Apple : New Samsung Note 10 rumor suggests ‘Zoom Audio’ and stylus gesture control |
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| New Samsung Note 10 rumor suggests ‘Zoom Audio’ and stylus gesture control Posted: 22 Jul 2019 01:31 PM PDT We’re weeks away from the Samsung Note 10 launch on August 7, but the rumor mill is running at full steam. The latest claims the smartphone will get a few radical new features, like gesture controls through the S-Pen audio and video that only records audio from one source. Other details seem to confirm previous rumors, like a two-model release (the standard Note 10 and a larger Note 10 Pro), but the more exciting claims are new. According to Greek site TechManiacs, which cited a knowledgeable source, the S-Pen will support gesture controls to navigate and produce context-appropriate sounds (if you’re using it to highlight text, it will make sounds like a highlighter marker, for example). The rumor also mentions the Note 10’s video will include ‘Zoom Audio,’ a feature first introduced in the LG G2 way back in 2013. It essentially promised to record one source of sound and block out the rest, but the results were mixed. Perhaps the most concrete prediction is the removal of the Bixby button. Instead, you’ll allegedly be able to summon the voice assistant with the power button, sort of like we could do – briefly – with the delayed Samsung Galaxy Fold. The ‘normal’ predictions are still out thereEven the lower-key predictions seem a bit out of step for the Note line. For instance, the source claims the larger Note 10 will weigh 198g, while the smaller will be 168g - which is far lighter than the 201g of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Further, the source claims the smaller Note 10 will only come in FHD+ and the larger in QHD+, which is also odd given the Note 9 had a QHD+ (1,440 x 2,960) resolution. In other words, the source predicts that the smaller model will be a bit downgraded compared to the flagship specs of its predecessor. Heck, the rumor even predicts the more diminutive model will have a 6.3-inch screen (compare that to the 6.4-inch Note 9). This could align with a prior rumor alleging that Samsung has a smaller Note 10 planned to exclusively launch in Europe, but even that sounds a bit odd. Some claims are less crazy: eliminating the 3.5mm audio jack gave Samsung room to add 100mAh of capacity to both Note 10 and Note 10 Pro’s battery, enlarging the former’s battery to 3,500mAh and the latter to 4,300. That capacity gap alone suggests a noticeable size difference between the models, though the disparity affects recharging, too, with the smaller capping out at 25W while the larger allegedly reaching 45W of fast-charging potential. Other predictions are in line with previous rumors, like starting the larger Note 10 Pro at 256GB of storage and only giving the option of 12GB RAM. It goes without saying that this set of rumors is the wildest we’ve heard yet for the Note 10 - and we’ve only got a couple weeks before we find out whether they’re true.
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| The 35 best indie games on PC and consoles Posted: 22 Jul 2019 01:25 PM PDT Update: Added Outward and A Plague Tale: Innocence The best PC games with cash to splash are quickly evolving, but so are the best indie games you may have never heard of. One of the great things about our best indie games list is that most of these more obscure titles, unlike AAA game publishers, don’t try to squeeze you out of every penny every chance they get. Free from corporate influence and constant badgering for your money, the best indie games give players the pure artistic vision of the developers – most ideally experienced on one of the best gaming PCs. But, make no mistake: just because the best indie games don’t make a lot of money, doesn’t mean they can’t keep up with the latest AAA hits in scope and ambition. In fact, the opposite is true. The best indie games can easily rival mainstream games in both quality and scope. And, since they don’t have to rely on tired tropes just to sell millions of copies, like their AAA counterparts, they’re essentially artistic masterpieces and offer a more unique experience. If you want to dive into the best indie games, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of all the best indie games on the PC market today, from in vogue indies like Return of the Obra Dinn and Outward, to classic titles like Braid and Dwarf Fortress. If you’re looking for the next great indie title, keep reading. And, don’t worry, we’re going to keep this list updated with all the latest and greatest indie hits. Linux, Windows or Mac - which one is best for you? Watch our guide video below: Michelle Rae Uy, Bill Thomas, Joe Osborne, Kane Fulton and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article It’s not out yet, with Double Fine promising it’ll be out ‘soonish,’ but Ooblets is already on our radar. Being developed by first-time studio Glumberland, and backed by Double Fine, the game is described as some kind of combo between Pokemon, Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, capturing our attention – and probably yours, too. The game combines an art style oddly reminiscent of post-apocalyptic sensation, Adventure Time, with gameplay that revolves around gathering creatures called ooblets in the town of, uh, Oob. In the game, you’ll be able to train and battle your ooblets against other ooblet trainers. At the same time, you’ll have to balance your ooblet training with the real-world responsibilities of being a farmer. That’s right; drawing influence from the likes of Stardew Valley, you can cultivate, produce and decorate your house with various trimmings as well. You’ll also be able to join an Ooblet Club comprised of friends (NPCs) you’ll meet along the way. If you don’t know what to do just yet, you can just walk around aimlessly to discover new shops and buildings that suit your interest. Better yet, you can open up your own shop to sell produce that you’ve grown yourself on the farm, as well as items that you’ve scavenged throughout the world. And, you can feed the leftover crops to your ooblets to watch them level up and learn new techniques to be used in the turn-based, RPG-style battles. Expected: ‘Soonish’ At first, Jonathan Blow's masterpiece appears to be a simple pastiche of Super Mario Bros, with a middle-aged curmudgeon replacing the titular plumber, but still seeking to rescue a princess. But, the longer you spend in the game, the more that’s revealed to you, progressing from a series of time-bending puzzles to quiet reflective texts. That doesn’t stop it from being the smartest puzzle game since SpaceChem, however. Blow himself has subtly hinted that the ultimate story may revolve around the atomic bomb. First released as PC freeware by Japanese designer Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya in 2004 after five years of 100% solo development, Cave Story predates this recent indie renaissance by a few years. Because of that, it's often been omitted in indie gaming discussions. However, this classic more than deserves to be on every best-of list, and not only for its loving homage to the classic action platforming games of the Super Nintendo era. It also boasts awesome music and a breathlessly vibrant world, not to mention, the hugely intuitive controls as well as gobs of secrets and weapons that are simply too fun to use. If you've yet to enjoy this one, you need to put it at the top of your list already. From family-owned and operated Studio MDHR, Cuphead has resonated with millions of people around the world, many of whom normally wouldn’t touch a run-and-gun platformer with a ten-foot pole. While its gameplay was inspired by classic games such as Mega Man and Contra, most gamers will likely compare it to a Fleischer Studios cartoon like Betty Boop. Because Cuphead uses a hand-drawn art style similar to a 1930s animation, it’s been universally praised for its gorgeous visuals. Cuphead is more than just its stunning visuals, however. It’s a series of 19 challenging and engaging bosses, with platforming bits interspersed between them. It already made our list of the best indie games, but then Studio MDHR has announced that the Cuphead: the Delicious Last Course DLC, slated for 2019, will include a new isle to explore, new bosses to conquer and, most importantly, a new character to master. This dark and moody action-adventure stealth game by Asobo Studio is hauntingly beautiful, already making our best indie games list even though it’s only been released in May 2019. Set in the 1340s during the Black Death pandemic in the French countryside, you’re Amicia, a young noble girl whose parents were killed by the Inquisition. You must now traverse battlefields and villages with her brother Hugo to find a cure for his mysterious ailment. Along the way, you must scare away ravenous rats as well as stun (or kill) guards and hostile villagers with your sling and special ammunition supplies. Despite the ghastliness and rawness of the Middle Ages and the Plague, A Plague Tale: Innocence is a complete stunner and a game who almost never want to end. Among the hardcore gamers we know, Spelunky is the go-to drug. Even today, several years after its release, some of them still play it consistently, despite having completed it many times over. That's because this ostensibly rogue-like platformer with a definite end is tough, varied and highly randomized. It also has more dark secrets than a presidential candidate, which means that there are a number of ways to finish it, and its daily challenges are a sure-fire way to public humiliation. Does humor belong in video games? Well, if the Stanley Parable has its way, it’s a resounding ‘yes’. This game is hilarious without being dumbed down. Players follow (or don’t) a very British narrator who changes the world around you, based on your choices. No choice is punished, and every playthrough will be fresh with new humor and weird goings-on. In fact, being trapped in the closet in The Stanley Parable is more moving and funny than the majority of other games, indie and otherwise. If you missed out on this ironic gem back when it first launched, you’ll be happy to know that the developer announced the Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe edition for 2019, touting fresh content, more endings and a console release. This Ultra Deluxe edition actually sounds pretty tempting, even for us – and we played it a whole lot when it first came out.
