple A13 chipset is expected to arrive with the iPhone 11 series and one-up the A12 chipset. It'll likely lead to CEO Tim Cook calling this the 'fastest iPhone ever' and 'the best iPhone we've ever made' in September.
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| The best iPhone 5S deals in July 2019 Posted: 23 Jul 2019 08:45 AM PDT It's been long replaced by the iPhone SE as Apple's go to budget handset, but if you're looking for a cheap iPhone then the iPhone 5S deals are worth considering before committing to your purchase. Unfortunately deals are now far between and we would recommend going for something newer like the iPhone 6S Plus or iPhone SE if you want an iPhone for a budget price. Apple is no longer producing iPhone 5S handsets, and so it's no longer available on contract brand new from any of the major networks. But if you're still interested you can still get one. Refurbished models come on to the market from time to time (although their prices don't look too good) and there are still plenty of retailers stocking the 5S handset only, and for well less than £200. So you could easily buy it SIM-free and then get hold of a cheap SIM only deal to put in it. This will give you much more flexibility than getting it on contract anyway. We've built a dedicated comparison chart below showing all the best unlocked iPhone 5S prices, or hit the 'Handsets' tab at the top of the first table. More options: iPhone SE deals | iPhone X deals | iPhone 6S deals | iPhone 6 deals | iPhone deals | SIM only deals
iPhone 5S debuted Apple's newfangled fingerprint sensor and 64-bit processor three years ago, and it's still a viable smartphone for anyone on a budget. It's held up well enough with a good camera and iOS 11 software update - just don't expect the specs of the iPhone X! Read Techradar's full iPhone 5S review here This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Major rise in password-stealing malware detected Posted: 23 Jul 2019 08:40 AM PDT The number of users targeted by password-stealing malware jumped from 600,000 in the first half of 2018 to over 940,000 during the same period in 2019 according to new research from Kaspersky. Password Stealing Ware (PSW) is a malicious type of software that is able to collect data directly from a user's web browser using various methods. The information stolen by PSW is often sensitive and includes credentials for online accounts as well as financial information, autofill data and saved card details. Additionally some families of this type of malware are designed to steal browser cookies, user files from a specific location such as their desktop and even files from messaging services and other apps.
Kaspersky has detected high levels of activity from cybercriminals in Europe and Asia deploying PSW over the past six months and the malware has been utilized to target users in Russia, India, Brazil, Germany and the US. Password Stealing WareOf the password-stealing malware detected by the cybersecurity firm, one of the most widely spread Stealer Trojans was the multifunctional Azorult which was detected on the systems of over 25 percent of all users who encountered Trojan-PSW type malware between the first half of 2018 and the second half of this year. Security researcher at Kaspersky, Alexander Eremin explained how consumers are leaving themselves vulnerable to password theft online and how they can better protect themselves from this growing threat, saying: “Modern consumers are increasingly active online and understandably rely on the internet to carry out many tasks in their daily lives. This fills their digital profiles with more and more data and details and makes them a lucrative target for criminals as they could be monetised in numerous ways afterwards. By securely storing passwords and credentials, consumers can use their favourite online services in confidence that their information will not be put at risk. This should be also supported by installation of security solution as one can never be too careful.” To ensure user passwords and other credentials remain secure online, Kaspersky recommends not sharing your passwords with anyone, installing updates and product patches promptly and using a password manager to store passwords and other sensitive personal information.
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| The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles and deal prices in the July sales 2019 Posted: 23 Jul 2019 08:36 AM PDT So you're well into 2019 now and still haven't found any cheap Nintendo Switch bundles to suit you? Well, let's see what we can do about that as we scour the net for the hottest Nintendo Switch deal prices. We're listing all of the best Nintendo Switch sales right here and we're always on the the lookout for the best bundles with extra games, controllers and other accessories so we can share them with you while they're hot. Scroll past the bundles on this page and we'll show you prices on extra Joy-Con and Pro controllers and Nintendo Switch memory cards too. If you want to play online multiplayer and get other benefits like free games you'll want to pick up a Nintendo Switch Online subscription deal too. US Nintendo Switch bundles have a mix of games and accessories this week and we've rounded up the best ones. In the UK you can find plenty of offers with the best Nintendo Switch games like Crash Team Racing, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8: Deluxe and more all with great decent discounts too. You'll find all the cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles from reliable retailers below. If you're looking for another dose of Nintendo's handheld happiness then maybe you want to consider a cheap 3DS deal too. We have a dedicated page of Nintendo Switch prices for our Australian readers too. The latest cheap Nintendo Switch dealsWant to know where to buy a Nintendo Switch? Check out our comparison charts and the latest bundle highlights with extra games and accessories below for the best deals. On its own, the MSRP/RRP Nintendo Switch price is $299 in the USA and £279 in the UK, so you don't want to pay more than that unless you're getting some extras. We've highlighted our picks of the best and cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles below. Just be aware that many game bundles at quieter times of the year don't really offer much of a discount over buying the items separately. We'll steer you clear of console bundles that actively charge you more than the regular combined MSRP (not cool, guys!).
