Apple : Mac Pro 2019 first look: release date, price and specs |
- Mac Pro 2019 first look: release date, price and specs
- This is exactly why your Samsung Galaxy Note 10 needs a case
- macOS Catalina: macOS 10.15 release date, news and features
- Microsoft is bringing its exFAT patents to Linux and open source
- Dell Labor Day sale: save up to 40% on laptops, 4K TVs, monitors and more
- Ahead of Cyberpunk 2077, we played Cyberpunk Red - and it escalated quickly
- Enterprise IoT use set to explode this year
- The Microsoft Surface Go with maximum storage is nearly $100 off on Amazon
- Microsoft reveals HoloLens 2 release date
- Warner Bros. films and TV shows will be streamable on Plex for free
- Google could shift production away from China
- iPhone 11 launch date set for September 10
- Huawei Mate 30 Pro release date, news, price and leaks
- MacBook Pro 2019: 16-inch MacBook Pro release date, news and rumors
- Best processors 2019: the best CPUs for your PC
- Ransomware threats see major resurgence
- iPhone 11R release date, price, news and leaks
- Apple Watch 5 release date, price, news and rumors
- New iPhone 11 release date, price, news and leaks
- LG CineBeam projectors are bringing 4K light shows to IFA 2019
| Mac Pro 2019 first look: release date, price and specs Posted: 29 Aug 2019 02:19 PM PDT Finally, Apple revealed the new Mac Pro 2019 at WWDC 2019, complete with the modern high-end hardware that creatives and professionals have been demanding from Apple’s most powerful computer for years. The new Mac Pro 2019 has up to a 28-core Intel Xeon processor, on top of 1.5TB of 6-channel ECC system memory, which means that you’ll be hard pressed to run into any task that's too demanding for the new Mac Pro. We got a first glimpse at the new Mac desktop successor to the Mac Pro 2013, and you’ll be happy to know that this model allows for modular upgrades, just in case having up to a 28-core Xeon processor isn’t enough for you down the line. The Mac Pro 2019 is, without a doubt, built with an eye for – not to mention, look from – the future. The new Mac Pro features a stainless-steel frame that ditches the cylindrical 'bin' look of the 2013 model in favor of a more traditional tower chassis that hearkens back to older Mac Pro models. Visually, the front and back are filled with uniquely designed vent holes, setting it apart from the more traditional and cleaner look. The power and design come together when you pop open the computer from the top. You may lift off the aluminum housing for 360-degree access to just about every component.
Alongside the Mac Pro 2019, Apple is also releasing a new professional monitor – the Pro Display XDR – which comes with a matching design that compliments the Mac Pro 2019’s new look. This monitor has a 32-inch Retina 6K display (the world's first), and boasts the next level in high-dynamic range (HDR) or what Apple calls Extreme Dynamic Range (or XDR). This 32-inch 6K display features a Nano-Texture surface meant to reduces reflections without affecting the overall image quality. On top of that, because every single LED is calibrated at the factory level for HDR, Apple is able to deliver high-dynamic range like never seen before. Apple does this by using a unique lattice cooling pattern on the back of the display in order to maintain 1,000 nits of brightness at all times – with 1,600 nits of peak brightness. This monitor is able to produce stunning images, as well, thanks to its 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. All of these specs combined deliver a new technology Apple has dubbed Extreme Dynamic Range or XDR, the next generation of HDR. This monitor will cost you whopping $4,999 (about £3,950, AU$7,270) for the standard version, and $5,999 (about £4,730, AU$8.720) for the Nano-texture equipped version.