It took more than nine years to make, but Owlboy is certainly worth the wait. Originally designed for PCs and released in late 2016, this clever indie game masterpiece is now available to experience on Mac and Linux as well – and there’s even a Nintendo Switch version! Owlboy revolves around a race of owl-human hybrid characters called, aptly enough, Owls. Of them, you control Otis, an Owl who is censured by his mentor for his inept flying skills. The story sees Otis’ village destroyed by pirates who have conflict with the Owls. As a result, Otis has to work with an assortment of villagers in-game to take out enemies. Of course, before the boss battles arise, you’ll need to manage allies accordingly, as each character comes with their own set of unique skill sets to use in conjunction with one another. If you’ve ever played and enjoyed a Kid Icarus game, this is one’s for you. If not, well… play it anyway. Similar to The Stanley Parable, Gone Home falls into the unofficially christened ‘walking simulator’ genre. Where it diverts from the clever and philosophical Stanley Parable, however, is its focus on life’s difficult realities, as opposed to light humor. After coming home to your childhood house following an overseas visit, you play as 21-year-old Kaitlin Greenbriar who is greeted by an empty house. While gameplay is limited to scavenging through notes to find out where your family is, the compelling story is extremely emotional and gripping, as long as you keep an open mind. After all this time, Gone Home still stands out as one of the best indie games out there. Only SpaceChem has mixed learning with entertainment as successfully as The Kerbal Space Program. The game is simple - design and build a spacecraft to take the cutesy Kerbals to the Mun and beyond. Its intelligent use of real physics, however, means that you'll find yourself following NASA as you’re building multi-stage rockets and space stations as well as exploring the Kerbal's strange universe on EVAs, before bringing your discoveries back for research on the Kerbal planet - that's if you can get off the ground at all. It's a huge, complex, challenging and fun game that manages to be super smart without being preachy. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is the exact opposite of something like Kerbal Space Program – it’s an action roguelike par excellence. You play as a young boy forced to kill his damned siblings, mother and possibly the Devil, using only tears that he shoots from his eyes, naturally. This indie games is matched only by the equally visceral Nuclear Throne. With dozens of weird items to collect, endless procedurally-generated levels and many secrets, the Binding of Isaac is a very dark take on the exploratory model established by Spelunky. Don’t let its pixel art graphics put you off – Undertale isn’t a game that would have fit on the Super Nintendo. That’s because, in Undertale, the decisions you make have a huge impact on how the game ends and, more importantly, how it continues in New Game Plus. While playing Undertale, you’ll realize just how much freedom the game gives you. Despite its highly inspired and very intense boss matches, you’ll make it through the entire nine or so hours of Undertale as a total pacifist, if you choose to. Plus, when you go through the game a second time, you’ll bear the weight of the consequences from your previous run. What’s even better is that Undertale is out now on the Nintendo Switch, so you can take this masterpiece of game design wherever you go. From developer Playdead, Inside is very much like its predecessor, Limbo, in some ways, only with an added layer of depth that often inspires wonder. This is mostly a result of the unspoken narrative, which revolves around yet another nameless boy. In Inside, the boy is running away from a group of men who – if you fail to stay out of their sights – will try to mercilessly kill you. It isn't quite clear why the boy is running from these men or why you should even care since you don't know who he is, so Inside will leave you begging for answers. The bleak, lifeless setting of Inside is more than worth the price of admission. Its minimalist art style alone is avant-garde enough to feel right at home in a museum. Factor in the fact that this game is both fun to play and dripping with curiosity, and you won’t doubt that Inside is one of the best indie games money can buy. Developed single-handedly by Eric Barone, Stardew Valley is a technical feat for that little fact alone. If you’ve ever played a Harvest Moon game, you’re already familiar with its premise – you may just not know it yet. Stardew Valley is an addictive farming simulator, which lets you interact with townees to the point where you can literally marry them. Stardew Valley isn’t just farming, however – it’s a whole bunch of other things at the same time. You can go fishing, you can cook, you can craft stuff. You can even go explore procedurally-generated caves to mine for items and even fight slime-monster-things. You should keep in mind that your health and energy are finite however, so you'll want to keep your character rested and fed to avoid suffering from exhaustion. Pass out, and you’ll lose a considerable amount of money and items you’ve worked hard to attain. Stardew Valley will have you playing for hours on end, for better or worse. (Definitely better.) From Canadian game developer Alec Holowka, creator of the award-winning Aquaria (also featured on this list), and independent artist/animator Scott Benson, Night in the Woods is an unconventional side-scrolling adventure game that revolves around a 20-year-old protagonist named Mae who drops out of college and moves back in with her parents. Featuring a story largely based around dialog choices and mini games that put a spin on mundane tasks, like carrying boxes up the stairs and eating perogies, Night in the Woods is a timeless coming-of-age tale. Not only will you experience middle class America through the eyes of a personified cat, but virtually every interaction in-game will have you laughing aloud. And now that it’s available on the Nintendo Switch, you can now take it wherever you go. If you’re a fan of the recent wave of games inspired by Dark Souls, you’ll absolutely love Hollow Knight. You take control of the Hollow Knight, and lead them through the deceptively adorable landscape to take on bosses and other difficult challenges. Much like Dark Souls, it’s not immediately clear what you’re actually supposed to be doing as the narrative is intentionally obtuse. The Dark Souls inspirations don’t end there, either. It also embraces Dark Souls’s ‘tough but fair’ philosophy, and the game is only as hard as you make it. In fact, you can overcome anything as long as you have patience and learn from your mistakes. Hollow Knight takes these lessons from Dark Souls and injects them into a MetroidVania, with all the side-scrolling and upgrades you could possibly want. You can even play it on the Nintendo Switch now. If you’re looking for a game that’s as unforgiving as it is fun, look no further than Dead Cells. It takes gameplay inspiration from so many places – from roguelikes to MetroidVania. There’s even a hint of Dark Souls in there, creating a unique action game that will test your limits and skills. Each time you play this game, it will feel new. And, while you’ll lose some progress each time you die – and you will die a lot – the game will become even more rewarding as the complex and fluid combat becomes second nature. In the final release of the game, you get access to over 90 weapons, skills and abilities that will let you tailor your gameplay however you want. Whatever you do, don’t get discouraged if you fail. Get up and try again, as Dead Cells will only reward you in the end, which is why it has our vote for one of the best indie games in 2019. Introversions was one of the earliest 'indie' companies, rolling out games like Uplink, Defcon and Darwinia while Vlambeer was still in short pants. After years of struggling to design a hit, they've finally found huge success with Prison Architect, a game where you build, staff, outfit and manage a maximum security prison, of all places. With smart prisoners willing to do anything to escape, you'll struggle to keep them all locked up or from rioting - and turn a profit. It's eminently playable, even more so in the near future as Paradox has acquired it and plans to make it available on all platforms. These days, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an RPG that will really push you to your limits. Luckily, Outward, with its focus on survival and tough combat, is here to satisfy that need. There isn’t much in the way of story, but you’re placed in the middle of the world of Aurai, where you’ll struggle to survive. You’re not a hero, however, just the everyman trying to survive in a harsh world. In many ways, Outward is like The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. There’s a heavy emphasis on exploration, but you aren’t given quest arrows or any kind of waypoint. You have to rely on your own ability to use a map, along with any directions that are given to you by quest NPCs. If you’re looking for an RPG game that will challenge you, this is one of the best indie games you’ll ever play. Dwarf Fortress is its own genre and its own industry. This is a game that has to generate the entire geography, mythology and history of its massive world before you set foot in it. It then tracks every single one of the dwarfs you're managing down to the hairs on their legs, and the particular horrible elephant murder that they’ve witnessed and are now carving on an ornamental chair. Your task is simple: to keep the dwarves alive as they carve out their subterranean kingdom. Though given that insanity, monsters and starvation plague them at every stage, it isn’t easy. Plus, dwarves, always, always mine too deep. Run. Jump. Die. Repeat. That’s basically the gameplay loop of Super Meat Boy, a fiendishly addictive 2D platformer that’s also bloody hard, with an emphasis on bloody. Gallons of blood is spilled as the game’s eponymous meaty hero leaps over deadly drops, spinning saws and walking chainsaws in a bid to rescue his girlfriend, Bandage Girl, from the evil Dr Foetus. Obviously. With solid controls, lots of humor and vibrant graphics, Super Meat Boy leapt onto the PS4, Vita, and Nintendo Switch in style. It might not be Playdead’s most recent game, but Limbo is eternal. Five years after its release, and the game’s haunting storyline still has an effect on us. You play the Boy, a child with glowing eyes who is cast into Limbo to find his sister. Making your way through a bleak and dangerous world full of hostile silhouettes, giant spiders and deadly gravitational fields, you’ll need to think on your feet and perfectly time your movements, if you were to survive. Limbo is much more than a simple platformer: it's an experience, and one that will have you pondering the very essence of life by the time you finish. Deep, profound and absorbing, it's among the best indie games that everybody should take time out to play. If you're looking for a retro-inspired multiplayer archery combat game (aren't we all?), TowerFall: Ascension is the pick of the lot. Fast, frenetic and teeth-gnashingly hard in hardcore mode, the game's mechanics are simple: fire arrows at your enemies or jump on their heads to stay alive until the round ends. Arrows that don't hit are embedded in walls, making for tense scenarios when you have to traverse the map while dodging enemies to retrieve them. As such, practicing until you achieve Robin Hood-esque levels of accuracy is key. Ascension is best experienced with friends in local multiplayer mode, which is reminiscent of Super Smash Bros' most manic moments. It’s not often that a platformer is able to balance challenging and engaging gameplay with an emotional and thought-provoking narrative. Celeste, however, pulls it off, making it one of our best indie games picks. From the developers of Towerfall, Celeste follows the story of Madeline, a young girl who decides to face her mental health issues by climbing to the top of the mysterious Celeste Mountain. In doing so, she learns more not only about the mountain, but about herself as well throughout the process. An inevitable classic, Celeste integrates the obvious jump, air-dash and climb controls into a brutal series of platforming challenges in upwards of 700 unique screens. If that’s too easy, you’ll unlock B-side chapters along the way, designed for only the most intrepid of hardcore players. You don’t even have to worry about waiting an eternity between each respawn, as Celeste brings you back from the grave in an instant, a welcome departure from the typically extensive load screens. Have you ever wanted to land on an alien planet, and build a factory? Yes, it’s an unusual premise, but we promise that it works in Satisfactory. You’ll land on one of three planets of varying difficulty, where you’ll be tasked with building and automating a factory to exploit the world around you. The premise sounds bland, but being able to roam these beautiful worlds in first person while scavenging materials and fighting off hostile wildlife makes it all that more exciting. Plus, is there anything better than sitting back and admiring something you worked hard on? Satisfactory is in early access right now, and exclusive to the Epic Games Store, but if you can get past all that, you’re sure to get hours of wholesome simulation out of it. After the raging success that was the original Nidhogg, it’s a shame to see the superior sequel get thrown under the bus. Nevertheless, despite its controversial art style, Nidhogg 2 packs a refined, stunning look that the first version, a cult-classic, wouldn’t dare compete with, which is one of the reasons why it’s on our best indie games list. In still frames, we can see how this could get misconstrued, but fortunately, it’s the fun and addictive local multiplayer gameplay that makes Nidhogg, well, Nidhogg. And it’s all there in Nidhogg 2. Additionally, every time you respawn, you get one of four unique weapons that only bolster the challenge. Esteemed indie designer Jon Blow's follow up to Braid may look like a wholly different adventure, being 3D and all. However, the two are more thematically alike than you might think. The Witness, at its core, is another puzzle game that tells an absorbing story through said puzzles. This puzzler takes place in an almost equally impressionist – albeit heavily Myst-inspired – world, but it's story is far more nuanced and mysterious than Blow's earlier work. At almost every corner of this island that you've simply woken up on (or beneath), there is a clue as to how you got onto this island and why you're here. Don’t get us wrong, we liked