The UK scene for discounted Nintendo Switch deals is quite competitive thanks to the large number of retailers trying to get your business. We usually find a strong selection of bundles every week nowadays, even in those quieter times of year not particularly known for sales. So take a look below for discounts on packages with games, hardware and accessories. As with any new console we imagine you're wanting to know a bit more about the console before you put any money down. So in addition to finding the best Nintendo Switch bundle deals, we're going to help bring in answers to the burning questions.
What are the Joy-Con controllers?The Joy-Con controller is actually a pair of controllers that attach to the sides the the Nintendo Switch when not in use or when playing in tablet form away from the TV. When playing the Nintendo Switch on the TV, you can remove them and play with one in each hand. The left hand gets a controller with an analogue stick and d-pad, the right hand handles the one with a second analogue and the usual A, B, X and Y face buttons. Or you and a friend can use one each in multiplayer games with the d-pad doubling up as impromptu face buttons. You get a pair with the console, but you might want to buy more to allow extra players to get involved in games like Mario Kart 8, FIFA 19 and many more. Or maybe you just fancy some different colors for your own use.
What's the Joy-Con Grip controller?The Joy-Con Grip is an additional accessory that joins the two Joy-Con controllers together, forming something something a bit more solid for you to hold thanks to the extended handles and plastic block between the two sides. The square dimension form-factor may remind older gamers of the Dreamcast controller, while everyone else will mainly be thinking how it resembles an odd-looking dog face. Nintendo is providing one in the box with the Nintendo Switch, so you won't have to buy one separately. This won't charge your controller though and doesn't have a battery pack.
You won't actually need a Nintendo Switch Pro controller to play any games, so don't feel pressured in to buying one. The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is a more traditional-style pad and launched alongside the Nintendo Switch. Prices aren't cheap though, starting around $69.99/£64.99. There's no sign of a Nintendo Switch Premium Edition console with one included either. Do I need to buy extra controllers for multiplayer on Nintendo Switch?Possibly not! Remember how the Joy-Con controller splits in two? Turn them sideways and you get two basic controllers, each with their own analogue stick and face buttons - the d-pad acts as face functions on the left controller. We've seen 2K's NBA series, Snipper Clips, FIFA 19, and Mario Kart being used this way for local multiplayer in both docked and tablet modes. So you get multiplayer functionality straight out of the box with no additional purchase required. However, if you want to play four-player games, then you're going to need to invest in an extra pair of Joy-Con controllers or some Pro controllers. We'd buy the Joy-Cons as a pair (see our comparison chart above) as you'll save a bit of cash over buying them separately. Better yet, if your friends own a Switch, ask them to bring their controllers to the party! Super Mario Odyssey dealsThis has been one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch so far and an absolute must for Mario and platforming fans. Like Zelda below though, this being a first-party Nintendo title, it's taking forever to go down in price. It's slowly happening though, so we've rounded up the cheapest Super Mario Odyssey prices for you below. If you're not getting this game in a bundle, we'd strongly advise picking it up separately as soon as possible. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild dealsThe reviews have heaped huge praise upon this eagerly awaited launch title, making it an essential purchase for any Nintendo Switch buyer. As with any new console, the prices of the big games can be more expensive than usual. We've shopped around for you though and have found the best prices for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch. Take a look below. With only 32GB of internal storage, you'll be wanting to pick up a cheap memory card or two for your new Nintendo Switch for any digital purchases or the inevitable game-fixing patches. Don't fret though, they're actually surprisingly cheap, with even 64GB ones coming in at under £20/$25. What memory cards does the Nintendo Switch need? Those will be Micro SD cards also known as, depending on their size, as MicroSDHC (up to 32GB) or MicroSDXC (up to a huge 2TB soon). Nintendo also has their own branded cards, but you'll be paying more just for a label. So for now, we'd take a look at this range of cheap MicroSDXC Nintendo Switch-friendly cards. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Optical zoom vs digital zoom: understand your camera phone's close-up potential Posted: 23 Jul 2019 08:34 AM PDT The difference between optical and digital zoom is important to know when shopping for a new phone. It’s not the only tech category where these two kinds of camera zoom pop up, but they butt heads here like nowhere else. Want the one sentence version? Optical zoom uses magnifying lenses to get you a much closer-up view of a scene than you’d see with your eyes. Digital zoom relies on software to get a similar effect. In almost all situations optical zooming is superior, but let’s look a little closer to find out why. Optical zoom in phonesOptical zoom in phones is completely different to that used by dedicated cameras. Standalone DSLRs, mirrorless cameras and compacts use a series of lens elements that move back and forwards in the barrel of a lens to provide a smooth tradition of focal lengths from its minimum its max. You can think of these lens elements as a series of magnifying glasses, and the camera sensor behind them as your eyeball (although, of course, our own eyes have a lens too). Phones use completely separate cameras for their different focal lengths. While phone cameras also have multiple lens elements inside their 'lens', they don't move about. If a phone has, for example a 'normal', 0.6x ultra-wide and 5x zoom view, each has its own lens and sensor. Only the software and processor are shared. You only have to look back to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom to realize why this style is used. That phone-like camera had a traditional optical zoom, but was much thicker than other Androids around at the time. There's not much demand for inch-thick phones.
