Apple : Hostinger resets customer passwords following security breach |
- Hostinger resets customer passwords following security breach
- New Lenovo ThinkPad laptops with 10th generation Intel CPU have launched
- Best PC games 2019: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss
- AMD graphics cards: the best AMD GPUs you can buy today
- macOS 10.14 Mojave release date, news and features
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| Hostinger resets customer passwords following security breach Posted: 27 Aug 2019 02:32 PM PDT The web hosting company Hostinger has disclosed that it has experienced a security breach which impacted both its platform and users. The company revealed in a blog post that a hacker was able to gain access to an internal server where he discovered an authorization token for an internal API. The hacker then used it to make “API calls affecting information about Clients”. According to Hostinger, the hacker made API calls against a database which contained the personal information of around 14m customers that included their usernames, IP addresses, first and last names, and contact information such as their phone numbers, emails and home addresses. Information about user passwords was also stored on the database but thankfully it was in a hashed format.
Following the security incident, Hostinger decided to forcibly reset the passwords for all users whose accounts had been impacted as the company attempts to discover which of its customers were affected. Security breachThe hacker did not obtain any financial data nor were they able to compromise customer sites according to Hostinger. Following the security breach, the company set up a status page where customers can see up to the minute updates regarding the extent of the incident. Hostinger also said that the breached server and API have both been taken down. The company provided further information on the steps it has taken following the security breach in a blog post, saying: “Following the incident, we have identified the origin of unauthorized access and have taken necessary measures to protect data about our Clients, including mandatory password reset for our Clients and systems within all of our infrastructure. Furthermore, we have assembled a team of internal and external forensics experts and data scientists to investigate the origin of the incident and increase security measures of all Hostinger operations. As required by law, we are already in contact with the authorities.”
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| New Lenovo ThinkPad laptops with 10th generation Intel CPU have launched Posted: 27 Aug 2019 01:29 PM PDT The release of Intel's 10th Gen chips has seen many device manufacturers release updated versions of their most popular laptops and now Lenovo is following suit with the launch of new ThinkPads that will feature the chip giant's latest processors. However, design-wise these new laptops are quite similar to the company's previous models, though they do feature better specs and some sport Intel's Project Athena label which means they're guaranteed to provide at least nine hours of battery life. The new seventh generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon will include Intel's 10th Gen Comet Lake chips with options for a Core i5, Core i7 and even a hexacore Core i7 processor. The device is also one of the laptops that will include Intel's Project Athena label which will likely please power users looking to get more work done on a single charge.
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga is also getting a similar update and the device will now include either a 10th Gen Core i5 or i7 processor. Unlike the X1 Carbon, it won't be getting Intel's Project Athena label and for the most part the ThinkPad X1 Yoga retains the design of its predecessor. ThinkPad refreshLenovo also announced that the ThinkPad T490 and X390 will also be getting new chips with the option of either a Core i5 or Core i7 processor. Just like the rest of devices announced by the company, these two laptops will feature a similar design to their predecessors. The two devices getting the most substantial update are Lenovo's ThinkPad L13 and L13 Yoga. The new models are an update to the older L390 model and the devices will now offer a thinner and lighter design. Lenovo has also reworked the ThinkPad L13 and L13 Yoga with brighter displays, smaller bezels, a sliding “ThinkShutter” integrated webcam cover and there is also an optional IR camera for Windows Hello available. Users will even have the option to outfit their L13 or L13 Yoga with Intel's 10th Gen chips. However, cheaper less powerful chips such as Intel's Celeron processors will also be available. Every new generation of processor doesn't necessarily warrant a design overhaul and Lenovo has delivered a range of new devices with updated processors that feature the design and form factor users already expect from a ThinkPad.
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| Best PC games 2019: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss Posted: 27 Aug 2019 01:28 PM PDT Welcome to our pick of the best PC games of 2019. Now that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is here, along with Intel’s Coffee Lake Refresh processors, there’s never been a better time to get into PC games. The PC is arguably the best gaming platform in the world – forget about your PlayStations and Xboxes – thanks to a phenomenally huge catalogue of brilliant games. The best PC games cover a huge range of genres, from platformers and point-and-click adventures, to retro favorites and action-packed first person shooters that utilise the best modern graphics tech for eye-popping visuals. The sheer about of brilliant PC games can leave you wondering where to get started, which is where our best PC games of 2019 list comes in. We've put together the definitive list of the best PC games, from oldies like the Orange Box to newer fan-favorites like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Believe us when we say you’ll want to get all of these PC games installed so you can experience them firsthand. If you’re a PC gaming newbie, you picked the perfect time to jump in on the platform, and we’d love to extend you a warm welcome. Let’s dive into the best PC games you can play in 2019. The best new PC game: Control
There’s a lot to love about Control – the creative team at Remedy Entertainment made sure of that, paying very close attention to the intricate details. A deeply cinematic game, this action-adventure offers its players stunning visuals, inspired environment design and standout performances, as well as a deeply satisfying combat experience. Control places you in the capable shoes of fiery-haired Jesse Faden. You’re tasked to seek out The Oldest House, a building in New York City that’s in a constant state of architectural flux and only appears to those who desire to find it, and locate your missing brother, all while heading the Federal Bureau of Control as its director and overseeing the containment of paranatural entities. There’s nothing quite like Control on the market, and it makes it one of the best PC games to play right now. 1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is aging like fine wine. Four years after its release, and it’s still one of the most ambitious open world games that’s ever existed – combining Skyrim’s unapologetic scale with Grand Theft Auto V’s insane depth. It’s such a jam-packed game, which is why it tops our list of the best PC games in 2019. Huge, beautiful and an absolute time sink – in a good way – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t just the best PC game of 2019. It may be one of the best video games of all time.
2. Dark Souls 3
While it's arguably not as hard as previous entries in the series, From Software's Dark Souls 3 takes everything you like about the Souls series and combines it with elements found in Bloodborne, the developer's more recent game for PS4. We won’t sugar coat it: you’re going to die in Dark Souls 3, probably more than once. It takes patience to master its complex combat system, but it also plays fair, making it more approachable for casual players to take part in its bleak, fantastical world. And, on the bright side, it’s much more optimized for PC than the first two games. Now that you can pick up Dark Souls: Remastered, and see where the apocalyptic series began, there’s never been a better time to link the first flame. 3. Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter has been one of the largest gaming franchises you’ve never heard of for years now. With Monster Hunter: World, the series broke into the mainstream and come to the PC (finally), making it one of the best PC games you can play today. Monster Hunter: World places you in the shoes of a monster hunter, obviously, and you’ll hunt progressively bigger and nastier monsters, strip them for parts, and craft bigger, badder armor. It’s a deceptively simple gameplay loop that ends up being one of the most compelling and rewarding PC games you can play today. There’s a never-ending onslaught of content in this game, and Capcom, the developers of this monster hunting hit, are dedicated to bringing a wealth of free DLC to the game – not to mention a new frosty expansion in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. If you’re looking for an addictive, immersive and most importantly, fun game to play on your own or with all your best friends cooperatively, check out Monster Hunter: World. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best PC games you can buy today.
4. Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most anticipated console ports to ever hit the PC, and you won’t need to be told twice to head back into Los Santos's hugely detailed and highly interactive world. Only this time, it’s 10 times more fun with the PC's richer graphics and smooth 60 fps gameplay. Plus, after you’ve finished its 30-hour campaign, there’s an overflow of post-game content to enjoy. Most recently, that includes The Doomsday Heist in GTA Online and even a radio station hosted by Frank Ocean. 5. Sid Meier's Civilization VI
Sid Meier's Civilization VI is the latest entry in the iconic turn-based strategy game, and it's one of our picks for the best PC game you can play right now. One of the things that makes the PC the best platform for gaming on is the sheer breadth of different game genres on offer. Civilization VI might seem slow paced compared to the likes of Fortnite, but its scope is huge. Spead your empire across the map and crush your enemies. You build up your empire from a simple settlement to a world power, and you can choose to do this through military might, technological supremacy or cultural influence. Since its launch in 2016, it has had two expansion packs that continue to cement the game as an epic entry in our best PC games list. Civilization VI: Rise and Fall released in February 2018, with Civilization VI: Gathering Storm following in February 2019. 6. Alien: Isolation
Set 15 years after the events of the first Alien film from 1979, Alien: Isolation is the suspense-filled game that fans of the franchise have long awaited. Playing the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, you’re tasked to track down and recover the flight recorder of the Nostromo spacecraft from the first Alien film, which has been located aboard the Sevastopol space station. First and foremost a stealth game, Isolation heightens the tension by giving you minimal weaponry. Its excellent graphics shine on high-end PCs and clever AI helps ramp up the dread, leaving you quivering at every corner. This and more make Alien: Isolation well-deserving of a spot on our list of the best PC games. 7. Overwatch
Overwatch, if nothing else, has drastically changed the landscape, moving it away from the norm of gray-ish cover shooters to the realm of competitive gaming. Its bright, vibrant colors are only made better with approachable characters, each coming with their own interesting backstories, which, while not present in game, make for a collection of awesome webcomics and cinematics. Overwatch is also one of the best PC games, because of how well it runs on all kinds of different hardware. Sure, it’s a bit old now, but even in 2019, it’s the best PC game for anyone with a competitive streak. If somehow you’ve missed out on this game, do yourself a favor – sign in to your Battle.net account and take Overwatch – not to mention, its colorful cast of characters – for a spin today. 8. Forza Horizon 4
Microsoft's racing series has been getting better with every release, and in many ways this spin-off has surpassed the main Forza Motorsport line as the best racing games on PC right now. They're certainly more fun, adding a dash of arcade fun to the stunningly recreated cars and race tracks we've come to expect from Forza. Forza Horizon 4 is easily one of the best PC games you can buy today, and this entry brings the racing to the UK after having explored America, France, Italy and Australia in the previous three instalments of the franchise. Now, you can tear through quaint villages, seaside towns and the city of Edinburgh by way of many miles of country roads and dirt tracks in between. It's fast, frantic and a lot of fun. You can buy Forza Horizon 4 through the Microsoft Store. It's also available as part of the Xbox Game Pass for PC, or you can buy the Xbox One version and get a download code for PC using the Xbox Anywhere feature. 9. Thimbleweed Park
Fans of classic point and click games such as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle, which are some of the finest PC games ever made, should make sure they download Thimbleweed Park. Made by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, two of the people behind PC classics Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, Thimbleweed Park plays like a love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games. From the stunning retro artwork, hilarious dialogue and head-scratching puzzles, Thimbleweed Park deserves its place on our list of the best PC games, combining the best of old school PC game design with modern technology. 10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Seven years after its first release, Skyrim is as solid a game as ever thanks to its vast selection of mods and high-resolution texture packs. Even if you're only interested in playing the vanilla version of the RPG, it offers more than 100 hours of gameplay. Throw in three action packed DLC expansion packs (Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn) to the mix, and it lasts even longer. That Skyrim has been compared to graphically superior but similar RPG blockbuster The Witcher 3 is proof of its enduring popularity. Step into Skyrim, one of the best PC games in 2019, and you too can be an adventurer - just try not to take an arrow in the knee. If you’re looking for a more special version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Bethesda has you covered – it can’t seem to stop releasing and re-releasing Skyrim for every platform. You can even play it in VR. 11. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
From Software is a household name when it comes to creating the best PC games. The minds behind the critically acclaimed Dark Souls series have brought PC gamers to some of the most desolate landscapes and through some of the most challenging yet rewarding gameplay. From Software is back at it again, with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Sekiro places you in the shoes of the Young Wolf, a shinobi tasked with rescuing his young master. The game will take you through 16th-century Japan, but things will get weird and supernatural: this is From Software we’re talking about. Don’t expect an easy time of it though. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an extremely hard game to master, and you’ll require quick reflexes to deflect enemy attacks, as well as to master stealth. You won’t be able to hide behind a shield all day, like you were able to in Dark Souls III. 12. Minecraft
The phrase "build it, and they will come" rings true with Minecraft, the survival-based sandbox RPG that has now been purchased more than 100 million times since its conception in 2009. In it, you can build your own worlds using resources you find in the wild, or explore existing ones created by other players online. In Minecraft, you can either limit yourself to the numerous tools and blocks provided by the developer, Mojang, or you can install mods to truly capitalize on your investment. Additionally, sometime in 2019, you’ll be able to take part in the Super Duper Graphics Pack, an optional piece of DLC that adds more realistic lighting effects and textures to an already incredible game. 13. Doom
Id Software's Doom was a phenomena for PC gamers in the ‘90s. The crudely rendered first-person shooter series was as controversial as it was beloved, thanks in large part to its cutting-edge depictions of gore and violence that only a computer could deliver. Parents be damned, the franchise has made a comeback in 2016 with a fresh reset, appropriately titled Doom. Even though the multiplayer might not appeal to shooter fans regardless of age, the single player campaign will pit you against demons in Hell for a lengthy mission that is bloody satisfying, pun intended. 14. Fortnite Battle Royale
How could we not include possibly the biggest game in the world right now? Fortnite Battle Royale is a global phenomenon and one of the best PC games right now if you like super-competitive online games. This is a game people keep coming back to, and that's mainly thanks to the addictive gameplay and regular updates from Epic. Fortnite Battle Royale is actually a game mode for the Fortnite game, but this mode has become so popular, many people consider it a separate game in its own right. As with other Battle Royale games, the aim of Fortnite Battle Royale is to fight your way through an ever-shrinking map until you're the last player standing. That might sound simple, but there's a whole lot of depth to this game once you start playing. 15. Cuphead
Cuphead's 1930's animation aesthetics easily makes this one of the best looking – and sounding – PC games on the list. Combining run-and-gun platforming and boss rush battles, it's an incredibly difficult game – but that also makes it so rewarding. With hand-drawn cell animation, watercolor backgrounds and original jazz soundtrack, Cuphead is unlike anything you'll play on PC, and while the steep difficulty curve may put people off, if you're willing to sharpen your gaming skills you'll be rewarded with one of the best PC games money can buy.
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| AMD graphics cards: the best AMD GPUs you can buy today Posted: 27 Aug 2019 01:07 PM PDT AMD Navi is here, which only means that there are more impressive AMD graphics cards to choose from. Sadly, you still won’t find something that’s going to dethrone or match the beastly Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Still, there’s now a number of AMD graphics cards out there that will let you turn up all the settings in your favorite PC games. Over the years, AMD has made a name for itself in the budget and mid-range markets, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT carry on that tradition while raising the bar at the same time. If you’re in the market for a great GPU without spending a small fortune, going with one of the best AMD graphics cards makes a lot of sense – especially if you’re still on a 1440p or 1080p gaming monitor. However, because AMD graphics cards aren't quite as ubiquitous as Nvidia, it can be hard to nail down the best AMD graphics card for your needs. So, we gathered all the best AMD graphics cards you can buy today from across Team Red’s lineup, and even included our exclusive price comparison tool so you know you’re getting the best deal.
Image credit: TechRadar This powerhouse of a graphics card has barely hit the streets, and it’s already topping our list of the best AMD graphics cards, knocking reigning champion, the AMD Radeon RX 590, off the top spot. At $349, this mighty mid-range machine delivers 1440p gaming at Ultra or Max settings to the mainstream market, making it accessible to us mere mortals. At that price point, it was never going to be perfect – those hoping for ray tracing will have to wait, possibly until 2020 – but the AMD Radeon RX 5700 is already pretty incredible, especially for that price. Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 5700
Image credit: XFX Right now, the AMD Radeon RX 590 gives you the best bang for your buck when it comes to price and performance. You’re getting 8GB of VRAM, though it's still at GDDR5, and enough graphical horsepower to max out pretty much any game at 1080p. If you’re a 4K fan, you might want to look for other options. However, if you just want a killer gaming experience without paying a fortune, the AMD Radeon RX 590 is one of the best AMD graphics cards to consider.
Image credit: TechRadar If you’ve got a lot of cash to spare, splurging a little on the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT might be a sound investment. This graphics card directly rivals the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 in terms of performance, and like the cheaper Radeon RX 5700, this one is a true powerhouse, giving you excellent 1440p gaming at the highest settings. The only reason that it’s not higher on our AMD graphics cards list is its price. It could be cheaper, especially since the Super RTX cards that Nvidia just rolled out. Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
Image credit: MSI Billed as AMD’s first 7nm graphics card, the AMD Radeon VII marks a significant shift in GPU technology. This is an impressively powerful graphics card designed specifically to take on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080. This GPU, therefore, is packed with 16GB of HBM2 VRAM, double the frame buffer of Team Green’s competition. Among the best AMD graphics cards, the AMD Radeon VII is the obvious choice if you’re want beautiful and immersive 4K gaming. Though, bear in mind that several sources have confirmed that this GPU has reached end-of-life status. If you’re looking to purchase the AMD Radeon VII, better do it before the remaining stock runs out. Read the full review: AMD Radeon VII
Image credit: AMD It’s a few years old at this point, but the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is still an excellent choice when it comes to 1440p gaming and rightly deserves a spot in our best AMD graphics cards list. Though it draws a lot of power, and gets pretty toasty, the AMD Vega 64 still delivers when it comes to performance. You’ll be able to max out pretty much any game at 1440p and still get 60 fps. Plus, now that the AMD Radeon VII is out, you should be able to find plenty of killer Vega 64 deals. Read the full review: AMD Vega 64
Image credit: AMD It’s in the mid-range level where AMD traditionally shines, and the Radeon RX 570 is a perfect example of why. This is an extremely affordable AMD graphics card, but one that’s capable of running many AAA PC titles at high settings and still reach 60 fps. It’s not quite as powerful as the AMD Radeon RX 590, but you’re saving quite a bit of cash for an impressive performance. Just remember to go for an 8GB model, rather than the 4GB.
Image credit: MSI If you’re on a budget, picking up a pricey graphics card doesn’t really make a lot of sense – especially when there are a few budget AMD graphics cards out there. Take the AMD Radeon RX 560, for example. We’ll be straight with you – this is not the most powerful GPU on hand right now. However, when you’re spending as little as a hundred bucks in the US, it’s hard to complain.