Bastion. Still, we can’t deny that Transistor was SuperGiant Games’ best work to date – not to mention, one of the best indie games to hit the streets today. Much of that has to do with the combination of action-based and turn-based RPG elements contained within its cyberpunk futurescape. Likewise, in classic SuperGiant fashion, those mechanics are complemented with a stunning art style and a music score so stunning it’ll make you want to buy the soundtrack. Leaving key gameplay beats up to the player, the story isn’t so variable. Transistor’s main character, Red, is a renowned singer in the city of Cloudbank. However, she’s been attacked by a group of vicious robots who call themselves the Process, operated by another group called the Camerata. In her journey, she finds the Transistor, a mysterious sword with the voice of a man. Soon enough, she’ll learn more about him and how he will shake up her world. It’s weird to think that Oxenfree came out before the first season of Stranger Things, and yet, the two coincidentally have a lot in common. The 80s-inspired heavy synth music composed by scntfc, for one, highlights some truly gripping sci-fi horror revolving around – you guessed it – a group of teenagers stuck on an island. The story involves a handful of uniquely written characters, namely the main character Alex, along with her stoner friend Ren, her newfound stepbrother Jonas, her dead brother Michael’s ex-girlfriend Clarissa and her best friend Nona, with whom Ren happens to be in love with. The plot is explained through branching speech dialogues, kind of like Life is Strange or modern-day Telltale games, and it offers five different endings depending on your choices. Exploring a surreal wilderness seems to be the trend these days – and not just in real life. Developer Campo Santo's debut, Firewatch, only serves to keep it going in gaming. Set in the wilderness of 1989 Wyoming, you're playing Henry, a fire lookout that's all alone in the woods after exploring something strange in the distance. That is, except for your partner on the other line of a walkie-talkie: Delilah. She's your only point of contact as you explore the wilderness. Will you make it back alive? Will the decisions you make help or harm the relationship with your only lifeline to the outside world, your boss? But don't worry about those questions just yet – as with any adventure in the Great Outdoors, take some time to appreciate those forestscapes first! Rust is one of the more successful indie titles – not to mention, one of the best indie games – of recent times. By the end of 2015, it had sold more than 3 million copies. That’s not too shabby considering it wasn’t even finished — the game has been on Steam's Early Access scheme since being released in December 2013. It seems people can't get enough of the Day Z-inspired survival sim. It sees you use your wits and bearings to survive its harsh open world, with nothing but a rock… at least, in the beginning. After gathering the resources you need to build a house and weapons to fend off attackers (other online players, in other words), Rust progressively becomes more intense as you defend your growing base — or attempt to breach others'. Fans of the original Overcooked will not be disappointed by its second installment in the chaotic couch co-op series from British indie game developer Team17. This time around, your mission is to defeat the 'Un-Bread' (zombie baked goods) that have taken over the Onion Kingdom, by battling through brand new recipes including sushi, pizza and burgers in increasingly chaotic kitchens with up to three other people. To add to the frenetic fun, you must deal with obstacles including random fires, collapsing floors and interfering passers by, all while getting your orders out to the pass in time. Things get complicated incredibly quickly. Relationships, friendships and family bonds will be tested as you work together to complete your recipes on time. Overcooked 2 is a fun and challenging couch co-op game that will make you truly understand the meaning of "too many cooks spoil the broth” and is well-deserving of its spot in our best indie games list. The natural progression of survival games, SCUM takes what predecessors like Rust and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds both succeeded at, only better by iterating in impressive ways. It offers a unique twist, combining the frenetic gameplay of battle royale games with the slow, thoughtful tactical of a survival sim. SCUM, unlike other similar games, is very heavy on the simulation side of things, however. You shouldn’t expect to run in guns blazing, as you’re going to get tired quickly (just as you would if you tried running outside in person with a ton of stuff in your backpack). But, if heavy statistic systems is something your into, this might be one of the best indie games for you. It’s like spreadsheets with a physics engine. Just don’t go in expecting a polished experience, not for now. However, developer Croteam promises to add more features over time, and as they’re backed by Devolver, you can trust that the game is going to shape up into something great. Every so often, there’s a game that perfectly balances aesthetic, gameplay and narrative – where everything feels like it just fits like puzzle pieces. The best indie games always excel at this, and Return of the Obra Dinn is the epitome of that. A mystery taking place on a derelict ship, your mission is to figure out how the crew of this lost ship died, disappeared or worse. The entire game has this old-school visual styling that, combining it with the simple controls and gameplay technique that make it feel like a nostalgic sort of adventure. Right from the settings menu, you’ll get to choose what kind of monitor you’d like to emulate – we picked an old school Macintosh option – that should give you an idea of the type of retro revivalism on offer here. Critical thinking, exploration and a ton of reading is essential in Return of the Obra Dinn. If that all sounds appealing to you, and you’re happy with retro aesthetics, you will love this game. In fact, it’s one of the best indie games in a season marked with AAA decadence. If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably spent hundreds of hours playing Roller Coaster Tycoon during your childhood. These days, while there have been plenty of amusement park simulators over the last few years, they’ve never quite hit that spot. That is, until Parkitect. Parkitect might just be the closest we have to those early aughts park simulators currently, and we’re absolutely in love. From the cartoonish art style to the realistic simulation and Steam Workshop integration, Parkitect is one of the best indie games 2019 has to offer. For years, thatgamecompany has been behind some of the best indie games on the market, but most of them had been exclusive to PlayStation. One such game was Flower. Serving as a kind of a precursor to the beloved Journey, Flower puts you in command of a flower petal, surfing through the wind. You’ll activate different colors of flower beds to affect the environment, which will also get you different colored petals, until you have an entire trail of color surfing the wind. It’s an incredibly relaxing and creative experience, which also gives you an insight on the industrial world we all find ourselves living in. Trust us, give it a shot as it’s one of the best – not to mention, most legendary – indie games ever. 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| Best computer 2019: the best PCs we've tested Posted: 22 Jul 2019 01:13 PM PDT The best computers are more powerful now than ever. They’ve evolved to the point of boasting eight-core processors and super high-end graphics cards, some of which offer real time ray tracing – things that would not have been possible only a few years ago. So stay on the cutting edge in 2019, and get one of the best computers included on this list. Even if most of what you’ll do is use Facebook and surf the internet. Luckily, the best computers on the market are also more affordable than ever, which means that whatever your budget is, you'll find one that's ideal for you and your needs. You can pick up a solid PC or even an all-in-one desktop for around $500 (about £390, AU$715), for example. Plus, many of them will last you a lifetime – because the best computers are upgradeable, it’s easy to keep them current by fitting in new and improved PC components, like fast SSDs, more RAM and maybe even the best graphics card. With so many options on hand however, deciding on the best computer for you, your needs and your budget may not be that easy. So we gathered all the best computers out there, paying close attention to those that hit that sweet spot between price and performance. Go through our list of the best computers and pick out what you like, depending on what you need and can afford. Here are our top picks for the best computers 2019 has on offer.
The Dell XPS Tower looks low-key. That is, it looks like that PC your parents used to have shoved underneath the desk when you were a kid. However, its no-nonsense exterior hides an array of exciting components. One of the best computers available right now, the Dell XPS Tower is fitted with up to an RTX 2070 graphics card, a 9th-generation Intel Core processor, and a spacious hard drive and/or SSD. This excellent special edition PC configuration is only available in the US, but UK and Australian readers can pick up the regular Dell XPS Tower and then beef it up, though there are some limitations such as the graphics card options topping out with the GTX 1060. Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition
The Surface Studio quickly rose to fame as one of the best computers for artists when it was first released. It’s no surprise, therefore, that its sequel has taken up the mantle. Packed with a Kaby Lake mobile processor and Nvidia Pascal graphics, the Surface Studio 2 has a lot more power than the original, and it can handle anything you throw at it for the next couple of years, at the very least. It’s also inherited that gorgeous PixelSense display with Surface Pen support, allowing it to retain the privilege of being one of the best all-in-one – not to mention, the best computers on this list – for creatives. Read the full review: Surface Studio 2
If you want an outstanding desktop experience, but you don’t have a ton of space on your desk, then Intel Hades Canyon NUC might just be the computer for you. This small bare-bones PC has a ridiculously fast 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete-class AMD Radeon graphics. Throw some RAM and storage in, and you will be conquering the best PC games without breaking a sweat. Granted, it won’t stand up against a full-sized desktop. But, when you’re short on space – or you’d rather have a PC that looks like a set-top box – this is one of the best computers to consider. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC
With the Aurora R7, there’s no stopping Alienware in making its way back to the top of the best computers, especially for gaming. The Alienware Aurora R7 isn’t just one of the greatest gaming PCs; it’s also among the best computers money can buy. It boasts blazing fast performance with its 8th-generation Intel Core processor and GTX 10-series graphics, all that power conveniently hidden away in its appealing and sleek chassis. It’s also surprisingly affordable, considering the power under the hood. Did we mention that this PC is also easily upgradeable, despite the unique form-factor? Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7
If you’re looking for a computer that will look just as good in your living room as it does in your home office, then the Corsair One i160 is your best bet. It hides an unbelievable amount of power inside its sleek, compact chassis, packing a Coffee Lake Refresh processor and Nvidia Turing graphics – not to mention a whopping 32GB of RAM. This is an absolute monster, and will chew through any game you throw at it, even on that nice 4K TV you just bought. Just prepare yourself, as that high price tag might send you reeling. Read the full review: Corsair One i160
It’s easy to think that Apple is overpriced, but your wallet might be spared if you jump on the Mac mini bandwagon. The Mac mini 2018 isn’t just a small form-factor PC that looks adorable, but it’s also packed tight with high-end desktop parts. And, that’s all for a much cheaper price than any other Mac on the market, making it a solid investment for anyone who already has a slew of Mac-ready peripherals or a Mac fan who doesn’t want to spring for a Mac Pro. Plus, unlike many of Apple’s recent products, the Mac mini is partially upgradeable – you can boost your memory up to 64GB of RAM. Read the full review: Apple Mac mini
Don’t confuse the HP Pavilion Wave for a fabric-woven old Mac Pro wannabe, as it is something else entirely. This compact Windows machine packs 6th-generation Intel Core processors, coupled with optional discrete AMD graphics and uniquely integrated Bang & Olufsen speakers. It’s also wrapped in an urbane fabric exterior, definitely making it the most fetching of the best computers to have on your desk or even a bookshelf. Plus, it radiates crisp sound as you browse the web or watch movies. Read the first look: HP Pavilion Wave
Some people have issues with desktop PCs, as they tend to be bulky. The Intel Core Compute Stick has really made that moot. Looking more like a thumb drive than an actual PC, this little renegade can connect to any display with an HDMI input. It starts out with a lowly 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor running Linux, but can be configured up to an Intel Core m5 processor. This is one of the best computers to literally slip in your pocket, whether you need to get some work done during your daily commute or squeeze in some PC time while you’re on vacation. Specifications (as reviewed)
Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article Image Credits: TechRadar
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| Huawei reportedly helped to build North Korea's internet Posted: 22 Jul 2019 11:07 AM PDT Chinese telecoms giant Huawei worked together with the North Korean government to build and maintain its Koryolink commercial wireless network according to a new report from the Washington Post. Documents obtained by the publication reveal that the firm partnered with China's state-owned Panda International Information Technology on projects in North Korea for at least eight years, beginning when the late Kim Jong Il visited the company's headquarters back in 2006. Huawei was responsible for providing cellular infrastructure, network management and encryption while Panda provided software and also transported Huawei gear to the country.