The Pro Display XDR looks stunning. Naturally, the new Mac Pro 2019's companion screen comes separately, as do the color-tweaked keyboard, mouse and trackpad. That's always been the case with Mac Pro configurations – it's going to be an investment for everything, which also means that it’s not for everyone. In fact, Apple is aiming the new Mac Pro 2019 at production crews and serious creators. This isn't a computer created for the average consumer, as you'll find the spec and price to be far in excess of what you need – and what you can afford. Cut to the chase
Mac Pro 2019 release date and priceWhat's waiting a few more months for the new Mac Pro 2019 when we've been holding our breath for several years, hoping that the day will come when we finally get our hands on this desktop computer? Apple announced the Mac Pro 2019 release date for "fall 2019," which means that it will most likely be here between September and November. Apple has favored October for a lot of its previous hardware launches, and that falls into this release window. However, now that the iPhone 11 event has an actual date, we might see it on the shelves soon. The Mac Pro 2019 price starts at $5,999 (about £4,730, AU$8.720). That’s for the base model with an 8-core Intel Xeon processor (CPU), Radeon 580X graphics processor (GPU) and 32GB of ECC memory (RAM). Remember though that the Pro Display XDR – for $4,999 (about £4,000, AU$7,150) – is a separate purchase, as is the Pro Stand for $999 (about £800, AU$1,400) and VESA Mount Adapter for $199 (about £160, AU$285). We only know the price for the base model so far, but a recent estimate suggests it could cost as high as $45,000 (around £35,000, AU$65,000). A new designFolks who were unimpressed with the older Mac Pro's design will be happy to know that Mac Pro 2019 has been crafted to be far more industrial and modular. The Mac Pro's leanings are more traditional with the combination of brushed aluminum and heat sink holes festooning the outer shell, which sadly makes it resemble an industrial cheese grater. It's brutal and send the message that 'this is for working on, not for looking good.’ However, it’s somewhat portable as it is rack-mountable, and you can screw wheels on the bottom to move it around an office or studio. We'll get to the performance of the new Mac Pro in just a moment, but one thing that's worth a mention about the new model is how much innards you can cram inside such a small space. In fact, one music producer told us that previously one would need to use multiple machines to mix a score, whereas those three or four could now be squished into the body of Apple's Mac Pro 2019. Apple has also fitted the Mac Pro 2019 with a unique cooling system to maximize airflow while keeping the noise down. Even with the massive fans, this powerhouse will not distract you from your work. There's also the advantage of the multiple Thunderbolt ports on top of the machine, allowing for easier access inside. Mac Pro 2019 specs and performanceWhen it comes to specifications, Apple isn’t pulling any punches, cramming some seriously formidable hardware into the body of the new Mac Pro 2019.
The rear view of both the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR. The base model packs a new 8-core Intel Xeon processor, giving you a lot of horsepower for multitasking. The Xeon line of CPUs are created for professional workstations – and, this can be configured up to a Xeon processor with an astonishing 28 cores. The more cores, the better it can handle multiple tasks at once – so the processor powering the new Mac Pro will undoubtedly tackle even the most exacting creative tasks without breaking a sweat. As with Apple’s other prosumer computer, the iMac Pro, the Mac Pro 2019 touts an AMD graphics card, starting with the Radeon Pro 580X and up to the Radeon Pro Vega II, which features 32GB of high-bandwidth memory – 1TB/s to be precise. That makes it the highest memory bandwidth of any GPU. If that’s not enough, you can also deck it out with the AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo, which features two Vega II GPUs for a total of 64GB of memory – making it the world’s most powerful graphics card.
The removable lid and shell via the semi-circle handle. These GPUs are fitted into the Apple MPX Module, which easily slot into the Mac Pro, offering quiet operation while being kept cool by the Mac Pro’s own cooling system. Impressively, the Mac Pro 2019 can have two MPX Modules installed at once. This means that if you have the need – and the budget – you can have two Vega II Duos installed for an insane 128GB of video memory and 56 teraflops of graphics performance. All this output requires a lot of power, which is why there's a 1.4kW power supply powering the machine. However, the noise is pretty low despite the fans inside, and when seeing it running at full power, we didn't feel a huge amount of heat emanating from the rear, nor heard anything like a light aircraft trying to take off. This kind of graphical grunt will destroy most video encoding and rendering tasks – even at resolutions of 8K and above. While we’d love to imagine what the gaming capability of this level of firepower is like, this machine is going to be purely of interest to video professionals that need to render ultra-high resolution footage quickly. Seeing it in real time, you could see and feel the raw power of the rendering capabilities of the Mac Pro 2019. 3D imagery could be manipulated in real time with multiple shading and lighting changes, meaning the need to ship projects off to a rendering farm won't be necessary for many tasks in the future. One creative artist estimated the raw power of the extra cores gave him around four times the performance previously available, meaning he had far more time to allot to his artwork and creative process rather than standing around to see if the images and videos had shown as intended. Being able to manipulate 8K streams so flawlessly is more than impressive - an engineer we spoke to claimed that using the Mac Pro 2019 was akin to when '1080p was finally able to be used properly,’ meaning that the speed of manipulation was finally able to be used properly.