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| macOS 10.14 Mojave release date, news and features Posted: 27 Aug 2019 12:56 PM PDT Now that macOS 10.14 Mojave has been on our Macs, bringing key iOS apps like News and Stocks to our desktops, Apple’s OS is better than ever before. But, that’s not all: macOS 10.14 is also brimming with stunning new and improved features, such as the system-wide Dark Mode and increased productivity through Finder. In the coming years, more iOS apps should be arriving on the best Macs. Apple confirmed this at WWDC 2019 with Project Catalyst, making it simpler and more streamlined for developers to bring their iPhone and iPad apps to mac. Moreover, Project Catalyst has been accessible to developers as of June 3 with the beta version of macOS Catalina, so we can expect app developers to be releasing more macOS versions of iOS apps soon. Yet even now, there’s already a ton to love in macOS 10.14. And, despite macOS 10.14 coming with its own fair share of security issues, most notably KeySteal, the operating system is altogether safe and secure. Apple’s macOS 10.14 Mojave has been on our Macs for more than eight months at this point and most, if not all, of the issues have been addressed. Plus, any problems still remaining are dwarfed by the benefits this new OS brings to the table. Let’s dig into all of its features, along with any new ones that have been added, so you can choose for yourself whether or not upgrading to the macOS 10.14 is for you.
Cut to the chase
macOS 10.14 Mojave release dateApple revealed macOS 10.14 Mojave back in June 2018 at WWDC 2018, where the majority of its features were showcased. This was followed by a public beta launch in July, and finally a full launch on September 24, 2018. Apple has been keeping macOS 10.14 Mojave up to date with all the newest features. The latest of these updates, macOS 10.14.4, brings Dark Mode to Safari, alongside the new Apple News+ service. Past updates included a fix for the FaceTime Bug that allowed other people to access your camera without you taking their call, and a supplemental update to boost reliability for the 2018 MacBook Air. Apple has also released macOS 10.14.5, which most likely will be one of the last major updates to the operating system before macOS 10.15 is released. This update centers on stability, and is still very much worth downloading despite only offering more nuanced refinements. Stay tuned to this page, as we will keep this section updated with all the latest news and information when they’re made available.
macOS 10.14 Mojave featuresNow that macOS 10.14 Mojave has been available for some time, there are a lot of new features to explore, enjoy and take advantage of. We’re going to dig into a detailed run-down of everything your Mac can do. From Finder improvements to stricter security, the best Macs are about to become that much better. Read on to uncover all the new features macOS Mojave brings to the table, whether or not you’ve updated your computer yet, so you can take full advantage.
Dark Mode Third party programs are also starting to adopt this new theme, with changes happening automatically for any app that uses standard colors through AppKit. Even developers who don’t use AppKit are working on implementing Dark Mode on their applications. For instance, in a recent bug report, Google Chrome developers confirmed that they’re working on a way to bring Dark Mode into the massively popular web browser – just as soon as they iron out some issues first. Group FaceTime Group FaceTime has an amazingly intuitive implementation in macOS 10.14 Mojave. You can start a group FaceTime chat from any group iMessage thread, and invites are sent through a ringless non-disruptive notification. Once you’re in a Group FaceTime Chat, it automatically detects the person speaking, bringing them front and center so that everyone’s always focused on the person actively speaking.
Stacks With Stacks, macOS Mojave sorts similar files together so that you have a cleaner, more streamlined desktop, organizing photos with photos, pdfs with pdfs and so on. You can even preview the thumbnails in a stack using a two-finger scroll, so that you can make sure the file you’re looking for is really in that stack.
Gallery View This is made even better, thanks to the incredibly detailed metadata display in the Preview pane. This feature makes it easier than ever before to view all the information of any file on your Mac. Lastly, thanks to the addition of Quick Actions in the Preview pane, you won’t even need to leave Finder to work on files, whether you’re editing images or adding protection to files. You can even allocate Automator tasks as Quick Actions to make browsing through files even easier.
Continuity Camera Across a plethora of different apps - Numbers and Pages, for example – you’ll be able to just Control + Click in the body of the document, and select “Take Photo” or “Scan Documents.” It’ll then proceed to open the camera on your iPhone or iPad so you can take a photo that immediately pops it right into whatever you might be working on. It’s easy to use. It’s convenient. And, it’s going to be a benefit for anyone that has to save some time while doing schoolwork or that next big work project.
Markup in Quick Look and Screenshots Markup is also available in screenshots, which means that you can easily bring up any screenshot and instantly edit any content within. Being able to speedily crop screenshots in macOS Mojave without needing to open any third-party photo-editing software is going to be a massive time-saver. Whenever you capture a screen, you’ll see a preview image pop up, just like in iOS 12, that you can click on to preview and edit your screenshot. That's not all. Screenshots are still a quick shortcut away, but with macOS Mojave, a new easy-to-use menu includes screen-recording tools that let you capture animated content. Perhaps even more importantly, you can decide to save the screenshot to your clipboard, saving time – not to mention space – if you just have to send someone a quick screenshot, but don’t want that screenshot filling up your storage.
Apps These apps leverage the muscle of the best Macs to deliver an amazing experience. Voice Memos, for example, will automatically transfer any memos you take between your iOS and macOS devices – rewarding anyone who relies on the ‘Apple Ecosystem’ for a more streamlined workflow. This isn’t a full iOS app migration. In fact, since these apps are specifically revamped for macOS, they feel like new Apps. Plus, the new Apple News+ service is available on Mac the same day as iOS. Apple did say that it would be bringing more iOS apps to Macs this year, but we’ll need to wait until the later part of 2019.
Security That’s not all: Safari also has gotten its own share of security enhancements. Those include shutting down cookies that follow you across websites, and making sure that Safari asks permission before it lets cookies of any kind access to your browsing data. Among these are those annoying social media buttons that inexplicably appear on every page – Facebook and Twitter can’t track your activity outside of their own websites unless you want them to.
New Mac App Store Not only does it look fantastic, but it also allows you to browse through apps depending on what you’re trying to install. If you’re currently looking for an affordable alternative to Logic Pro X or Adobe Photoshop, for example, it’s organized so that you can easily find the best Mac apps to fit your needs. The new Mac App Store also receives the iOS App Store’s approach to editorializing its content. It’ll now come with a much more modern interface with featured apps getting tutorials, spotlights and other such content. It really does bring the Mac App Store into the modern age. What’s even more exciting is that a ton of third-party developers, like Adobe and Microsoft, are finally bringing their apps to the Mac App Store, so you won’t need to go through untrustworthy websites for the apps you need.
macOS 10.14 Mojave specificationsIt’s too bad that, with all these new features, some older Macs will have to go without access to macOS Mojave. This is a departure from macOS High Sierra, which essentially had the same system requirements as macOS 10.12. macOS 10.14 requires at least 14.3GB of hard drive space to be installed, as that’s what was required last year. To be on the safe side, keep at least 20GB of free space. Though, macOS Mojave does require more powerful hardware than High Sierra. macOS 10.13 required at least 2GB of RAM and OS X 10.8 or later – that’s not the case anymore. These are the Macs supported by macOS 10.14 Mojave.
Unfortunately, while the required models seldom change year after year, they have with macOS 10.14. If you have an older MacBook, you might have to get a newer device to enjoy this new version of the OS. Images Credit: Apple
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| Labor Day TV sales: 4K TV deals from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and more Posted: 27 Aug 2019 12:36 PM PDT Labor Day sales have officially begun, and that means it's a fantastic time to find record-low prices on top-brand TVs. Labor Day TV sales include massive savings on a wide range of television sets from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and more. To help you find the best deals we've combed through each retailers site to find the best prices on TVs that include a variety of different sizes and features. Shop more of the best Labor Day TV deals below and keep in mind these offers are limited-time promotions and will end on Monday, September 2. Labor Day TV deals:
Shop more deals with our guide to the best Labor Day sales of 2019. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Qualcomm pushes Wi-Fi 6 for faster connections on more devices Posted: 27 Aug 2019 12:22 PM PDT Qualcomm recently hosted a special event centered around Wi-Fi 6, called Qualcomm Wi-Fi 6 Day. Coinciding with the event, the company released a number of documents going over its ambitions for the new standard in Wi-Fi connectivity. More and more devices are connecting to wireless networks, whether they be cellular or Wi-Fi networks, and the devices have steeper demands than ever before. Online activities, like video streaming (with ever increasing image resolution) or cloud gaming, require high bandwidth – and low latency in the latter's case – and Wi-Fi 6 can help deliver that.