KoryolinkKoryolink allowed North Korea to spy on it citizens with interception gateways that let law enforcement intercept calls, texts, data and faxes sent on the network. Meanwhile government elites used North Korean made encryption to prevent their conversations from being monitored. According to the Post's report, Huawei was asked to test how well the encryption functioned while Panda provided supporting software. A spokesperson for Huawei told the Post that it “has no business presence” in North Korea though they would not say whether the Chinese firm had worked with the country in the past. The company no longer maintains Koryolink as it was replaced by the ZTE-supported Kang Song network which launched in 2013. If working together with North Korea wasn't bad enough, Huawei may have also broken laws and sanctions against the country while doing so. Experts believe that the firm's 3G gear used for Koryolink also included at least some US components. Back in 2014 Panda was banned from receiving equipment from the US and as a result, Huawei may have violated the American export ban if any of its equipment included at least 10 percent of components from the US. The Chinese firm also tried to keep its work in North Korea secret by giving the country the codename “A9” in its official documents. While working with Iran and Syria, Huawei used similar codenames to avoid detection. Via Engadget This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Are smart speakers really safe for children? Posted: 22 Jul 2019 10:35 AM PDT Smart speakers with A.I. assistants are constantly listening to the world around them, waiting for commands while soaking in whatever dialogue is within earshot—some of which is actually screened by employees at Google and Amazon. Unfortunately, that means Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri are constantly recording the conversations of users of all ages, including your kids. As you might expect, that doesn't sit right with a lot of people. Parents and advocacy groups have voiced their issues with the ability of Alexa and her ilk to record kids without explicit consent, not to mention the lack of an easy ability to purge that data at will. In June, a lawsuit was filed in Seattle federal court that alleges that Amazon specifically is violating child privacy laws in at least eight U.S. states by capturing audio from millions of children. Amazon, for its part, denies any wrongdoing. And the company has gone a bold step further by recently releasing a new Echo Dot Kids Edition, a candy-coated, rainbow-plastered version with extra parent-pleasing perks such as a free subscription to its FreeTime content service and replacements for damaged units. As appealing as that might sound for parents, are devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home really as kid-friendly as their makers want you to believe? We asked a couple of kids' tech experts for their take. Convenience at the expense of privacyBy their very nature, smart speakers have to constantly be listening with their far-field microphones to be useful. If you had to go up to your Echo and press a button every time you had a question, needed to set a reminder, or wanted to ask about the weather, would you even use it half as much? Would you even need it at all, given the myriad smartphones, tablets, and computers that might be in your home?
It's part and parcel of owning a smart speaker, but according to Dr. Pamela Roggeman, academic dean of the University of Phoenix College of Education, many parents aren't adequately aware of the unseen downsides of that kind of unfettered data collection. "Parents have been inundated with advice on how they should nurture a healthy relationship between their kids and technology for years now, but not much of that discussion has included technology that kids are accessing without their parents' consent, or even awareness such as smart assistants/speakers that quietly 'listen' to the room," says Roggeman. "These devices collect information that can be helpful in carrying out the simple demands for which the devices were intended, but it is important to understand that this information can be stored and possibly shared or hacked."
Amazon and Google need to do betterThe tide may be turning on that front, as efforts such as the aforementioned lawsuit draw more attention to privacy concerns with smart speakers: The Amazon Echo and other similar devices quickly became commonplace in millions of homes, but there's growing pushback to the idea that such constant "surveillance" is worth the provided benefits and convenience. Deral Heiland, internet of things (IoT) research lead at technology security firm Rapid7, believes that such devices provide a learning experience for children and that included parental tools should be harnessed to make them as kid-friendly as possible. However, he also says that Amazon must be able to rapidly tackle concerns and put parents' minds at ease. "The issues pointed out by privacy and safety advocates are concerning. Amazon should immediately address these issues," says Heiland. "Consumers should have full control of their personal data and voice recordings and have the ability to remove/purge this data at will. If some data is needed for improving the product, this data should then be immediately anonymized to prevent associating. "Also, while this data is in Amazon hands, they must take all actions necessary to protect that data from unauthorized access. This should apply to all IoT technology, whether it's an Amazon product or not. Privacy issues are important and must be addressed to consumer's satisfaction."
No product will ever be perfect, and there are lessons to be learned along the way—but Heiland's takeaway is that Amazon must be extra-careful when it comes to kids' technology. "With children-based technology, extra precautions should be taken by both Amazon and parents," he says. "Like any product, our good intentions will often fail, but when it does there is no need to throw the baby out with the bath water, figuratively speaking. Amazon must work harder and faster to make their products capable of keeping children safe, protect their privacy, and not expose them to anything that is inappropriate."
Can smart speakers be 'kid-proof'?Continued advocacy for privacy enhancements and changes may ultimately result in action, but whether or not that happens, Roggeman suggests that parents consider the full picture of what they're bringing into their homes.
If you're comfortable with the potential privacy tradeoff and feel pretty confident that there's no real danger, that's entirely your decision to make. On the other hand, if you're left feeling uneasy about the situation, are the perks really worth it? "The easiest way to kid-proof the smart speaker is one of the hardest things to do: get up out of your recliner and push the 'mute' button on the device," she says. "But this is counterintuitive for why the device was purchased in the first place." And for all that Amazon and other companies might do to make their smart speakers safer for kids, Heiland suggests that there's no foolproof solution to every dilemma—and that children are uniquely poised to find their way around such restrictions anyway. "'Kid-proof' is an oxymoron. Place any technology in front of a child and say, 'You are not allowed to do this or that,' and watch what happens," he says. "I find children to be some of the most amazing hackers, capable of always finding ways around controls and restrictions. So good luck with this one. Maybe Amazon needs to hire a few to test their tech security controls." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best computer speakers 2019: the best audio systems for your PC Posted: 22 Jul 2019 10:02 AM PDT Many people will tell you that the best headphones are the only way to really get incredible sound through your PC. However, wearing headphones day-in and day-out isn’t exactly the most comfortable experience. The best computer speakers are a fantastic alternative, and not just to give your earlobes a bit of a break. Like any computer accessory, finding the computer speakers that are ideal for your needs isn’t going to be easy. There are a few things you need to consider before you pick the best computer speakers for you, like the sound quality, for example. Is the sound nice and balanced, or will you start getting listener fatigue after only a couple of minutes? And, how good of a sound quality do you need? Do you want audiophile-level fidelity or are you satisfied with something that’s not quite at that level if it saves you some cash? If you’re a gamer and a frequent movie streamer, is the surround or stereo separation up to snuff? These are only some of the most essential questions to ask when shopping around for the best computer speakers. You must take into consideration what kind of setup is most ideal to you. Do you normally sit back while playing PC games like Rage 2, where immersion (and explosions) are vital? Do you use your setup more to binge-watch your favorite TV shows, or are you more of a music fan? No matter what you’re looking to use them for, one of these best computer speakers on this list will make your computing sound all the more better.
While the Audioengine A2+ launched four years back, they are still arguably among the best computer speakers on the market. These slick-looking speakers will work with your PC’s USB port for uncompressed audio and amazing sound quality with its built-in DAC. The Audioengine A2+ doesn’t come with a subwoofer. However, unless you need really deep bass for extra rumble, that’s hardly a deal breaker: mostly because there is an RCA output, so it’s easy to connect an external woofer, which Audioengine also sells at extra cost.
They may be pricier than you’d expect to pay for Logitech’s best computer speakers, but the Logitech Z623 speakers are still very affordable, considering that they’re an audio beast. The Z623 may look like your average set of speakers, but the subwoofer produces a thundering sound that can easily be dialed up or down based on your preference. As a cherry on top, these speakers boast an impressive soundstage – with great highs and mids – making for an extremely immersive gaming and movie-watching experience.
When it comes to computer peripherals, Logitech is a household name. However, the G560 takes the company’s speaker prowess to the next level. These are the first Logitech computer speakers designed for gaming, and the manufacturer’s hard work has definitely paid off. The Logitech G560 speakers are, without a doubt, one of the best computer speakers for gaming. Not only do they boast RGB lighting – a must for gaming accessories in 2019 – but through Logitech’s software, the multi-colored illumination can adapt to any kind of content you consume for a more dazzling, not to mention immersive, experience.
The Razer Nommo Pro may have a fun name and a funky look, but make no mistake, these are a solid set of speakers that must be taken seriously, and not only because of its lofty price. Try to resist the urge to run in the opposite direction of that $500 price tag, the Razer Nommo Pro has a lot on offer and is definitely a worthy investment. There’s the beefy down-firing subwoofer that’ll blow you away, and there’s the Razer Chroma feature, making these speakers look just as good as they sound. There are definitely more affordable computer speakers out there, but with this level of quality, the Razer Nommo Pro is worth every penny.
Sure, the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks III may look like a bloom of jellyfish. These translucent computer speakers looks more like a modern art installation protesting rising ocean temperatures, but you’ll change your tune once you hit that power button. These are definitely an excellent speaker system worthy of a spot on our best computer speakers list. This speaker and sub combo features booming bass, thanks to its woofer, as well as very crisp highs. Finally, you get that amazing sound at a decent price, making it ideal for music fans with a mid-range budget.
The Edifier E25 Luna Eclipse is a stunning speaker setup that not only has a nice design, but also sounds terrific. It’s meant for folks who like a lot of rumbling and booming bass. The Luna, which comes in red, white and black colors, offers a powerful but well-controlled bass, as well as fantastic balance with sharp mids and good stereo separation. It even includes a nifty little remote control so you don’t have to get up if you’re feeling lazy. The Luna Eclipse are some of the best computer speakers out there, especially if you like to pump up the volume with little to no distortion.
Wireless speakers might not cut it for gaming, where every millisecond counts, but that’s why you should opt for the AudioEngine HD 3. The beauty of these speakers is that it offers the best of both worlds. They’ve only got about 30ms of latency when using the wireless connection, so latency is essentially negligible as far as listening to audio, watching videos and doing casual gaming. For competitive gamers, these also come with USB Audio and Dual Analog Audio Inputs, not to mention subwoofer output for that extra rumble. And, since it is made by AudioEngine, you know the sound quality is top-notch.
The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speaker system offers excellent, versatile sound. This means that whether you’re listening to music, watching movies or gaming, you’re getting the best computer speaker experience. These THX-certified speakers boast a lot of power, a wide frequency range of 31Hz to 20kHz, and a detailed audio quality with punchy bass, maximum clarity and great balance. When we say it’s powerful enough to replicate that home theater quality in your living room, we’re not exaggerating. The best part is that they’re really affordable.
Dell’s AE715 may not be the most powerful on this list of the best computer speakers, but it does produce a decent 360-degree sound that – while fairly common in portable audio – is unusual when it comes to computer speakers. The downside is that there’s not a lot of bass, and there’s a bit of delay because of the wireless connection. The upside is that the audio quality is definitely good enough if your listening standards aren’t quite as demanding. You’re also getting its wireless functionality, the USB charging port so you can charge the device and a built-in mic for conference calls. Without a doubt, it’s a great portable and wireless solution that’s affordable to boot.
The Mackie CR4BT promises professional-grade performance. True, it has its share of drawbacks – including thinner mid range and high bass that cut off at 70 Hz, meaning while there’s good bass presence, you might be missing the really low stuff. However, they do sound great for a premium pair of speakers, and the pros include the acoustic foam pads to isolate the speakers from the surface it’s standing on, as well as the front auxiliary input. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill peripherals; they are the best computer speakers if you do a lot of multimedia creation and production-related work.
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| Intel remains king of laptop processors, but can AMD ever compete? Posted: 22 Jul 2019 09:58 AM PDT AMD's latest Ryzen 3000 series of processors have done a brilliant job at challenging Intel's dominance of the desktop processor market, but when it comes to laptop processors, it looks like Intel is still king, with the Core i7-1065G7 mobile chip beating the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X in certain benchmarks. Recently, benchmark results leaked for Intel’s 10th generation Ice Lake i7-1065G7 processor, which is designed for use in laptops. Despite it being a laptop chip – so there are power and heat implications – as the Techquila website notes, the benchmarks suggest that it will beat AMD’s new Ryzen 9 3900X.