Not a bad look for Apple's newest professional gear. Memory-wise, the Mac Pro 2019 supports six-channel memory and comes with 12 slots, which allows you to install up to 1.5TB of RAM. In a demonstration, this allowed a full orchestra-worth of instruments to be rendered within that RAM space, which means that a rack of PCs can now be replaced by a single Mac Pro unit, with the output slickly creating right in front of our eyes. Again, this makes the Mac Pro 2019 a workstation that’s crafted to breeze through multitasking. PCI Express slots also make a comeback, with eight in total, to offer plenty of options to expand the Mac Pro’s capabilities in the future. Even at the entry level with a 8-core Intel Xeon processor with a max turbo boost of 4.0GHz and 32GB of ECC RAM, you should be able to handle most situations. The Mac Pro 2019 is definitely not meant for everyday computing, not that most users would feel comfortable paying such a high price. The entry model Mac Pro comes with a 256GB SSD, which is the only part of the specifications that seems a bit constrained since that doesn't offer much storage space these days. However, you'll have the option to upgrade it with up to a 4TB drive. That's a gigantic SSD and will be a major bonus to any video editors considering this machine. Unfortunately, you will be expected to pay at least $2,000 (about £1,580, AU$2,900) more to upgrade to such an enormous drive. On the upside, most creative professionals have their own, more powerful external SSD drives anyway, so a smaller storage space isn’t really a dealbreaker. The fact that the new Mac Pro 2019 offers such high expansion possibilities is noteworthy, however. This desktop system boasts eight PCIe expansion slots, so you can keep the Mac Pro current with the latest hardware for the foreseeable future. This is backed up by the new Apple Afterburner accelerator card, which lets users play back multiple 8K RAW video streams. This should be especially handy for video editors that shoot in very high resolutions. You'll be able to upgrade the RAM as well. Even if you only pick up the 32GB model (which is expensive enough as it is), the new Mac Pro features 12 physical DIMM slots, so you can upgrade your system memory as your needs change. Apple will facilitate new graphics cards with its new MPX module, a PCIe expansion card that not only allows you to slot in more powerful graphics cards, but will also feature native Thunderbolt integration and 500W of power. You can have two of these cards in the Mac Pro, allowing you to use two Radeon Pro Vega II GPUs at once. The best part? Getting access to the innards of the new Mac Pro 2019 is remarkably easy, thanks to the unique chassis design. The outer aluminum housing is also designed for easy expansion, as it lifts off in one motion, granting easy access to the entire system. These specs certainly sound impressive on paper (if, perhaps, a little overkill for most people), and we cannot wait to see how the Mac Pro 2019 really performs in a full review.
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| This is exactly why your Samsung Galaxy Note 10 needs a case Posted: 29 Aug 2019 02:12 PM PDT Not minutes - mere seconds - after photographing the new, top-of-the-line Samsung Galaxy Note 10, I placed it securely on top of another phone. And it promptly slipped off, plummeted just over two feet, and struck a chair strut. When I picked up the Note 10, I surveyed the damage: a thoroughly shattered glass back. Queue the sad times soundtrack. I don’t feel responsible for this... except that I feel a bit responsible for this. Everyone knows the pristine glass backs of flagship phones are prone to splintering at the slightest impact. If I’d been a responsible Phone Parent, I would have swaddled my expensive device in a case the moment I got it back from our photo team. But..but...glass backs for some of these flagships have been polished to such a degree that they practically hover over slick surfaces. Place one on the slightest incline and it will start to glide, trusting that your peripherals won’t notice its glacial escape into mortal peril.