Where to see Wi-Fi 6Qualcomm has already been pushing for more Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. Mobile devices built around Qualcomm systems-on-chip (SoCs) can feature Qualcomm's FastConnect Subsystems, which enable Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. These subsystems integrate both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections of the device as well as other non-cellular connections. We've already seen Wi-Fi 6 connectivity show up a number of places. Some routers are already out on the market, Samsung's Galaxy S10 series all include Wi-Fi 6 connections through their Snapdragon 855 chipset, and some laptops already feature the new standard. The Wi-Fi 6 implementation seen in Snapdragon 855 and Snapdragon 855 Plus chipsets is largely coming from from Qualcomm's FastConnect 6200 subsystem. But, the company has a new FastConnect 6800 subsystem on the way, which expands on the former's offering with improvements on users' uplink connection. Wi-Fi 6 is for way more than just phonesAMD, the popular chipmaker behind the recent Ryzen 3000 series of processors, is also going to work with Qualcomm. According to AMD Senior Director of Product Management David McAffee, the company will implement the Qualcomm FastConnect platform alongside its mobile laptop processors. Qualcomm is also ready to build Wi-Fi 6 into automobiles, with its QCA6696 SoC. The SoC company isn't just focused on the chips going into devices that will connect to Wi-Fi 6 networks, but also working to build the networks that those devices will connect to. The Qualcomm Networking Pro Series is all about building networks that can deliver on the demand for a massive number of connected devices with no negative impact on user experience, all while maintaining high bandwidth and low latency. These platforms are designed with densely packed areas in mind, like "university lecture halls, malls, stadiums and office buildings." This push for broader implementation of Wi-Fi 6's capabilities, alongside growth in 5G mobile networks, will be at the center of improvements in connectivity in the coming years. To say that both technologies could be transformative for how we operate online would not be an overstatement.
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| VMware Tanzu brings containers and VMs closer together Posted: 27 Aug 2019 12:16 PM PDT During its annual VMworld conference, VMware announced a new set of services for managing both virtual machines and containers in a single view called Tanzu. Managing traditional virtual machines alongside containers in Kubernetes is one of the biggest challenges faced by organizations today. However, this is further complicated when organizations try to manage resources across multiple clouds and in-house data centers. This is why VMware created Tanzu and the company's Graig McLuckie (who was part of the original Kubernetes development team) believes that the new service can help organizations better manage complexity across their entire landscape of apps, virtual machines and containers.
Chief operating officer for products and cloud services at VMware, Raghu Raghuram explained how VMware is leveraging its recent acquisitions to help its customers build, run and manage their applications in a press release announcing Tanzu, saying: “Organizations are seeking a partner to meet them where they are today and guide them as they move to modern applications. We’re positioned to help customers succeed along each step of their journey—building their applications with the addition of Pivotal’s developer platform, tools and services; running their applications with the groundbreaking Project Pacific which will transform vSphere into a Kubernetes native platform; and managing their growing Kubernetes footprint across environments from a single control point with VMware Tanzu Mission Control.” Tanzu Mission Control and Project PacificAlongside the announcement of Tanzu Mission Control which is used to manage Kubernetes clusters, VMware also introduced Project Pacific. Project Pacific is able to embed Kubernetes natively into the company's virtualization platform vSphere to bring together virtual machines and containers. McLuckie explained the advantages of bringing virtual machines and Kubernetes together to TechCrunch, saying: “One is being able to bring a robust, modern API-driven way of thinking about accessing resources. And it turns out that there is this really good technology for that. It’s called Kubernetes. So being able to bring a Kubernetes control plane to vSphere is creating a new set of experiences for traditional VMware customers that is moving much closer to a kind of cloud-like agile infrastructure type of experience. At the same time, vSphere is bringing a whole bunch of capabilities to Kubernetes that’s creating more efficient isolation capabilities.” The cloud-native vision has always been focused on enabling companies to manage resources wherever they live through a single lens and VMware designed Tanzu to do just this.
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| Business VPN flaws exploited by hackers Posted: 27 Aug 2019 11:47 AM PDT Two popular enterprise VPNs have been hijacked by cybercriminals after vulnerabilities in their software were publicly disclosed. Pulse Secure VPN and Fortinet's FortiGate VPN were targeted after flaws in both products were made public during a talk at this month's Black Hat security conference. While the talk given by security researchers at Devcore may have given the attackers some insight into the flaws, it is more likely that the technical details and proof-of-concept code included in a blog post by the company published after Black Hat was used to launch the attacks.
The blog post included details and demo code for a number of vulnerabilities in Pulse Secure VPN and FortiGate VPN but the attackers chose to exploit CVE-2019-11510 which affects Pulse Secure and CVE-2018-13379 which affects FortiGate. Both of these vulnerabilities are “pre-authentication file reads” and can be used by hackers to retrieve files from a targeted system without having to authenticate. Enterprise VPN vulnerabilitiesAccording to security researchers from Bad Packets, the hackers are scanning the internet for vulnerable devices and are then retrieving system password files from Pulse Secure VPNS and VPN session files from Fortinet's FortiGate. These files allow attackers to authenticate on the devices or to fake an active VPN session. In a recent blog post, Bad Packets revealed that there are almost 42,000 Pulse Secure VPN systems available online and almost 14,500 of which have not been patched. The number of FortiGate VPNs online is also believed to be in the hundreds of thousands but there are no exact stats on how many unpatched systems are still vulnerable to attacks. Patches for both enterprise VPNs have been available for months with Pulse releasing a patch in April and Fortinet releasing a patch in May. However, customers failed to update their VPNs when these patches were released and now they're paying the price. Customers of both companies are being advised to patch their software as soon as possible since these expensive enterprise-grade VPN products are typically used to protect access to highly-sensitive networks. For instance, Bad Packets found Pulse Secure VPNs on the networks of US military and government agencies, public universities and schools, hospitals and health care providers, major financial institutions and many Fortune 500 companies.
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| Dell launches new enterprise-focused Chromebooks Posted: 27 Aug 2019 11:42 AM PDT Google is bringing Chrome OS to the enterprise with the launch of two new business-focused Dell Latitude laptops running the search giant's operating system. Dell's Latitude line is already popular with enterprise users running Windows 10 but the company worked together with Google for more than a year to create two new Chromebook Enterprise devices that can be easily managed by organization's IT departments. These new Chromebooks will come bundled with a range of Dell's cloud-based support services that make it easier for IT admins to control how the devices are rolled out inside organizations. It will also be easier for IT to integrate these devices into existing Windows environments and manage them using tools such as VMware Workspace One.
Google has also made changes to its Chrome Admin console to improve load times, add search functionality on every page and the console has even been overhauled with material design elements. Enterprise ChromebooksBusinesses interested in purchasing Chrome OS devices for their organization will be able to choose from either Dell's 14-inch Latitude 5400 for $699 or its 13-inch Latitude 5300 2-in-1 for $819. Both Chromebooks can be configured with up to Intel's 8th Gen Core i7 processors, up to 32GB of its RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. While Dell's new devices won't include Intel's recently announced 10th Gen processors, both Chromebooks will offer LTE connectivity and include UBS-C docking capabilities. Vice president of Chrome OS at Google, John Solomon explained how Chrome OS is able to meet the needs of end-users and IT departments in a blog post announcing Dell's new enterprise Chromebooks, saying: “Chromebook Enterprise is a game-changer for businesses looking for a modern OS that provides end-users with speed and productivity, while offering IT the comprehensive security they need. As a longtime global leader in the enterprise, Dell Technologies has a deep understanding of end-user and IT needs and is a natural fit to bring powerful devices with the benefits of Chrome Enterprise to businesses worldwide.” Google's enterprise push for Chrome OS may be starting with Dell but the search giant is currently working with a number of OEMs to expand it further and we will likely see other device manufacturers announce Enterprise Chromebooks soon.
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| The best back to school sales 2019: deals on laptops, backpacks, tablets, and more Posted: 27 Aug 2019 11:40 AM PDT Labor Day is just around the corner which marks the end of summer and a new school year for prospective students and parents. To help you save money before the new year we've listed the best back to school sales that are happening now. We've found the best discounts and prices on laptops, tablets, backpacks, appliances, printers, and more. You can find excellent deals from retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy on top brands such as Dell, Apple, Samsung, and more. The best back to school sales:
Back to school deals:See our roundup of the best laptops under $500: the best budget laptops around and our 10 tips for buying a Back to School laptop. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| We've tested ray tracing in Control on PC with every Nvidia RTX Super card Posted: 27 Aug 2019 11:31 AM PDT Ever since we first saw that the system requirements of Remedy Games's Control would melt our computer, we were looking at the game and wondering both whether it was worth the high specs and how it would perform when it finally hit the streets. Luckily, now that the PC game is out – and is generally quite excellent – we can actually put that to the test. We took the opportunity to run the game on four different Nvidia Turing RTX graphics cards, and were able to get a pretty good idea of what you can expect when it comes to performance. And, whether you're running the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, or even the RTX 2060 Super, you can expect a playable experience with Ray Tracing enabled at 1440p.
Dark rooms are a fine example of ray tracing in Control. RTX OnBefore we get into the hard numbers, we have to say that Control looks amazing with ray tracing enabled. With the exception of Quake 2 – a 22-year-old game that's now fully path-traced – Control is the first game where it makes an absolute night-and-day difference having ray tracing enabled. In order to pull this off, Remedy is using more ray tracing effects than any other game to date. Reflections, transparent reflections (through surfaces like glass and water), diffuse lighting, shadows and debris are all using ray tracing, so when you turn it off, the game looks significantly different – and worse. The debris, in particular, is worth noting, as it seems like it's basically Nvidia's PhysX tech turned up to 11. The environments are somewhat destructible – it really is a blast to destroy things in this game – and whenever an explosion goes off, or you use telekinesis to throw a chair through an office window, you'll see shards of glass, concrete and dust flying through the air until you nearly choke on all the debris. We don't know exactly what's going on under the hood here, but it's enough for us to expect a sizable performance hit for turning this stuff on. However, even at 4K, we only saw a 10 frames per second (fps) difference in performance.