A traditional optical zoom lens wouldn't work on a smartphone Zoom phones effectively have two or three 'prime' (non-zoom in the traditional sense) lenses with two or three different sensors. That may seem quite an expensive way to get different views of a scene. But it also raises the question of how legit the term 'lossless' is when used about these zoom cameras. Phone makers sometimes use this term when talking about optical zoom. It tells you "crop 'n' enlarge" digital zoom techniques aren't used. But it is potentially misleading. You need to remember the quality of the photos depends entirely on the quality of the lenses and sensors uses by your zoom camera. You could argue there's a suggestion in 'lossless' that zoomed photos will be of the same quality as your non-zoom ones. This is never really the case. Most phones with zooms use lower-quality cameras in their 2x/3x/5x zooms. It's one of the main ways higher-end phones plough ahead on camera quality. They tend to have ultra-wide and zoom cameras that don’t scrimp so much on lens and sensor quality, and they may also have more pronounced zooms. The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom and Huawei P30 Pro currently have some of the best zoom lenses in town.
The difference between the standard view and a 10x zoom on a camera phone Digital zoom in phonesDigital zooming is used when either your phone does not have a zoom lens/camera, or you try to zoom-in beyond the capabilities of that camera. The classic description of digital zoom is that you crop into an image and then blow up that cropped segment so it’s the same size as a non-zoom image. There’s no extra detail in the source, which is why digital zoom photos tend to look blurry. Things get more complicated here once more. The quality of digital zoom depends on several factors. At the lowest end, phones simply crop into the image you’d see when snapping a standard shot, expand the result to the same resolution as the initial image and blur things slightly to hide the craggy edges. Smarter processing used by higher-end phones will interpolate the missing information. This is where an image processor looks at the pixels in the raw cropped image and tries to work out the detail that might be 'seen' by a higher-end camera sensor. As machine learning and imaging 'artificial intelligence' improve, so will this interpolation. For example, if the camera can recognize the object of texture it needs to render, it’s more likely to create convincing 'made up' detail. It’s particularly true for tight-knit textures like glass and foliage. Right now you won’t see a huge amount of this kind of these smarts in phones. Google is the leader in this field, largely because it’s the one phone-maker that has stuck to putting just the phone camera on the back of its phones. Google takes digital zoom a step further in the Google Pixel 3 series phones too. Zoomed images are made using a composite of multiple images shot, as the optical image stabilization motor moves the camera slightly during capture. It’s used to emulate the data that would be captured by a higher-resolution sensor, as that movement is so slight it captures detail between the 'real' pixels. Now that is what we call clever. Google calls this Super Res Zoom (and you can learn more about it in the video below). In our experience this doesn’t compete with the best optical zoom phones, but it does perform better than a few of the lower-end ones. Hybrid zoom in phonesAnd what about hybrid zoom? This is a term phone makers are more-or-less forced to used when describing zoomed photos that exceed, or are between, the local lengths of the actual lenses. At times this simply means digital zoom is used to, say, take a 10x image with a 5x lens. And much like digital zoom, this may entail a simple smoothing filter or more intelligent interpolation algorithm. Some other phones also use the information from other cameras to help out. For example, if a phone has an 8MP 2x 'optical' zoom and a 48-megapixel primary camera, it may use the image data from both to create the final photo.
The periscope lens on the Oppo Reno 10X Zoom Which is better?The traditional view on optical versus digital zoom still applies. Optical zoom almost always trumps digital zoom because it does not rely on tricks or effectively guessing image data the camera sensor can’t really see. There are interesting advancements on both sides, though. Phones like the Huawei P30 Pro and Oppo Reno 10X Zoom have a 'periscope' zoom. This is where a mirror bounces light off at an angle before it reaches the lens, making it possible to fit a more pronounced zoom into a thin phone. And if you want to read more on the innovations Google puts into its Super Res Zoom feature, there’s a great blog post on the subject on its AI Blog.
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