Like a toddler with a death wish, my Note 10 slipped off my desk the moment my back was turned. I picked it up off the carpeted floor expecting a meager scratch for my lapsed attention - other glass phones in the TechRadar office have made the same desk-to-floor journey with such minor consequences - but the impact with the chair leg doomed the beautiful rear Aura Glow cover, too pure for this world. If Samsung had slipped a case into the box along with its very expensive handset, perhaps the back would have survived the fall. But any case made of a non-glass material would have had the traction to stop the phone from sliding to begin with. Even the laser-etched or chemical-treated matte finishes on smartphones like the Google Pixel 3 or OnePlus 7 Pro might have been enough to keep them from slipping into free-fall. But that’s not the world we live in. No, we exist in a time and place where Samsung and Apple release phones that gleam like precious stones - beautiful and endangered by the outside world from the moment they leave their boxes until their owners ensconce them in their case of choice.
In the foreground, evidence; in the background, regret. Safe in a case–but with all that glass beauty hidden from the world. Even clear cases warp phones’ elegant designs through a bubble of translucent material. It doesn’t even seem like a choice anymore: secure your investment or tempt the wrath of an unkind universe. It’s a logical end to a design trend away from the smartphone’s practical and industrial beginnings, ballooning in size and price to become the statement pieces and status flexes we all chase for elite looks and features, not pure functionality. The miracles in our pockets are now very precious. Consumer tech’s views on the matter have certainly evolved over time - even those of Apple’s patron saint. Back in 2011, journalist Steven Levy wrote in Wired about Steve Jobs’s reaction to his practice of wrapping an early iPhone in a case: “Jobs recoiled as if I had introduced something toxic into the room. His look seemed to say, why would you hide something so gorgeous? My translucent neoprene was making a mockery of all the innovation and sweat that he and his employees had expended on visual design. Besides, he told me, "I think stainless steel looks beautiful when it wears." What would Jobs say about a world where all that visual design is only appreciated for moments in a smartphone’s lifetime?
RIP: August 23, 2019 to August 29, 2019 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| macOS Catalina: macOS 10.15 release date, news and features Posted: 29 Aug 2019 02:11 PM PDT macOS Catalina – the official name for macOS 10.15 – is almost here, after being showcased at Apple's WWDC 2019 conference in San Jose, California. And, from what we've seen, there will be some brilliant new features coming to macOS Catalina – such as the handy ability to utilize an iPad as a secondary screen. macOS Catalina already available to app developers, letting them port their iPhone and iPad apps to Mac more easily. Apple has introduced a new feature solely for developers called "Project Catalyst," which allows them to seamlessly port their iOS 13and iPadOS apps to the macOS environment. Apple's head of software, Craig Federighi, also confirmed at WWDC that when the macOS 10.15 Catalina is finally available to the public, it will say goodbye to iTunes and give way to new apps: Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV. Each of these new macOS Catalina apps will have enhanced features that aren't available in the existing versions running on other devices. macOS 10.15 Catalina, whose public beta is now available to download, will also add into the mix Sidecar, a new built-in tool for using an iPad as a secondary display for your Mac or MacBook device. This feature will work both wired and wirelessly. Hardware-wise, Apple showed off the new Mac Pro 2019 at the event, which we expect will launch with macOS 10.15 Catalina already installed. And, we might see more to come at Apple’s September 10 event during which the iPhone 11 is speculated to launch alongside other hardware like the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro, which might hit the streets around the same time as macOS Catalina later this year. Here's every major change coming to Apple's OS for Macs and MacBooks in 2019 with macOS Catalina. Cut to the chase