2,560 x 1,440, High settings, Ray Tracing preset: High The numbers[Editor's Note: At the time of writing, Nvidia has released a new graphics driver specifically designed to optimize Control for its products. And, according to our testing, it boosted performance by 6% on the RTX 2080 Ti] We tested Control using a test system with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, 16GB of RAM at 3,200 MHz and a 2TB SSD, and we ran the game at 2,560 x 1,440 resolution with everything cranked up to the maximum settings. And, well, we were surprised with how well the game runs, even on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super. Even with that relatively inexpensive card – at least compared to the RTX 2080 Ti – we were able to get a solid 36 fps with ray tracing enabled. PC purists will scoff at this frame rate, of course, but it means you can get the same frame rate as people playing on the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, while having the game look much better. And, if you need a high frame rate to sleep at night, you can get a solid 57 fps on average with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super. One thing we did notice, however, is that the RTX 2080 Ti wasn't that much more powerful on our test bed. After doing some digging, we realize that the RTX 2080 Ti was being held back by the 6-core Ryzen 5 processor. However, on our home system, equipped with a 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X, we did regularly see frame rates above 60 fps. Still, at the end of the day, it's amazing how far ray tracing performance has come in a year's time. It wasn't so long ago that turning these fancy effects on would cripple your performance. The fact that Control has so many ray traced effects, and is still completely playable at 1440p, gives us a lot of hope for the future of the technology. And, if Gamescom 2019 was any indication, it will only get better from here.
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| Finally! Panasonic S1H now official, with 6K video and a new 24.2MP full-frame sensor Posted: 27 Aug 2019 11:30 AM PDT We've known that Panasonic was readying a new S1H mirrorless camera since the company spilled some details about the model at Cine Gear Expo back in May – but the company only told us so much at that point. Now, with the official launch, we know exactly what the model looks set to offer the full-frame-seeking videographer.
Up until now, what was known was that the camera would be capable of capturing 6K footage at a maximum 24p in a 3:2 ratio, together with 5.9K footage at 30p captured in the more standard 16:9. V-Log and V-Gamut were also set to be installed on the camera as standard – so no paid-for updates here as has previously been the case elsewhere. We also knew the model would have a full-frame sensor and a Venus processing engine, and that it would be fitted with the L mount. Panasonic has now confirmed that the sensor will be a 24.2MP chip, one with an optical low-pass filter in front of it to keep moiré from affecting images. While the Panasonic S1 also packs a 24.2MP sensor, the one here is said to be newly developed for the S1H. As on the S1, however, users can call upon a High Resolution Mode to capture and combine a number of exposures, which results in images output with an effective resolution of 96MP.
The sensor also promises over 14 stops of dynamic range, which Panasonic points out is virtually the same as those of the company's Cinema cameras, as well as a top native sensitivity of ISO51,200. The S1H follows earlier Panasonic models in offering Dual Native ISO settings, the ISOs themselves being ISO640 and ISO4000. The company claims this allows the user to switch between high and low sensitivities "with almost no increase in noise or other artifacts". Panasonic claims its developments in heat dispersion also mean the camera can record video for an unlimited length of time in all modes. HDR and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) modes, in addition to Anamorphic 4:3 shooting, are on hand, and footage can be output in 4:2:2 10-bit 4K quality at 60p/50p through the full-size HDMI port. Super-stableAs with the S1 and S1R, the Panasonic S1H is set to arrive with body-based image stabilization, removing the need for this in the lens. If you do use a lens with this in place, however, the five-axis body-based stabilization buddies up with two-axis lens stabilization to provide a 6.5-stop Dual I.S. system; otherwise, the body-based I.S. can achieve six stops of correction on its own, which is impressive. Around the back, the S1H has been designed with a 3.2-inch LCD screen with a 2.33 million-dot resolution, which can be tilted and rotated. It also matches its S1 and S1R siblings in packing a 5.76 million-dot viewfinder with a 0.78x magnification, which has impressed us greatly in its performance, and these are joined by a 1.8-inch LCD on the top plate to keep users informed of camera and shooting settings. Panasonic has designed the body with a magnesium alloy full die-cast top, front and rear frame, with sealing on every joint to protect against dust, splashes and freezing temperatures. The camera also sports a mechanical shutter with a 400,000 actuation rating, as well as two SD-type card slots that provide support for SDHC and SDXC cards up to the UHS-II and Video Speed Class 90 standards. DFD autofocusLike its S1 and S1R siblings, the S1H also employs a contrast-detect autofocus system with Depth From Defocus (DFD) technology, while Eye AF is also on hand to help the user focus on the pupils of a subject's eye. The new camera also equals the S1R in having a 9fps burst shooting option, which decreases to 6fps with continuous focus. 6K PHOTO and 4K PHOTO modes, which allow the users to respectively capture 18MP images with a 30fps burst or 8MP images with a 60fps burst, can also be called upon. Much like the Sony A7R IV, Wi-Fi can work over both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, while Bluetooth Low Energy (4.2) is also included, promising a stable connection to a smartphone or tablet for constant image transmission. Tethered shooting through the USB port is also possible, while battery life is promised to be two hours in all recording modes. New lensesPanasonic has also announced a pair of lenses alongside the new model, one being the LUMIX S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 that was promised earlier in the year, and the other the Micro Four Thirds-friendly LEICA DG SUMMILUX 25mm / f/1.4 II ASPH. The S1H will have a body-only price of $3,999.99 in the US and will be out at the end of September. The two new lenses will be released shortly afterwards in October, with the LEICA DG SUMMILUX 25mm / f/1.4 II ASPH retailing at $699.99 and the LUMIX S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 at $2,199.99. Pricing for the UK and Australia has not yet been made available. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to watch Great British Bake Off 2019 online: free stream from the UK or abroad Posted: 27 Aug 2019 10:54 AM PDT On your marks, get set...bake! Yep, the time has come for the long awaited new series of The Great British Bake Off and a fresh batch of contestants are about to hit your screens to prove that they deserve the title of the country's greatest baker of 2019. The presenter gang of Prue, Paul, Noel and Sandi are back to take us so close to the baking action we'll have to keep a drool-wipe handy just to stay clean. You can watch the Great British Bake Off online from wherever you are using this handy streaming guide. The names of the contestants were revealed last week (see further down the page for a full list) but tonight you get to meet them face-to-face. The pressure is on to follow last year's series where winner Rahul Mandal was one of the most popular on the show yet. Last year saw the introduction of vegan baking week. Will that be back this year? You'll have to wait and see. We can expect Paul Hollywood's favourite, the bread baking week, to make a return and perhaps we'll also see the return of the Tudor revival and Swedish themed weeks. 2019 is looking like the most exciting year for GBBO yet. You can watch every bake in high definition as if you were really in the tent by using this guide how to watch Great British Bake Off online. Don't worry traveller types, that applies no matter where you are in the world.
Watch The Great British Bake Off for free in the UK:This is the third series on Channel 4 and it will be aired on TV meaning you can watch it via an aerial, for free. But if you want to watch on the go, or on catch-up, that's an option too using All 4. The All 4 app is available on most devices and will air shows live as well as at a later date. How to watch Great British Bake Off online anywhere in the world:For those outside of the UK that still want to follow all the Bake Off action, the best bet is a VPN service. This means those travelling, on holiday or just want a piece of that quintessential British cake can still watch the show live via an internet connection. Once you get the right VPN you can enjoy a secure and speedy connection, even on open Wi-Fi networks like hotels, so all the Bake Off brilliance is yours for the watching via TVPlayer.com. And even if you're not that IT savvy, don't worry. getting a VPN is really, really easy. We've listed how to do it in three easy steps below.... Who are this year's Great British Bake Off contestants?This year will feature a baker's dozen of contestants, yup, 13 rather than the usual 12. More than half are in their twenties with the eldest at 56. The full list of bakers is.
What should we expect from GBBO 2019?The Great British Bake Off 2019 has already unleashed a trailer on the world to make the very good point that it's time to stock up on baking ingredients for bake-along fun. Check it out here. Who are the hosts of Great British Bake Off?The judges of the show are Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith once again while the presenting team is the same duo of Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig who will be bringing out the laughs. As part of a new paleo diet, Paul Hollywood has ditched bread and cakes, so it will be interesting to see how that's affected his taste buds and his excitement about the food on offer. Who won Great British Bake Off 2018?Rahul Mandal took the 2018 title of best baker and was also the most popular overall to date. The final three were mental health specialist Kim-Joy Hewlett and project manager Ruby Bhogal but it was the research scientist from Rotheram, Rahul Mandal, that took the title. Since winning, Rahul has appeared on TV show This Morning, worked as a columnist for The Times Magazine and was part of the Saturday supplement for The Times. Why did Great British Bake Off leave the BBC?The company that makes the Great British Bake Off said the move was not just about money, but it certainly did play a part. The rather unique viewer demographic of Bake Off, with 5 million under 34 at the time of selling, was far too appealing for an advertising funded platform like Channel 4 to ignore. The Beeb guidelines let it offer around £300,000 for a show of this kind. It bid a massive £500,000 per show, totalling £15 million. It was £10 million too little.