What’s particularly interesting is that the Ryzen 9 3900X is a desktop processor, which means it consumes more power (105W vs the i7-1065G7’s 15W) and runs at higher frequencies. Mobile ambitionsIn the leaked Geekbench scores, the Intel Ice Lake Core i7-1065G7, running in a HP Spectre x360 laptop, manages a single-core score of 5,691. Meanwhile, AMD’s flagship Ryzen 9 3900X flagship scores slightly lower at 5,624. While that isn’t a huge difference, the fact that Intel’s new mobile processor appears to edge out AMD’s latest desktop flagship when it comes to single-core performance means AMD could struggle to produce mobile processors that rival Intel's. Of course, when it comes to multi-core performance, the 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X handily beats the quad-core Intel 17-1065G7 with a score of 45,338 vs 17,741. It’s worth noting that these benchmarks are not confirmed, but if they are real it tells us a few things. First of all, it seems like Intel could be getting its mojo back with laptop processors – with the Core i7-1065G7 producing some excellent results considering it’s a mobile processor. It also means that if AMD wants to steal Intel’s mobile crown, it has its work cut out. However, considering it’s recent form, we’re looking forward to what the company comes up with next.
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| Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC? Posted: 22 Jul 2019 09:48 AM PDT Today, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the best graphics card for anyone who wants an affordable GPU without compromising on performance. If you’ve been waiting for an Nvidia Turing card to match your limited budget, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is for you. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is able to hit that sweet price-to-performance spot by cutting out the RT and Tensor cores that power Nvidia’s new RTX and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technologies. Even after sacrificing these extra features however, the GTX 1660 Ti is still such a great performing card that’s made even better by its affordable price. It is the best budget graphics card on the market hands down – even if the GTX 1660 does try to give it a run for its money. With this new focus on value, it’s easy to see why its growing faster than other Nvidia Turing cards. Unlike Nvidia releases in the past, Team Green didn’t roll this one out with its own Founders Edition of the GTX 1660 Ti. Without this base model to set the stage for what we could expect from third-party cards, there’s a wide variety of cards going for varying prices. It’s for this reason that we went ahead and gathered the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti models you can buy today.
The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC may not look like much, being tiny and all, but it surprisingly packs a punch. Fitted with a 70MHz factory overclock and solid specs, this card delivers on the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps. What’s even better, all of this performance costs less than 300 smackers. This is the best bang-for-your-buck graphics cards you can find so far. Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC
Do you want to max out the performance of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti? The Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC might just be the card for you. This card touts the highest factory overclock we’ve seen on this mid-range graphics card yet. In addition, its oversized heatsink and triple axial fans keep this card running a full 10C cooler than most. Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking this card is not a problem. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC review
Want something more middle of the road? The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC is the closest thing to your average GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. The downside to this is that it’s only equipped with a middle-of-the-road dual-fan cooler. The upside? Gigabyte offsets that by using 3D molded curves on the fan blades for increased airflow. The graphics card’s fans also spin in alternate directions to further increase airflow. Round it out with a 1,845MHz boost clock, and this card delivers more performance for not much more money.
The Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC is one of the most compact graphics cards ever created, designed to fit in the smallest of PC cases. Despite its small size, this graphics card still packs all the might of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti and then some, with a factory set 1,815MHz boost clock. Best of all, it costs about the same as the most affordable versions of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, so it won’t break the bank.
Just because you’re gaming with a mid-range card doesn’t mean you can’t also be trendy. The MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch, with a stylish aesthetic and fully programmable RGB lighting. In other words, you can customize how it glows in sync with an MSI motherboard. But it isn’t all looks either; this card delivers a solid performance and a Twin Frozr cooler designed to keep it chilled.
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| Microsoft to invest $1bn in OpenAI Posted: 22 Jul 2019 09:43 AM PDT Microsoft has announced that it will invest $1bn in OpenAI as part of a multi-year partnership with the San Francisco-based nonprofit aimed at developing AI supercomputing technologies on its Azure cloud computing service. OpenAI was founded back in 2015 as a nonprofit with $1bn in funding from Sam Altman, Peter Thiel and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Earlier this year though, the group created a for-profit entity to allow it to bring in additional outside investment. However, the for-profit entity is still controlled by the nonprofit's board and according to OpenAI, those who invest in the for-profit entity will have their returns capped as the nonprofit's mission remains more important than making a profit.
OpenAI has made a number of advances in the field of AI since its founding, including teaching a robotic hand to perform human-like tasks entirely in software which cuts down the cost and time needed to train robots. Artificial general intelligenceMicrosoft's investment in OpenAI will allow the group to pursue artificial general intelligence (AGI). AGI is highly sought after in the industry as this form of AI will allow computing systems to master subjects as well or better than the best humans in the world. OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman explained why AGI is so important to the future of AI in a statement announcing the partnership, saying: “The creation of AGI will be the most important technological development in human history, with the potential to shape the trajectory of humanity. Our mission is to ensure that AGI technology benefits all of humanity, and we’re working with Microsoft to build the supercomputing foundation on which we’ll build AGI. We believe it’s crucial that AGI is deployed safely and securely and that its economic benefits are widely distributed. We are excited about how deeply Microsoft shares this vision.” According to Microsoft, the two companies will work together to build new AI technologies on its Azure cloud computing service and OpenAI will move many of its services to Azure with Microsoft being its preferred partner to commercialize new services. Both firms declined to say whether Microsoft's investment would be made in cash or whether it would involve providing OpenAI with Azure credits. Via Reuters This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Death Stranding: release date, trailers and news Posted: 22 Jul 2019 09:13 AM PDT Finally, after years of being in development, we know when Hideo Kojima's upcoming title Death Stranding will release and we also know a little bit more about what to expect from the game...kind of. On May 29, Kojima Productions dropped a brand new, lengthy trailer for Death Stranding that was - honestly - still a bit confusing. Norman Reedus, the return of the jar baby, Mads Mikkelsen leading an undead soldier army and demon militants? All just a day in Death Stranding it seems. But the trailer did reveal something very important: Death Stranding will release on November 8, 2019. So, while fans the world over try to dissect the latest trailer and piece together the various puzzle pieces, let this article guide you through everything there is to know about Death Stranding so far. [Update: Keanu Reeves was almost cast in Death Stranding. Read on to find out more.]
Image credit: Kojima Productions Cut to the chase
Death Stranding trailers and screenshotsThe most revealing Death Stranding trailer dropped on May 29, announcing the game's release date and attempting to shed some light on the storyline. Check it out below: The Tokyo Game Show 2018 trailer revealed voice-acting veteran Troy Baker has joined the cast as the mysterious villain The Man in the Golden Mask. E3 2018 brought Death Stranding gameplay to our eyes and left our minds somewhat confused. Before E3 2018, Death Stranding featured at the Game Awards 2017. Coming in at nearly eight minutes long, this isn't a quick watch and unfortunately it doesn't answer many of the questions we have about the game (actually we think we have more). Watch it for yourself below: The reveal trailer that was shown at E3 in 2016 may have been more than 3 minutes long, but it didn’t reveal much about the game at all other than that it would star The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus. A second even longer and 4K trailer was shown at The Game Awards at the end of 2016. This trailer starred Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen and Guillermo Del Toro and although it didn’t give us any more of an idea of what the game will actually even be about (in fact leaving us more confused than we were before) it did send expectations soaring. Death Stranding release dateThe most recent trailer revealed that Death Stranding will release on November 8. 2019. Death Stranding is available to pre-order now from the PlayStation Store. The standard digital edition will cost you £54.99 / $59.99 / AU$99.95, while the deluxe digital edition costs £64.99 / $79.99 / AU$114.95.
Image credit: Kojima Productions What do we know so far about Death Stranding?Keanu Reeves was almost cast in Death Stranding "I originally was recommended Keanu Reeves but I wanted Mads," Kojima explained during the panel, according to Twitter user Kalai Chik. Check out the tweet below: Release date revealed in trailer Kojima has stated the game centers around 'connection' Check the tweet out below: Death Stranding's pre-order page is live now Check out all the items below:
Image credit: Sony Tribeca Film Festival “In Death Stranding I’m trying to put every aspect [of Norman] in there,” Kojima said through his interpreter, “and you will see his … everything, in the game,” he finished, suggestively, cracking up the crowd. By the end of the game, he says, you’ll “love Norman”. Non-branching narrative Online features
Image credit: TechRadar Troy Baker is a villain E3 2018 We also got look at two more famous faces who will make an appearance in the game – Léa Seydoux and Lindsay Wagner. Something edgy We do know that Kojima is planning to do something different with the game’s mechanics, most notably around the concept of dying and involving the baby that has appeared in every trailer. Kojima said in the interview that the mechanics of Death Stranding were inspired by a Japanese short story.
Image credit: Kojima Productions In the story it’s stated that the first tool mankind creates is a stick for protection, but that the second tool mankind created was a rope to keep things close and secure. “Most of your tools in action games are sticks,” Kojima explained, “You punch or you shoot or you kick. The communication is always through these 'sticks.' In [Death Stranding], I want people to be connected not through sticks, but through what would be the equivalent of ropes… But of course you will be able to use the sticks too.” Unfortunately we haven’t seen any gameplay that would give us a better insight into how this rope approach will actually work. A mystery to its own devs Before this, the game's star Mads Mikkelsen admitted he "got lost" when Kojima tried to explain the game's plot to him. Sporadic details We know the game will run on the Decima engine which was created by Horizon: Zero Dawn developers, Guerilla Games. Kojima praised this engine during PSX 2016 as being an excellent engine for creating open world games, something that Horizon: Zero Dawn’s reception suggests has an element of truth to it. Though its unsettling trailers suggest otherwise, Kojima has said that Death Stranding won’t be as dark as some fans are expecting. It’s certainly not a horror game, he told Glixel, and it would have comedic moments which isn’t entirely surprising considering the overarching tone of the Metal Gear series.
An impressive cast O'Brien posted a picture to Instagram which showed her alongside Baker and Reedus, with a caption stating "Honored to be working alongside these two fine lads on [Hideo Kojima's] new project Death Stranding." While Baker is well known for his starring roles in video games such as The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite, O'Brien has had roles on both TV and in games, featuring in Telltale's Guardian's of the Galaxy and Batman: The Enemy Within as well as Rock in a Hard Place. Players won't die The game apparently explores the themes of life and death and it's for this reason that Kojima would like to explore the traditional death mechanic in games and let players know that in-game death isn't the end for them when it happens. In this underwater area, he explains, “you're not dead or alive. It's the equivalent of that screen that says 'Continue?' and a counter ticking down towards zero.” When players decide they're ready to leave and return to the game world, they won't be returned to a point before their death. Instead the game acknowledges their defeat and coming back to life is more of a reincarnation than a respawn. There's a weird time rain What's the deal with the babies? What could it all mean?Though the game’s trailers don’t tell us much about how we’ll eventually play Death Stranding, they do reveal some important thematic elements. Quotes from William Blake, the repeated appearance of ruined dolls, and the inclusion of what looks like oil (but could very well be ink) and dead sea creatures suggests Kojima will be exploring the fractious relationship between man and the natural world and the impact it has on us and future generations. The littering of dead crabs on beaches and tanks with definitely living tentacles coming out of them suggests to us a post-apocalyptic world over-run with robotic sea creatures which would certainly be interesting. After all, Kojima is working closely with Guerilla Games whose Horizon: Zero Dawn game focused on robotic dinosaurs.