Image Credit: Apple macOS Catalina release dateFor anyone who isn't an app developer or willing to step into the beta, macOS 10.15 Catalina will be made available to the public "this fall," as Apple promised on stage at WWDC 2019. For those folks not on the northern hemisphere, that means some time in Q3 2019, most likely late September, especially if we were to look at previous macOS releases. The public beta of the OS is now available for free however, and is available for anyone to try out at this link. If you're feeling particularly adventurous and have 100 bucks or quid just sitting around, you can even test out the special developer preview beta. For more detailed information regarding that, we’ll show you how to download the macOS Catalina beta test. Otherwise, keep this page bookmarked as we will be updating it as more details regarding macOS 10.15 Catalina come to light. macOS Catalina compatibilityOf course, one of the first questions that come to mind must be: can the Mac or MacBook I own right now work with this new hotness? Luckily, every piece of Mac hardware that could upgrade to the current macOS 10.14 Mojave will be able to receive the new macOS 10.15 Catalina update. Here's the full list of devices:
Goodbye, iTunes – hello, Apple Music, Podcasts Books and TVWWDC 2019 and macOS 10.15 Catalina make it official: iTunes has ceased to be. From its ashes, however, will rise the new apps for macOS: Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcasts – and they’re going to be improved versions of those that appear on iOS. Apple Music will allow macOS users access to their entire libraries of music regardless of whether the tracks have been downloaded or are being streamed. This is also where music ripped from CDs will live, incorporated into the same libraries. Apple TV, on the other hand, will feature the app's channels and have on hand more than 100,000 iTunes movies and TV shows to browse, buy or rent. All of this content will be available in 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio wherever offered. Apple TV+ will also be available through this app as soon as the service rolls out later this year. Apple Podcasts will bring the service's more than 700,00 podcasts, as well as new episode updates to the Mac in a new interface. This version of the app will also feature enhanced search functions that can pull up episodes by hosts, guests or even discussion topics. Last but not the least, Apple Books will have all the audiobooks you can purchase and listen to. Like with the other new apps, it will feature a familiar interface for anyone who is used to iTunes. Apple has revealed more information about the apps that will replace iTunes following WWDC and how they will work. If you’re worried about all your existing music, playlists, and iTunes gift cards and credit, relax. Apple confirmed that all your music and playlists will be transferred over to the Apple Music app in macOS 10.15 Catalina. In addition, any iTunes gift cards or unspent iTunes credits may be used in the new apps. In macOS 10.15 Catalina, the iTunes Store can still be used to buy new music, and can be accessed through the Sidebar in the Apple Music app. And of course, you can also subscribe to the Apple Music streaming service through the app – if you do, you can hide the iTunes Store for less clutter.
You'll sync your devices via Finder in macOS Catalina (Image credit: Apple) With iTunes making its exit, Apple also explained that syncing devices in macOS Catalina will now be handled by the Finder app, which will be able to backup and sync those devices. According to Apple, it will also be easier to drag and drop files for quick transfers as well.
Apple Sidecar at work in macOS Catalina. (Image Credit: Apple) Sidecar turns your iPad into another displayThis is probably the most exciting update to macOS with macOS 10.15 Catalina: the capability to extend your Mac's display to a nearby iPad, both wired and wirelessly. Since a good amount of MacBook users are already iPad owners, this means that a sizable amount of mobile workers just received a secondary display without having to spend extra. Possibly even more importantly for designers, this connected iPad can also be used as a drawing tablet with various specifically supported apps. Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Illustrator and iWork are the first apps listed to support this feature. We currently don’t have the official word on which iPad models will support the Sidecar feature, but it'll most likely be those models that can also run the new iPadOS, which is expected later this year as well. Apple says that the following Mac apps will support Sidecar's Apple Pencil input and other enhanced features:
Screen Time for macOS has a special "One more minute" feature. (Image Credit: Apple) Screen Time comes to macOSOne of Apple's most impactful changes to iOS 12 was Screen Time, an app that tracks your iPhone or iPad usage time and offers insights into the trends. This capability will not only come to macOS with Catalina, but also offer a new “One more minute” feature, giving you more time to save your work or finish up a game. This information will be synced across your other Apple devices so that you have a complete profile of how often you stare at your collective screens, as well as advice on what to do with that information. This will also include parental controls on time spent using a Mac as well as with whom children are able to communicate with.