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| Microsoft teases October 2 event – new Surface hardware on the way? Posted: 27 Aug 2019 10:38 AM PDT Microsoft has cryptically announced an October 2 event that will be held in New York City. The invitation depicts a Windows logo that is incomplete and simply states "Save the date." The company's invitation adds nothing more for us to speculate upon, but the timing could not be better. By the time of the event, it will have been nearly a whole year since Microsoft has shown off any consumer hardware products – and two years since the Surface Book 2 released.
Microsoft's invitation posted in full. Get ready for new SurfacesJudging purely by the amount of time that has passed since Microsoft has released the Surface Pro 6 or Surface Laptop 2, it's high time for the company to refresh at least these two products. Of course, we have lots of expectations for the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3, particularly for them to finally support USB-C or, if we're really lucky, Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. Frankly, it's time to sunset the proprietary Surface Connect port. Then, there's the possibility of a Surface Book 3 or Surface Studio 3. Both are well overdue for proper updates with Nvidia 20-Series graphics and 10th-generation Intel Core processors. Particularly, we'd love to see both devices lean into their professional capabilities and power levels, differentiating them even further from the rest of the Surface line. Then, there's the possibility of this rumored Surface device codenamed Centaurus, a dual-screen 2-in-1 laptop in reportedly in development at Microsoft, to debut during this event. Regardless, we'll be there covering it live, so sit tight.
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| Best smartwatch 2019: The top smartwatches available in India Posted: 27 Aug 2019 10:36 AM PDT Not so long ago, smartwatches were little more than just an item of luxury that you probably did not need but wanted nonetheless. Now, though, smartwatches have turned out to be a great smartphone companion when it comes to productivity or simply avoiding the hassle of slipping the phone in and out of your pocket. In 2019, we have some really dependable smartwatches that keep our hopes alive in the wearable tech world. While smartwatches haven't seen the pace of revolution that smartphones have, we have still seen improvements ranging from design, battery, software and features. These wearables now make a lot more sense if we compare them with two year old watches. Smartwatches nowadays have neat little tricks up their sleeves. Want to talk to your smartwatch to search for something? Can do! Want to monitor your activities, ranging from walking, running, swimming or just.. sitting? Can do! You can even set up SOS feature on some watches, and if they detect an accident or a fall, they will inform your contacts. Let's take a look at the best smartwatches you can buy in India right now.
Trust Apple to absolutely nail it when it comes to unique pieces of technology. Although there are smartwatches dime a dozen, there is hardly anything better than the Apple Watch in the market right now, all things considered. The Apple Watch Series 4 is our favorite smartwatch you can buy right now. This is the first time Apple has updated the design of its smartwatch line, and it looks all the better for it. You now get a bigger display with the choice of 40mm or 44mm dial sizes, as well as all the rest of the tech we've come to expect from the Apple Watch. The speaker is now louder, the build is still lightweight while feeling just as premium, and you can use your old straps with this new watch. While all the above things are good, the most exciting tech is the fact there's an ECG feature within the heart rate tracker. It can test your heart to see if you're at a high risk of atrial fibrillation, which will allow you to seek help earlier if your health is in danger. Since its launch, Apple has expanded the availability of the ECG feature to more markets outside of the US. The company has stated that it is working hard to bring it to India as well. While it may not be used as often as other regular features, it could still save lives - as it has already done a couple of times. There are still tons of fitness features and the latest watchOS 5 apps onboard so you'll likely love this smartwatch. The Apple Watch 4 is our favorite watch you can use with an iPhone (this won't work with Android devices), but it's just been pipped to the title of best overall smartwatch. Read the full review: Apple Watch 4
Coming in a close second from Samsung, it's the Galaxy Watch. Following on from the Gear S3 series and the Gear Sport in 2017, the Galaxy Watch is much improved. We've tested out the larger 46mm version of the watch and were impressed with its battery life - in our testing, it lasted four days despite being used extensively. That's impressive considering a lot of other watches on this list last a day or so from a single charge. The rotating bezel remains a highlight of navigating around the Tizen OS on the watch, and the interface is one of the easiest to pick up that we've seen on a smartwatch. Apps available on the watch are more limited than Wear OS or watchOS 4 - two rival smartwatch operating systems - but it still offers a satisfying experience. It offers a great smartwatch experience, has plenty of fitness features and the design is good - there's not much more you can ask from a smartwatch. Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Watch
Fossil has developed a lot of expertise in the wearable tech space over the last few years, and this has all culminated in the best smartwatch the company has made so far. The Fossil Sport offers top-end experience at a lower price tag than the two devices above in this list. It features GPS, a lightweight - yet premium - design and at least two days of battery life from a single charge. While it does miss out on some niche, yet great features like ECG, its price really doesn't leave us anything to complain about. Fossil has packed a Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset inside, which is the latest update from Qualcomm that offers a smoother experience than you'll get on a lot of older Wear OS watches. It doesn't sport any truly unique features, but the overall package of the Fossil Sport may be the best watch for you. If you want a good-looking, feature-packed smartwatch that runs on Wear OS, the Fossil Sport is a great option, all things considered. Read the full review: Fossil Sport
Our favorite Wear OS watch is the Ticwatch Pro. You may not have heard of Ticwatch before, but the latest from the company it a top-end watch with a unique dual-screen feature. There are two displays on this watch - one layered on top of the other. On the top is a transparent LCD display that can display the time, your heart rate and more when the battery is low. Below that is a bright and bold full color OLED screen that will give you all of the benefits of Wear OS. That means you can have a normal smartwatch, which we found would last around two days, and then have the time and some other features still available when your battery is running low. The second display really shines when you are running on low battery. In our testing, we found that the TicWatch Pro lasted for just under a week when in low power mode. The second transparent LCD display may not have been needed, but it works just fine. In terms of smartwatch features there's GPS, NFC for Google Pay, Bluetooth for listening to music and the slightly old Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset in here running the watch as well. The Ticwatch Pro costs Rs 22,999 in India, which makes it a noteworthy option if you don't mind the slightly old chipset that powers it. Read the full review: Ticwatch Pro
The Apple Watch 3 (or Apple Watch Series 3, if you're picky) was the best smartwatch but has recently been bumped off the top spot and down a few places since the launch of the Apple Watch 4. The Apple Watch 3 is essentially just the Apple Watch 2 frame with some new innards... but they make a big difference. Plus the price has recently dropped, making this a much more attractive proposition now. It's still water-resistant so you can swim with it and you won't have to worry about getting it wet in the rain when you're out for a jog. There's GPS onboard to make running that little bit easier plus it you can now upgrade to watchOS 5 too. The Apple Watch 3 can be a little difficult to justify, especially now that the Watch 4 is here. However, if you still want an Apple Watch and don't want to spend a lot, the Watch 3 is good option. Read the full review: Apple Watch 3
Ticwatch is still a relatively new brand, but the company has a few noteworthy smartwatches out in the market. The Ticwatch, in particular, is an excellent option if you're looking to dip your feet in the world of smartwatches. That's mostly because of the it is priced reasonably and the fact everything works really well. We also love the Ticwatch E for its built-in GPS, accurate heart rate sensor and great design. All of the basic fitness features are available; you can even use it without having to take your phone out while you exercise, but you won't be able to receive phone calls like on the Apple Watch 3. If the Ticwatch Pro is out of your budget and you want a Wear OS smartwatch, the Ticwatch E is a great option. The design is premium, but it won't be for everyone so be sure to check out our review to see if it works out for you. Read the full review: Ticwatch E
Fitbit has released Versa that is a touch smaller than the other one (that's the Ionic) but it comes with Fitbit Pay for contactless payments, 2.5GB of storage for music and battery life that'll last around three days. It doesn't have GPS for tracking your runs and the design doesn't feel as premium as some of the other watches on this list, but we really like the Fitbit Versa and it's one of the more affordable choices on this list. Still, if the Versa doesn't work out for you, make sure you check out other options in this list - some of them even cost less than the Versa. Read the full review: Fitbit Versa
If you don't like the Ticwatch E and aren't sure about the Ticwatch Pro either, the Ticwatch S is worth considering. When compared to the Ticwatch E, the differences are limited, but the Ticwatch S is a bit heavier and a little larger thanks to the thicker bezel around the sides to show you the exact time. There's also a different strap on this version that comes with the GPS sensor inside. The makers of the Ticwatch claim this is more accurate than when it's inside the watch casing, but we didn't see any major differences. One downside of this is that you cannot swap out the straps. The Ticwatch S's price doesn't do it any favours, either, especially keeping the price of the Ticwatch Pro's price in mind. Still, if the Ticwatch Pro's design isn't to your liking, the S might be worth a look. Read the full review: Ticwatch S
The Fitbit Ionic was always going to be a tough move for the brand, trying to enter the world of smartwatches from fitness bands. The effort succeeds in some places: namely fitness, as you might imagine, where you can track all manner of things, from running to weight lifting to swimming. There's also dedicated bodyweight coaching sessions in there, and you can pay for items on the go using Fitbit Pay. The Fitbit Ionic is tough love, too - its boxy and overall boring design doesn't do it any favours. However, given that the Ionic is Fitbit's first smartwatch, the company can be cut some slack in this regard. Read the full review: Fitbit Ionic
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| The end of OLED TVs? How Samsung’s QD-OLED hybrid could shake up the market Posted: 27 Aug 2019 10:00 AM PDT It’s inevitable that technologies are replaced by their newer, more advanced successors – and just as plasma flatscreens were replaced by OLED TVs, so too is OLED at risk of being beaten by a new panel technology. If that sounds unlikely, given the hold OLED currently has on the premium TV market, it may be too early to say. But Samsung, the world’s largest TV manufacturer, and one that’s been backing its own LED and QLED alternatives to OLED for several years now, is looking ahead to a hybrid TV technology quite clearly aimed at wiping out the competition. That technology is QD-OLED. Samsung Display CEO Lee Dong-hoon has spoken out on potential plans to bring QD-OLED to market, telling The Korea Herald that “the company is making good efforts” to to manufacture a commercially available model. So while it's unlikely we'll see a QD-OLED model at IFA 2019, it looks like it might be on the show floor in the near future. When contacted directly, a Samsung spokesperson clarified that it was still developing its own QLED and Micro-LED technologies, adding that it had no firm plans regarding QD-OLED, citing issues with existing OLED panels that need to be addressed: “Samsung Electronics believes various technology improvements should precede for the existing OLED panel technology to be adopted to TVs, and no decision has been made on whether we will adopt the QD-OLED panels to our TVs.” But with a new manufacturing line being set up to replace recently-closed LED plants (via The Elec), it very much looks like Samsung is betting big on the technology.