Image credit: Kojima Productions There’s also a curious mix of futuristic technology and elements of the past in the game’s various trailers. In the second game trailer though Mads Mikkelsen is wearing a modern army uniform and appears to be using some kind of cable, the undead soldiers around him are wearing WW2 era uniforms and the game world outside of the tunnel he’s in is almost certainly from the second world war time period.
Image credit: Kojima Productions Whether this mix of past and future will manifest itself as time travelling or simply alternate universe science fiction isn’t clear. Safe to say, as a Kojima title, there’s a lot of mystery and symbolism at play here and fans online are tearing through what little materials there are to try and find out more information about the game. We’ll keep updating as more solid information becomes available. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthem: update news, DLC, tips, patch notes and more Posted: 22 Jul 2019 09:06 AM PDT Anthem, BioWare's cooperative, team-based shooter is a change of pace for the makers of Dragon Age and Mass Effect. With a focus on cooperative PvE combat popularized by the likes of Destiny, it landed amid a swirl of hype and expectation, which it has so far failed to meet. Anthem has a big challenge in front of it then – with arguments that its endgame content is weak, its loot system broken and its story not up to scratch when compared with previous narrative-driven BioWare RPGs, it's fighting to win back the hearts of those who were initially in awe of its promise. With EA backing it and BioWare's heritage at its heart, there's hope yet that Anthem will be redeemed. It's being touted as a "living" game after all – one that will evolve over time to keep its fans entranced long after launch – and the likes of behemoths such as Destiny and Fortnite all went through rough launches before becoming gaming juggernauts. So what's the latest Anthem news? When's the next update? And what does the future hold for Anthem? Read on for everything you need to know about the Iron Man simulator.
As we said in our full Anthem review: "It is a game of oxymorons and inconsistencies. The story is designed to be single-player but the game is clearly not. The gameplay is an absolute joy but is stifled by the repetitive nature of the end-game. The character animations are truly sublime, but most of the characters themselves are cliché and predictable. "Anthem is a fun game, and a stunningly pretty one, but with flaws in nearly every other aspect of its design. It will improve with patches, updates, and a strong community, but it isn’t a particularly strong foundation. This is less an anthem, and more an annoying earworm..."
Anthem update news and Anthem patch notes
A new set of time-limited challenges called 'The Oncoming Storm' are now live in Anthem. These new challenges seem to be a precursor to Anthem's upcoming Cataclysm event. According to Kotaku, The Oncoming Storm consists of three parts. The first sees players destroying crystals that have started to appear around the world, the second sees you completing three 'Crystal World Events', and the third sees you killing crystallized enemies. Completing all these challenges will reward you with in-game Coin. Anthem tips and tricks guidesAnthem is a complex game. With four classes to master, a ton of loot to uncover and large world to explore, it can be daunting for a newcomer, and difficult for even a long term player to master. Get ahead of the pack with our selection of Anthem guides, designed to help you get your Iron Man-like Javelin suit fighting fit as soon as possible.
Anthem DLC – what's next?Anthem is an ongoing project at EA and BioWare, a game that both companies expect to support for many years, with a player base that will grow and evolve along with the game. How do both teams hope to achieve this? Through regular content drops, that's how. As pictured above, EA and BioWare had already mapped out the "ongoing narrative of Anthem", with updates mapped out until May 2019 - but things haven't exactly gone to plan. This first "Act" is called "Echoes of Eternity", which was initially scheduled for March 2019 introducing the "Evolving World" chapter, April 2019 the "Stronger Together" chapter and May 2019 bringing the ominous sounding "Cataclysm" chapter. However, as detailed above, BioWare isn't on track to hit its roadmap. So we're not quite sure when these updates will arrive. Evolving World will focus on battles with huge bosses such as Titans of War, Ruin, Bane and Havoc in freeplay mode, as well as new Legendary missions and a Scar Infestation freeplay event. Stronger Together will expand the endgame with a new Mastery System for the skill tree progression, as well as host of new freeplay events, more legendary missions, a new Stronghold called "The Sunken" (which will have its own weekly challenge) as well as the introduction of leaderboards and guilds. As for what the Catyclysm brings, little is known at the moment beyond the promise of new freeplay events, missions and new items. We'll presumably find out more as the year rolls on. But what about paid DLC? EA has yet to announce it's mid-to-long term plans for Anthem. We'd expect it will follow a similar path as Destiny, which had a continued supply of small improvements and features added, interspersed with larger paid-for DLC packs, before an eventual sequel. That is, of course, if Anthem can prove its staying power... Here's hoping – there's a gem at the heart of Anthem, waiting to be dug out. We're hopeful that we'll one day be playing Anthem at its strongest.
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| Best mining rigs: the top pre-built mining rigs for Bitcoin, Ethereum and more Posted: 22 Jul 2019 08:47 AM PDT With the prices of graphics cards rising due to the cryptocurrency gold rush, it's now more sensible to buy a pre-built device for mining cryptocurrencies, which is where our best mining rig 2018 list comes in. Unlike the best mining desktop PCs, which can be used for other day-to-day tasks as normal PCs, mining rigs are specially-designed for one purpose only: to efficiently and effectively mine cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. This means you won't be able to use a mining rig for other tasks, but it does mean you'll be getting the very best mining results thanks to the best mining rigs being designed to eke out the maximum return when running. If you still want to build your own mining rig, check out our guides on the best mining GPUs, best mining CPU, best mining motherboards and best mining SSDs to help you get started.
Shark Mining is a well-regarded company that makes some excellent pre-built mining rigs. Its Shark Mini is a compact rig that comes with four GPUs. The base model comes with AMD RX 570/580, but your can configure it to have a NVIDIA GTX 1070 GPU or 1070 Ti GPU, which could net you an extra profit, and you can also add a touchscreen display for keeping an eye on the rig. Shark Mining estimates a profit of $200 a month if you mine ZCash , and up to $300 a month with Ethereum if you use the base model with, though of course that could change.
The Bitmain Antminer S17 Pro has some of the best advertised performance specifications, and comes with three different modes for advanced mining: normal mode, low power mode, and turbo. While the ASIC comes with a top hashrate of 53 TH/s, you will need to run it in the lower modes at times to help prevent over-heating. Even still, the S17 Pro is one of the more efficient ASICs out there, with a power rating of 39.5 J/TH. However, because of its high specs it is currently out of stok, and we await for Bitmain to restock the model and advertise a new price.
Application-specific integrated circuit chips (ASICs) differ from other mining rigs as they don't utilize GPUs to do the mining, which means price and power consumption is reduced. They can also solve Bitcoin blocks faster, which means they are definitely worth looking into. The Antminer D3 is an ASIC miner from Mineshop.eu is a good mid-range miner that has a hash rate of 19.5 GH/s. Definitely one to consider if space is at a premium.
Shark Mining has another entry in this list of best mining rigs, this time with its Shark PRO mining rig. Like the Shark mini, this is a well-built device for mining that comes with a range of configuration options. The base model comes with six AMD RX570/580 cards, but these can be upgraded to NVIDIA GTX 1070, GTX 1070 Ti, GTX 1080 Ti or NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti GPUs (2080 Ti won't be available until October, but you can pre-order). It's an expensive rig, but the build quality and potential profit makes it a very tempting choice if you're serious about mining.
The PandaMiner B5 Plus is a brilliantly put together miner that's compact and attractive, while also being excellent at making profits when mining for cryptocurrencies. However, it is very expensive, and due to its popularity it can often be sold out. Luckily Pandaminer has a number of different models to choose from.
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| Equifax to pay $700m in data breach settlement Posted: 22 Jul 2019 08:38 AM PDT After exposing the personal information of almost 150m consumers back in 2017, the credit reporting agency Equifax has reached a deal with US state and federal regulators in which it will pay $700m to settle probes into its data breach. To date this is the largest settlement ever paid for a data breach and the company will pay to close multiple probes by the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the state attorneys of 48 states. New York Attorney General Letitia James explained in a statement why Equifax's settlement is so high, saying:
“Equifax put profits over privacy and greed over people, and must be held accountable to the millions of people they put at risk. This company’s ineptitude, negligence, and lax security standards endangered the identities of half the U.S. population. Now it’s time for the company to do what’s right and not only pay restitution to the millions of victims of their data breach, but also provide every American who had their highly sensitive information accessed with the tools they need to battle identity theft in the future.” Equifax settlementUnder the settlement, Equifax will pay a $175m fine to the states and $100m to the CFPB. The company will also be required to establish a $300m restitution fund for consumers affected by the data breach which could end up being as high as $425m depending on how many people actually use it. The 2017 data breach saw the information of almost half of US consumers compromised but the restitution fund will only be available to those who can prove they suffered direct costs as a result of the breach. This could be either as victims of fraud or from having to set up credit-monitoring services. Consumers affected by the breach will be eligible for 10 years of free credit monitoring from Equifax and the company has also agreed to make it easier for consumers to freeze their credit or to dispute inaccurate information found in their credit reports. Going forward, Equifax will strengthen its own security practices and its policies will be assessed regularly by a third party.
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| Sony vs Samsung TV: choosing the TV brand for you Posted: 22 Jul 2019 08:27 AM PDT Samsung and Sony, both being massive TV makers with an international install base, might not seem too different at first glance. But if you're sussing out which to pick for your next television, you'll want to go into your purchase knowing what you're getting – and what you might be sacrificing in the process. Even mainstream brands' sets can vary hugely in format support, panel technologies, processing techniques, as well as the kinds of casing and stand supports you get along with the screen. While Sony and Samsung TVs have more in common than not – they're all boxes for watching moving pictures, after all – both TV makers are trying to stand out in a crowded market. Anyway, with so many televisions being released each year, just narrowing down to one TV brand is going to make the process much simpler. If you're still considering LG TVs, Panasonic TVs, Hisense TVs, or TCL TVs, you may want to head to our roundup of the best TVs across all brands. But if you just want to know how to tell the difference between Samsung and Sony televisions, this is the guide for you.