Ok, enough with the acronyms already
What does QD-OLED actually mean, you ask? It can be broken down into two parts. The first, “QD”, refers to the quantum dot filter that Samsung employs in its premium QLED (quantum light emitting diode, or quantum LED) televisions. The second, “OLED”, refers to the organic LED panel used in the premium ranges of most other big TV brands today, including Hisense TVs, Sony TVs, Panasonic TVs, and LG TVs.
OLED TVs have some huge advantages, including thin panels that don’t require a backlight, as the pixels in OLED panels are self-emissive (meaning they emit their own light). This makes for incredible contrast and brightness control, though can make for an overall dimmer output than its LED counterparts. That’s where QD-OLED comes in. Rather than being wholly self-emissive, a QD-OLED panel would use a blue-light OLED panel acting as a backlight, with a quantum dot filter able to convert this into red or green light, for a full color display. This would still make for the thin televisions and color-rich displays OLED is known for, while correcting the dim output of OLED panels compared to LEDs. We know Samsung is working on the technology. We also spoke to the Europe Product Development Director at TCL, Marek Maciejewski, who called QD-OLED a possible solution to the current limitations of OLED panels: “We think that for very large screens with very high color saturation and brightness, that inkjet-printed QD-OLED is a solution.” Maciekewski added that “We see no future in terms of efficiency and brightness” for traditional OLED panels, and was certain that “all major OLED manufacturers are developing this.” When will QD-OLED hit the market?
With Samsung refusing to give a timeline, or official confirmation of any QD-OLEDs coming to market, it probably won’t be soon. Manufacturing lines are only now being set up, and there will likely be an intensive R&D process as Samsung makes and amends its prototypes.
Samsung won’t throw out its current LED, QLED, or Micro-LED ranges for a single panel technology, so it’s likely we’ll see a QD-OLED model arrive in a couple of years’ time, but probably not before 2021. An official statement from Samsung on the matter said that “Samsung Electronics is pioneering the premium TV market through a two-track strategy that involves both QLED and Micro-LED TVs.” Even if QD-OLED will have a part in that strategy, the company will be investing in a number of technologies rather than betting on a single horse. We expect to see a single model appear in the range at first, much in the vein of Samsung’s flagship 8K model, the Q950 8K QLED, but that may depend on the price point for the new TV. Can a reduced price point be enough to save OLED?
We reported earlier in the year on the prospect of inkjet-printed OLED panels, which vastly simplify the production process and could lead the way for significantly cheaper OLED TVs (around 15-25% off current market value). Price is seen as the main barrier for more mainstream adoption right now, followed shortly by the limited model sizes currently available – though new production lines are being opened to develop 48-inch models alongside 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch ones. As QD-OLED and inkjet methods develop in tandem, it could be we see OLED gain the advantage it needs to continue in its current form – or morph out of necessity into a new technology entirely. We often see new TV models shown off at events like the upcoming IFA 2019 expo. We expect it will be too early to see this technology on the show floor, and it will likely be another year or two before any QD-OLED models are actually in sight. But Samsung appears to have a clear development path ahead of it. If that means consumers get an improved picture over the already high-quality OLEDs on the market, we’ll consider that to be a good thing.
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| Best CDN providers of 2019 to speed up any website Posted: 27 Aug 2019 09:54 AM PDT A content delivery network (CDN) works to accelerate almost any website by caching its files in servers around the world. Whether your visitors come from Europe, North America, Asia or anywhere else, content is automatically served from the nearest location for the fastest possible speeds. If you're new to the technology then it might seem intimidating, and there's no doubt that prices can be high, but don't let that put you off. A CDN is not just for massive corporations. You can set up the simplest services in less than five minutes, and if you choose your plan wisely, it might not cost you anything at all. Whatever your website, from a simple blog to a sprawling site for a big business, we've picked out some of the best services around to help point you in the right direction. If you find anything that looks interesting, give it a try – you can explore many of these CDNs for free, without handing over payment details or signing up for any contract.
Cloudflare is a hugely popular American content delivery service which combines novice-friendly ease of use with expert-level features and functionality. Setup is simple, with no need to edit your code. Just update your DNS nameservers to use Cloudflare and the service kicks in automatically, caching content and serving it to visitors from their nearest location. But there's much, much more. Web filtering can block bots, limit content spam, keep you safe from hackers or detect and mitigate DDoS attacks. Smart image optimizations can reduce image file sizes by up to 35%, further improving speeds. There's wide support for standards like IPv6, HTTP/2 and SPDY, clever page rules to help you manipulate traffic, and a REST API allows developers to take full control of what the service is doing. Cloudflare's free plan allows you to see what the service can do, without making any commitments. It's very usable, with unlimited bandwidth and no annoying restrictions to try and force you to upgrade. Upgrading to the Pro plan costs a reasonable $20 (£16) a month, and adds the image optimization rules, extra configurability and improved support. Whatever you choose, Cloudflare delivers great performance. As we write, the benchmarking site CDNPerf ranks Cloudflare at eight place for worldwide HTTP request response times out of a field of 20 top CDNs.
Fastly provides CDN tricks for some really big organizations, including the likes of Spotify and Reddit, and the firm lives up to its name, delivering impressively fast performance levels. Going by the rough guideline of CDNPerf’s rankings, it’s the second fastest CDN for the UK, and worldwide speeds are mostly good, too. Perhaps Fastly’s strongest point, however, is just how configurable the service is. For example, there’s diverse support for different types of video caching, and tons of low-level controls for those who want to get stuck into the likes of manipulating HTTP headers to customize how content is served. Of course, some know-how is required to set up everything, and novices to the CDN world will doubtless be confused by all the options on offer. But for those who need this level of flexibility and configurability, it’s priceless to have. Speaking of the price, Fastly operates a pay-as-you-go model with a minimum charge of $50 (£37) per month. In addition, you can test up to $50 of traffic for free.
KeyCDN is an easy-to-use budget CDN that might be a good pick for first-time users. Getting started couldn't be much simpler. Sign up with your email address and you get an immediate 25GB to play with, no payment details required. A well-designed web dashboard enables creating your first zone with the minimum of clicks, and there are guides to help you integrate the service with WordPress and other apps. Worth mentioning is that as of late November 2018, KeyCDN fully supports IPv6. More experienced users will appreciate options like Origin Shield – this allows you to specify a KeyCDN server to be the source for updates rather than the origin, reducing your server load. You're able to manipulate headers, cache or strip cookies, or set up a custom robots.txt. Once the service is running, a capable set of reporting tools enable watching CDN performance in near real-time. Also, all customers have access to Image Processing feature, which is great for image optimization. KeyCDN's standout feature has to be its low prices. Bandwidth charges start at $0.04 (£0.032) per GB, less than half the price you'll pay with some of the high-end competition. The minimum usage is a tiny $4 (£3.2) per month and the minimum payment is $29 (£23.3). The company doesn't even try to cash in on the extras, for example offering shared SSL and custom Let's encrypt SSL certificates for free. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these low prices don't get you leading-edge performance, but there's still plenty of power here and you do get a lot for your money.
MetaCDN is an Australian company which combines the CDNs of Amazon Cloudfront, Fastly and Verizon's EdgeCast into a single speedy service. Why? It's all about performance. When a visitor accesses your site, MetaCDN has three networks and more than 120 locations to choose from – way more than anyone else. In other words, there’s a much greater chance any visitor will have a server near them. This matters because every CDN delivers its best performance in different areas. EdgeCast scores highly in North America, for instance, but Fastly is quicker in the UK. MetaCDN automatically chooses the best network for every visitor's location, giving you the best of all worlds. This approach does have a catch. When you sign up with a single CDN, you can get access to all its individual settings and options, but combining three means you only get settings which apply to all of them (for obvious reasons). Which essentially means MetaCDN has barely any configuration options at all. (Check the Support site to get a rough feel for how the system works.) Still, MetaCDN is nicely user-friendly and it could be a good pick if speed is your top priority. Pricing is complicated (although not bad for access to enterprise-level CDNs) and there are three plans, Basic, Lite and Pro. The most popular one, Lite, is $50 on a monthly basis (you can also choose a yearly rate, for a $39 a month).
This CDN provider focuses mainly on the West, with 14 points of presence (PoPs) in North America, and nine in Europe. There are only five PoPs in Asia, and two in Australia and South America (Brazil). StackPath is user-friendly, complete with a straightforward web console to manage your settings, and if you do get stuck, there’s extremely efficient technical support available via either live chat or phone. Performance seems good in the US and UK, and indeed Europe, but further afield you may see things tail off a bit, which is hardly a surprise given StackPath’s aforementioned focus on Western nations. Another strength here comes on the security front, with this CDN giving users free shared SSL (or the option to use your own SSL certificate, if you prefer). There’s also anti-DDoS technology and a capable Web Application Firewall. All in all, this is a tempting offering with a baseline plan that charges $10 (£7.6) for up to 1TB of bandwidth per month. The first month is also free.
Update: The service has been now integrated with StackPath - "Everything you love about MaxCDN is being integrated into the new StackPath CDN service." MaxCDN is actually owned by StackPath now (the previously mentioned CDN), but provides a standalone service of its own which is well-suited for novices. You get 24/7 tech support with speedy responses promised (and indeed these claims stood up to our testing), and it’s easy enough to set up, and indeed use going forward. You don’t get as many settings to play with as some of the more advanced services, but that’s hardly surprising when trying to keep things more user-friendly. Another definite benefit is a range of useful reports, and a solid core network. MaxCDN offers eight edge locations in the US, five in Europe – and you can add additional locations in Asia (and Australia), but you have to pay extra for those. Overall, though, pricing is a strong point, starting from $9 (£6.75) a month for a 100GB account, with a clean pricing structure which isn’t confusing in the slightest (often not the case with CDN offerings). Performance is, generally speaking, solid enough, and this CDN does pretty well for speeds in the UK and US.
Amazon CloudFront is the CDN facet of AWS (Amazon Web Services), so it’s certainly part of a heavyweight operation. And indeed CloudFront offers a raft of advanced features as you might expect, and you can customize all manner of things such as enabling automatic GZip compression for better speeds. Another strength here is the in-depth analytics on tap, showing you details of your visitors’ device type, OS and so forth. There’s also the handy ability to set up alerts, meaning you can be warned when data transfer usage goes above a certain level. The downside to all the options on offer is that relative novices to the CDN world may find CloudFront’s control panel a little intimidating, at least initially. The other slight sticking points are that calculating pricing can be a rather tricky matter, and if you aren’t an experienced user familiar with CDN basics, tech support isn’t free – if you need help, you’ll have to fork out for it. Prices vary depending on region, but the good news is there’s a free tier (which gives you 50GB of data per month for one year). Performance levels are fairly average, too, but there’s no denying the power and configurability that Amazon offers to the slightly more tech-savvy user.
As you’re doubtless aware, Microsoft Azure is a big old stack of integrated cloud tools for building and managing applications and services, with a wide range of coverage including a CDN offering, which is what we’re focusing on here, naturally. Note that this doesn’t use Microsoft’s own edge servers, but rather three plans that use other CDN networks: Standard Akamai, Standard Verizon, and Premium Verizon. We fully discuss these various plans in our review of Microsoft’s CDN service, linked below, but suffice it to say that in terms of pricing – which can be somewhat confusing to work out – this isn’t the cheapest offering around. Still, those who want integration with other Microsoft technologies and services may well find the price worth paying. You get a web dashboard which is absolutely crammed with features, although as ever, this means it’s not particularly easy to use for beginners (and the setup process is pretty involved, too). Performance levels are impressive, and at the time of writing, according to CDNPerf, Azure CDN is the third fastest content delivery network in the US and fourth worldwide. This has to be a tempting prospect if you’re using other Azure services, or if you’re a developer who will appreciate the likes of .NET or PowerShell management features. You can create a free account and get started with 12 months of free services.
CDN77 is a big-name player in the content delivery game, with some heavyweight clients signed up including the European Space Agency. It has an expansive CDN network with 35 data centers across the globe, with many of those in Europe and the US, but there are also locations in South America, Asia and one in Australia. The web console interface is very streamlined and keeps any jargon to a minimum, making it suitably user-friendly for novices to the CDN world. The flipside of this is that there aren’t a huge amount of options, although you can do some tweaking of various settings. In terms of performance, CDN77 is solid enough, and it ranks as a lower-to-mid pack player that’s unlikely to disappoint, but certainly isn’t the fastest CDN network we found when reviewing these various services. You get a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate, and CDN77 is pretty good value for money overall in terms of its per-GB pricing, although it’s not the cheapest outfit we’ve highlighted here. Pricing starts at $0.049 per GB of data for US and European locations, with Asia and Latin America being more expensive. If you want to test the waters, there’s a 14-day risk-free trial, and you don’t need to supply any payment details for this.
If you need a powerful CDN, look no further than Leaseweb, an enterprise-level operation which is still suitable for regular business users – just about, although we should say upfront that it isn’t cheap, as you might imagine. Pricing starts at $113 (£88, €99) per month for an entry-level plan with a 2TB data allowance, the good news being that even with this ‘basic’ subscription, you get all the same security and CDN features as the heavyweight enterprise plans. That includes a smartly designed console for overseeing your CDN needs, complete with an extensive raft of potential settings and tweaks, featuring many options you don’t get with your average service (like the ability to set the cache-control header, or determine how long to cache 404 responses). There’s also an in-depth statistics section which displays graphs and charts showing many interesting stats, such as visitor and traffic breakdowns, cache performance and the top file types which are seeing action. The one somewhat bleak spot is Leaseweb’s performance, which seems somewhat off the pace going by CDNPerf’s findings, although it’s difficult to gauge exactly what results you’ll get in practice. Users who want a powerful range of features in their CDN could give the 30-day trial a go to find out.
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| Football Manager 2020 will play best on Google Stadia Posted: 27 Aug 2019 09:45 AM PDT Football Manager 2020 is coming to Google Stadia and, according to developer Sports interactive, will play fastest on Google's new platform. While the developer didn't announce any details on new features coming to the football management sim, it did announce that Football Manager 2020 will release in early November for PC, Mac and as a launch title on Google Stadia.
Faster on StadiaIn a press release, Sports Interactive announced that "Football Manager 2020 is set to make its debut on Google’s Stadia and will be the fastest way to experience Football Manager." "Football Manager on Stadia includes technology that is only available on that platform, utilizing the power of the cloud and Google’s data centers to ensure that more matches can be processed in parallel utilizing spare bandwidth across the whole system." "This means you can have more leagues loaded into your save, or just go for a faster experience by keeping the amount of leagues the same, but having the matches process quicker than you can on any other platform." Just last week Google Stadia announced a whole heap of games that will be coming to the service. There's only a single exclusive to date, but with titles like Football Manager 2020 joining the roster (and promising to perform even better than on other platforms) Stadia is becoming a better proposition by the day.
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| Smarty's mega 25% discount on unlimited data SIM only deals ends tomorrow Posted: 27 Aug 2019 09:18 AM PDT A few months ago, we saw lesser-known SIMO provider Smarty drop an offer to top the rest of the market - 25% off its unlimited data plan. And now, Smarty has brought it back, once again reclaiming its title of best unlimited data SIM only deal around. However, while this offer has won us over, taking the number 1 spot for SIM only deals right now, there isn't long left to get it. The offer comes to an end on August 28 at 12pm. So what are you paying after that 25% cut to the price? This offer works out at just £18.75 per month. Down from £25, this is a pretty major saving for a complete lack of caps on your data usage. But, here's the great news. This deal doesn't just appeal with its affordable pricing and massive data cap. With Smarty, you're only on a 1-month rolling contract, meaning you can leave whenever you want. Smarty even offers the ability to use your unlimited data as a hotspot, allowing you to connect your laptop, iPad or even console without fears of running out of data. Interested? You can see Smarty's offer down below in full. Or check out our guide to the best SIM only deals to see what other options are currently available.
Smarty's superb SIM only deal in full:What other SIM only deals are available?While no unlimited data SIMO is going to beat this, Three sits in a close second place. With two separate unlimited data offers, one for two years at £20 a month (with half price bills for the first six months) and the other for one year at £20 a month, Three isn't far behind Smarty. So if you like your SIMO from a name you know or will be missing the end date of this deal, Three could be the way to go. Or if £18.75 is still more than you're willing to spend, Three is yet again the choice to go for - offering 8GB of data for just £9 a month. Finally, for those who prioritise speed over everything else, we would recommend Carphone Warehouse's 20GB for £20 a month on EE. More expensive than Smarty but you get access to the UK's fastest 4G speeds.
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