Sony vs Samsung TV: overview
Let's set the scene. Firstly, Samsung is a South Korean manufacturer, and by far the largest maker of televisions worldwide, followed next by LG and TCL. Sony, however, isn't far behind – and the Japanese manufacturer is still a force to contend with. Sony and Samsung cater to budgets of all sizes, and manufacture everything from 32-inch small TVs to massive 75-inch screens, with an annual product cycle refreshing most of these sets each year. The majority are 4K TVs, though you can find the odd cheap HD display with either brand. They sell televisions globally, with presences in both the UK and US – unlike Panasonic or Philips, who don’t have licenses in North America. Both brands make a lot of consumer products outside of televisions too. You wouldn't have a PlayStation 4 without Sony, and the upcoming PS5 is set to be a big product launch for the company. Be assured, too, that Sony is making televisions capable of showing off everything its next-gen console can do – and both TV makers have a flagship TV with 8K resolution too. Sony and Samsung are also fighting over territory in the highly competitive smartphone market: both manufacture Android phones, though we won’t be comparing their handsets in this particular guide. (We have separate pages for the best Sony phones or Samsung phones, if you're inclined.) Smart TV: Tizen vs Android TV
Sony's Android TV smart platform There tends to be a different smart TV platform for each make of television, each with its own unique flavor. Samsung goes with its Tizen OS for its mid-range and premium televisions. Tizen is fast to navigate and generally uncluttered – with a constantly refreshing 'recent' box enabling you to keep track of your most used apps. Overall, a pretty competent experience, though the universal search function isn't as accomplished as LG's webOS platform. Sony, on the other hand, uses Android TV, which offers somewhat more content and menu panes than its competitor. A bit more cluttered, but also more at your fingertips. It's really up to your preference – though Android TV is also known to be slightly buggier and prone to crashes than other smart TV platforms. But what of voice assistants? Advanced Sony TVs will come with Google Assistant integration – which makes sense, given Android TV is a Google-developed platform. Sony has however now added an Amazon Alexa Music, Cameras and TV Control app to its 2019 TVs, and some mid-range models from previous years. This will let you control third-party smart home products and speakers through some basic Alexa capability – like the Amazon Echo, or Ring security cameras – and use Alexa voice commands for the TV's power and volume functions. Samsung's Bixby voice assistant can be found on mid-range sets and above, though it's known to lag behind Alexa or Google Assistant in terms of smarts or voice recognition. However, it's more than enough for the minimal TV controls you're likely to be using Bixby for – and you can always link up your television with an Alexa speaker if you really want to. Dolby Vision vs HDR 10+
If you're buying a mid-range television up to one of the top-of-the-line sets, it will likely come with support for high dynamic range (HDR), but you may not realise that HDR comes in several different forms. There's a base HDR10 format supported on every HDR TV – which has a wider color gamut and improved contrast compared to regular SDR television. Most TV content these days is still in SDR, but more movies, shows and programmes are made in HDR every year. But beyond that are two HDR formats that add 'dynamic metadata' to improve TV images by altering the TV's picture settings depending on the scene you're watching and the kinds of images onscreen. The first was Dolby Vision, which is backed by Sony as well as LG, and found in TVs across Vizeo, TCL, and Hisense among others. Then there's HDR10+, which is backed by Samsung and Panasonic – though the latter has now pivoted to offer both formats on its mid-range and premium TVs. Dolby Vision is really the more advanced format, with 12-bit color gamut instead of the 10-bit HDR10+, and is also more commonly found. (While there are a number of HDR10+ shows on Amazon Prime, you won’t find it supported on Netflix, or devices like the Chromecast Ultra and Apple TV 4K.) Admittedly, preferred HDR format is only really a concern at the higher end of the price range, but those spending big should think carefully about which services they’re likely to want HDR content on. QLED or OLED?
LG OLED TV Today’s premium television market is divided into two panel technologies: OLED and QLED (basically an LED-LCD screen with quantum dots). Samsung has been pushing its QLED screens for a few years now, which are known for their bright 1,000-2,000 nit screens, enabling vivid HDR scenes and high impact TV images. They're certainly a lot brighter than the OLED (organic LED) displays used by Sony for its high-end sets, which struggle to get brighter than around 800 nits – though it's not quite a fair comparison. While OLED screens tend to be dimmer, they achieve a more natural color contrast, given the organic film used in production. OLED displays are also self-emissive, meaning that each individual pixel emits its own light, allowing for incredibly precise control of light and darkness across the screen. Blacks really look like blacks, and while overall brightness suffers, the bright sections also don't bleed into surrounding areas of the screen (as is often the case with LED). There’s often talk of ‘burn in’ images on OLED screens, but much of this is anecdotal and you’d probably need to be working the set very hard for this to become a problem. We’ve gone into this debate in more detail in our QLED vs OLED guide, though for now it’ll be enough to say that OLED is generally suited to high-quality video formats in dark viewing environments, while Samsung’s sets lag on contrast (comparatively) but make up for it with a bright and impactful display. Keep in mind though, both are highly impressive premium panel technologies, and most people will be very happy with either. Samsung vs Sony TV: which should you choose?
Samsung Q900 QLED TV Not sure on either? Both Sony and Samsung are capable mainstream TV makers, and you're unlikely to get screwed over by a purchase from one or the other. Most of our complaints for Sony and Samsung's premiums sets gear around format support – the picture quality is generally brilliant either way. And if you're committed to Dolby Vision or HDR10+ as an HDR format, that may well make your decision for you. Samsung's QLED sets will go big on brightness, and if you're more of a daytime viewer than a huddle-in-the-dark cinephile, the brighter displays may be more what you're after. Otherwise Sony's OLEDs will offer a crisp picture with incredible contrast more suited to your late night movie sessions. It's worth noting that Samsung's 2019 QLEDs feature a new Ultra Viewing Angle technology, making for vastly improved off-axis viewing. Sony on the other hand is usually pretty competent at upscaling from low-resolution sources, and motion handling in fast-moving shots. Samsung sets will also generally be a bit cheaper for what they offer – hence how Samsung managed to overtake Sony despite being something of an upstart in the TV market not too long ago. OLEDs especially will cost more than an equivalent QLED, even if that could change in the coming years. And while Sony tends to play around with TV casings and stand design more than most – with some ill-advised tilted screens, like the otherwise incredible AF9 OLED – it has come back to its senses for 2019. So which TV brand is better? It depends on what you want from a new television – and if price is going to influence you more than any snazzy formats or contrast comparisons, we've listed some of the latest Sony and Samsung TV prices below. (If you're after the best TV you can get on a tight budget, though, the Samsung NU7100 is probably your best bet.)
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| Keanu Reeves was almost cast in Death Stranding Posted: 22 Jul 2019 08:21 AM PDT It seems to be the year of Keanu Reeves. Between his starring role in Cyberpunk 2077, a hilarious cameo in Netflix's Always Be My Maybe and the upcoming Bill and Ted film, 2019 is all about the Reeves. And it looks like the breathtaking actor almost had another appearance lined up: in Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding.
During a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima revealed that Reeves was initially recommended for a main role in the game. However, Kojima decided to go with Hannibal's Mads Mikkelsen instead. "I originally was recommended Keanu Reeves but I wanted Mads," Kojima explained during the panel, according to Twitter user Kalai Chik. Check out the tweet below: So we should have seen Keanu starring as Cliff instead of Mads – and so far it seems like Cliff is the lead antagonist. If that had been the case, however, it's unlikely we would have seen Keanu in Cyberpunk 2077. Either way, we're happy to see Keanu jumping into the video games industry with both feet. Death Stranding will release on November 8 this year for PlayStation 4. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amazon's 4K Fire TV Stick gets a $20 post-Prime Day price cut Posted: 22 Jul 2019 08:14 AM PDT While Prime Day wrapped up last week, Amazon still has the best-selling 4K Fire TV stick on sale today. You can get the Certified Refurbished 4K Fire TV Stick on sale for $24.99. That's the same low price during Prime Day for a new unit, and this certified refurbished deal is available to everyone. You can find more Fire TV device deals with the best Amazon Fire TV deals, prices and sales that are happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Wi-Fi extenders of 2019: top devices for boosting your WiFi network Posted: 22 Jul 2019 08:13 AM PDT The best WiFi extenders can make sure that your wireless network reaches every corner of your home or office, especially if you’re trying to cover a massive space. In this list you'll find the very best WiFi extenders that have the sole purpose of boosting your WiFi network, ensuring that your devices can securely and reliably connect to the internet. The best WiFi extenders can make a world of difference if you find your devices suffering from slow network connections – or even dropped connections, at that – without you having to spend a fortune resorting to routing network cables through your property. WiFi extenders work by covering the areas where the WiFi network starts to break down. They connect to the original network then extend the signal so that you have more wireless coverage. The best WiFi extenders on this list are worth considering for anyone who lives or works in a large building, as you’ll find that your WiFi network can get weak – or disappear entirely – in the furthest reaches of the building. If you want to super-charge your Wi-Fi network, read on for our list of the best Wi-Fi extenders you can buy in 2019.
Looking to expand your network coverage and have network-based cybersecurity as well? The Plume Superpods will get the job done, albeit for a price. You see, the Plume SuperPods act as one of the best WiFi extenders right out of the box. But perhaps more importantly, they also come with a subscription service to protect your network from cyber attacks, as well as remove ads from the internet. But, even if you don’t need that extra software, the excellent performance is more than enough to make this WiFi extender worth your consideration at the very least. Read the full review: Plume SuperPods
Over the last few years, Netgear has essentially turned itself into a household name in the networking world. And, they’ve put their extensive expertise to fantastic use with their AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender EX6150. This excellent extender is a simple device that you can inconspicuously plug right into any electrical outlet, and definitely has our vote for one of the best Wifi extenders in 2019. As an added bonus, the EX6150 boasts quick and simple installation, free of any hassling installation software. Just follow the easy-to-read instructions, you’ll have fast and reliable Wi-Fi covering the entire home or office.
D-Link's Wi-Fi Dual Band Range Extender (DAP-1520) is tiny and inconspicuous, so that while it has extremely robust performance, boosting your Wi-Fi network throughout your home or office, it’s also virtually invisible to anyone who isn’t explicitly looking for it. The unassuming design does come with some inherent issues, however. For one, it doesn’t feature an Ethernet port for extending a wired connection. Also, contrary to some of the best Wi-Fi extenders, the antennae are internal, and while that does allow it to disappear into the background, it does mean range is somewhat reduced. Despite these, it is still one of the best WiFi extenders 2019 has to offer.
TP-Link is a Chinese networking company that has been steadily been gaining popularity in the west, and with good reason. With devices like the TP-Link RE350 AC1200 Wi-Fi Range extender, it’s easy to see their why: this extender – among the best WiFi extenders you’ll find right now – does the job well, and it’s cheap. It’s not going to be the fastest Wi-Fi extender in the world, but with the range this extender offers at the price it’s available at, it’s a steal. Finally, thanks to an LED signal indicator on the front, installation is a breeze.
The Linksys RE6500 AC1200 is yet another Wi-Fi extender that looks more like a router. This sturdier design allows Linksys to include four gigabit Ethernet ports, which essentially empowers you to expand your network to internet-connected devices that need an ethernet connection. It also has an audio output jack that allows it to connect to an audio system, allowing you to stream digital music from your PC to your audio receiver. This is a pretty robust and versatile device, and one of the best WiFi extenders for the money.
If you’re looking for an affordable way to beef up your Wi-Fi network, and you’re fine with compromising a little on performance and features, then the D-Link DAP-1320 Wireless N300 Range Extender might just be one of the best WiFi extenders for you. This tiny device doesn't have any Ethernet ports, and it doesn't feature dual bands or 802.11ac, which is currently the fastest form of Wi-Fi. However, it is designed well and built to last. And best of all, it's a quick, easy and cheap way of bolstering your Wi-Fi network as long as you’re not expecting too much network traffic.
The Linksys Velop makes a solid argument for a wireless mesh network’s ease of setup. Seeking to replace both your router and your now-antiquated range extender, the Velop arrives at a time when companies like Google and Netgear are trying to do the same thing. The main way Linksys hopes to differentiate its device from its rivals in the wireless mesh networking space is with a user-friendly setup that anyone with a smartphone can easily do. With just a visit to the App Store or Google Play marketplace, you’ll have the Linksys Velop running in a matter of minutes. It's certainly a worthy addition to our list of the best WiFi extenders in 2018. Read the full review: Linksys Velop
Need a great way to upgrade your network so you can have great coverage wherever you are in your house, a powerline adapter is a fantastic option. Not only do they maintain the same functionality as the best Wi-Fi extenders, but the TRENDnet Wi-Fi Everywhere Powerline might just be a dream come true. It’s not exactly aesthetically pleasing, and the price tag may be a tad high. However, this unit more than makes up for those issues with sheer performance. And, unlike other powerline adapters, the TRENDnet Wi-Fi Everywhere comes equipped with a clone button that will clone the SSID and WPA key of your network so that it can double as a Wi-Fi extender. Read the full review: Trendnet Wi-Fi Everywhere powerline 1200 AV2
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| Ofcom makes smartphone payments even simpler to save you money Posted: 22 Jul 2019 08:09 AM PDT Mobile phone users in the UK have the opportunity to save more money thanks to new measures announced by communications regulator Ofcom. It's seeking to do this by with new rules that make it easier to buy a handset and a tariff separately so you can save money in the long run. It's also urging networks to automatically switch customers who are out-of-contract to cheaper SIM only deals. Right now an estimated whopping two million people are using their phone on a contract that's run its course. Rather than moving to a new deal and saving up to £74 per year, they're sticking with the contract. The new rules now mean they must be alerted by their network operator and given options to show how they could save money by changing contract – even more protections are heading your way. Clear contracts for consumersThe proposed rules aim to help customers see more clearly what they're going to be paying before committing to a contract. As such the price of the handset and the price of the connection will be laid out so you can see if it would be cheaper to buy the SIM-free phone separately. There are also plans to make split contracts more fair. These are contracts where customers pay for the phone and connection separately. The new rule will mean these two cannot be linked for over 24 months, thereby allowing people to upgrade when they want without feeling trapped to pay off another part of their contract. Ofcom also wants networks to automatically move out-of-contract customers to fairer SIM only deals. Networks that have agreed include Virgin Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Vodafone and EE. Three has refused to do this. Virgin Media will move out-of-contact customers to the equivalent 30-day SIM only deal, Tesco Mobile will reduce monthly charges, O2 will also reduce prices to equivalent SIM only deal while Vodafone and EE will reduce prices for out-of-contract customers after three months. What are today's best mobile phone deals?All of the mobile phone deals can be found at that link. These include big names on both Apple iOS and Android operating systems. To get you to the best contract tariffs on the biggest handsets even quicker, follow the below links and go from there: This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quick! These exclusive cheap mobile phone deals on O2 end Tuesday Posted: 22 Jul 2019 07:51 AM PDT Since even before Amazon Prime Day last week, we'd been having a great time arranging exclusive mobile phone deals just for TechRadar readers. We teamed up with online phone retailers Mobiles.co.uk to bring the prices down on a selection of their top tariffs. And we're not talking about some dodgy old devices that they'd found down the back of the sofa. Deals on iPhones, the brilliant Huawei Pro 30 and recently-released Samsung Galaxy S10e have all been knocked down in price if you use our exclusive code. We have details of the included cut price tariffs in full below, all of which get £25 knocked off the upfront cost with the voucher code TECH25OFF. But the cliche is true and this is yet another good thing that must come to an end. And really soon, too. These discount codes will become inactive on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 23, so if you like the look of any of these phone deals then we'd suggest you get in quick.
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| Huawei Mate 30 Pro: release date, news, price and leaks Posted: 22 Jul 2019 07:27 AM PDT The Huawei Mate 30 Pro is the next major phone launch from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer after the Mate 20 Pro, with the covers expect to be lifted on the new handset (and the base Huawei Mate 30) in October. However, by the time the Huawei Mate 30 Pro launch comes around, the company could be in a very different position.
That's because the Huawei ban is set to be in full swing by then, with Google cutting off access to key services such as the Play Store and its suite of apps - which could severely hamper the Mate 30 Pro's popularity outside of its native China. While the Huawei P30 and the Huawei P30 Pro have full access to Android and Google's apps, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro may launch with the firm's own operating system - currently rumored as HongMeng or Ark OS. Not much is known about the Huawei Mate 30 Pro yet, but rumors are starting to roll in, all of which you’ll find below. We’ll also update this article any time we hear any credible new information. Could the phone come out, and if it does will it reach our list of the best Android phones? We'll have to wait until launch to find out for sure. Cut to the chase
Huawei Mate 30 Pro release date and priceThere aren’t any Huawei Mate 30 Pro release date rumors yet, but we have a pretty good idea of roughly when we’ll see it. Huawei always announces new entries in its Mate range towards the end of the year, and more specifically it announced both the Huawei Mate 20 range and the Huawei Mate 10 in October of their respective launch years. So an October announcement is our best guess. There’s no guarantee of that, especially as the Huawei Mate 9 was announced in November 2016, but at the very least the Mate 30 Pro will likely be announced in the last few months of 2019, alongside the standard Huawei Mate 30.
The Mate 30 Pro is likely to land in October. Image Credit: TechRadar There aren’t any price rumors yet either, but the Huawei Mate 20 Pro cost £899 / AU$1,599 (around $1,150) at launch, so it’s likely that the Mate 30 Pro will cost at least that much. It’s worth noting also that given Huawei’s ongoing issues in the US, the Mate 30 Pro probably won’t be available there. Huawei Mate 30 Pro news and rumorsOne of the major Huawei Mate 30 Pro rumor so far comes from a Huawei patent, which shows a phone case with space on the back for extra camera lenses. You can see the image below and based on that it looks like there could be room for five rear lenses, up from three on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and four on the P30 Pro. Of course, patents don’t always become real devices, and even if this does get used it might not make it to the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, but it would make sense for Huawei to increase the number of lenses on its flagship, given that a number of other phones are doing the same.
This could point to extra lenses on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro. Image Credit: Mobielkopen We've also heard from Huawei itself that the Mate 30 range might support 5G, but that so far the company is only "considering" this. Beyond that, we can be confident that the Mate 30 Pro will have a new generation of the company’s top-end in-house chipset. The current top version is called the Kirin 980 and made its debut in the Huawei Mate 20 range. Based on previous names we can guess that the next one will be called the Kirin 990. The Mate 30 Pro is also likely to have at least four rear cameras, given that the Huawei P30 Pro does, and it might have a similar design to that phone, including a tiny notch and hardly any bezel. A more recent leak may give us a better look at the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, with a set of renders supposedly showing the handset. The over-sized camera block matches the cutout in the patent leak above, and appears to house at least four cameras. On the front, this Huawei Mate 30 Pro leak suggests the handset will have dual front-facing cameras, surrounded by screen in a similar fashion to the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus.
Is this our first proper look at the Huawei Mate 30 Pro? (Image Credit: IT Home) Big camera blocks are starting to become one of the major design points for phones set to launch in the second half of 2019, with both the iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4 also tipped to adopt larger bumps. We've actually heard an alternative to this large phone block, though, as a leaked render shows a circle camera block with the lenses aligned in an X shape. It's a futuristic design for sure, but it's rather surprisingly large, and could be obnoxious in physical form. As well as the actual design of the cameras, we've heard a tiny bit about the camera capabilities, thanks to Huawei trademarking the phrases 'Cine Lens' and 'Camera Matrix'. We're expecting the former to be a lens with specific features designed for video recording, but the latter is a bit of a mystery at the moment, as it could refer to many things. On the front of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, leaked images of the display show screen cut-outs for many cameras – more than for a dual-lens front-facing snapper, as some smartphones have, so it's possible that the device will have Apple-style facial unlocking. What we want to seeThe Huawei Mate 30 Pro is likely to be a powerful, impressive phone, but for it to really stand out it could do with the following things. 1. An improved cameraThe cameras on the Mate 20 Pro are generally very good, but in our review we found that shots taken with the ultra-wide-angle lens would sometimes have warped edges. We also noted that the phone’s HDR skills weren’t a match for some of its top rivals, such as the Google Pixel 3 and iPhone XS, so these are two things that we’d like to see improved for the Huawei Mate 30 Pro. 2. More lenses
Three is good, more is better. Image Credit: TechRadar While we’re on the subject of the camera, we’d also like more lenses. The three on the back is a good start, but with the likes of the Nokia 9 getting five lenses there’s always room for more. This may well happen too, as early rumors suggest that extra rear lenses could be a feature of the Mate 30 Pro. Similarly, we’d like to see an extra lens on the front of the phone, especially if it can be used to power Apple-calibre facial recognition. 3. No notchThe Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a good-looking phone, but one element that could start to look dated in 2019 is its notch, since phones are starting to arrive with punch-hole cameras instead. But ideally we don’t even want that for the Mate 30 Pro, what we’d like to see is a truly all-screen design with the camera and sensors somehow built into the screen. That might not be possible, but Huawei is often among the first to show new technology in handsets, so you never know. 4. A slicker interfaceOne ongoing issue with all of Huawei’s phones is the heavy EMUI overlay the company sticks on top of Android. We’d like to see the Huawei Mate 30 Pro stay closer to stock Android. Better yet, ditch EMUI entirely and use Android One – which would also ensure software updates could be offered rapidly. 5. An improved in-screen scanner
The Mate 20 Pro's scanner needs work. Image Credit: TechRadar The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has an in-screen fingerprint scanner and it was among the first phones to sport one. It’s a cool feature but in the Mate 20 Pro’s case it’s not perfect. It’s only on a small area of the screen, so can be hard to find without first turning the screen on (which brings up an icon). It also isn’t perfect at recognizing prints. That’s all forgivable since it’s the first generation of the tech, but by the time the Mate 30 Pro launches, Huawei will have had another year to perfect it, so let’s hope it will use the time wisely. 6. A 3.5mm headphone portLike many phones, the Mate 20 Pro lacks a 3.5mm headphone port, but we’re still not convinced that it’s time to abandon wired headphones. There are lots of arguments for the convenience of wireless headphones and the fact that the space used for the port could better be used for other things. This is all valid, but many of us still have wired cans that we don’t want to bury just yet. Some of us also don’t want to have to charge our headphones, and when it comes to sound quality wired can still have the edge. 7. Something newMost of the things listed above are focused on perfecting the Mate 20 Pro, but what we really want to see for the Huawei Mate 30 Pro is something completely new and exciting. Some sort of futuristic feature perhaps or a completely new, completely dazzling design. We’ll leave the specifics to Huawei, but in the face of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the iPhone 11 it’s likely to take more than impressive basics for the Mate 30 Pro to truly stand out.
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