Twitter's return to macOS was made possible by Project Catalyst. (Image Credit: Apple) Project Catalyst – is this Marzipan?It seems that what was formerly referred to in rumors and leaks as "Project Marzipan," Apple's master plan to bring more apps from the iPhone and iPad to the Mac, is now known as Project Catalyst. For developers, it all seems to start with simply ticking off a box within the Xcode app in macOS 10.15 Catalina. A series of new features and protocols then become available to the app in the development phase, from which the developer can choose to add to their apps – presumably with additional yet lighter coding. It seems to make the process more seamless and speedier, with even Twitter utilizing the tool to quickly bring its native app back to macOS from iOS. Other fun improvementsSafari browser will have a new startup page that uses Siri Suggestions to surface commonly visited websites, bookmarks, iCloud tabs and more. Mail will lets users to block messages from senders, mute message threads from issuing push notifications and send unsubscribe requests from within the app to mailing list providers. Lastly, Reminders will soon get an overhaul in visual interface so that it will let users more easily create, keep track and organize their reminders.
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| Microsoft is bringing its exFAT patents to Linux and open source Posted: 29 Aug 2019 02:00 PM PDT In a move that will likely please the open source community, Microsoft has announced that it is making its exFAT patents available to Linux and open source via the Open Invention Network (OIN). After years of using its patents to profit from open source products, the software giant has had a change of heart and the company made 60,000 of its own patents open source last year. Now Microsoft is continuing its open source push by supporting the addition of its exFAT patents to the Linux kernel. ExFAT is based on the file allocation table (FAT) file system architecture which was one of the first file systems used on floppy disks. FAT later became Microsoft's file system for MS-DOS, Windows and many other applications. The company created exFAT to extend FAT to flash memory storage devices including USB drives and SD cards in 2006.
ExFAT patentsIn a blog post, Microsoft distinguished engineer and Linux Foundation board member, John Gossman explained why the company decided to bring exFAT to Linux, saying: “It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence. To this end, we will be making Microsoft’s technical specification for exFAT publicly available to facilitate development of conformant, interoperable implementations. We also support the eventual inclusion of a Linux kernel with exFAT support in a future revision of the Open Invention Network’s Linux System Definition, where, once accepted, the code will benefit from the defensive patent commitments of OIN’s 3040+ members and licensees.” With the release of the next edition of the Linux System Definition during the first quarter of 2020, any member of OIN will be able to use exFAT without be required to pay a patent royalty. Membership to the open source patent protection consortium is also free for any company that is willing to share its patents with others regardless of whether they have any patents of their own.
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| Dell Labor Day sale: save up to 40% on laptops, 4K TVs, monitors and more Posted: 29 Aug 2019 01:48 PM PDT Labor Day is just around the corner and that not only means a long holiday weekend but also massive savings from your favorite retailers. Dell is kicking things off with its annual Labor Day sale that starts today and lasts through September 4. You can save up to 40% on laptops, TVs, desktops, headphones and more with new doorbuster deals added every day. Shop more of Dell's Labor Day sale below and keep this page bookmarked as we'll be adding new doorbuster deals throughout the week. Dell Labor Day deals:You can shop more TV deals with our roundup of the best cheap TV sales and 4K TV deals happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ahead of Cyberpunk 2077, we played Cyberpunk Red - and it escalated quickly Posted: 29 Aug 2019 12:11 PM PDT Night City: a broken, whirring machine of a metropolis, a place of dirt, blood, and flashing gadgets under a darkened red sky – colored by the afterglow of a nuclear explosion that ripped the city apart. This is a city of extremes, split between those who have everything, and those who make do with nothing – but it is also a place of overlap, where flesh meets metal, isolation meets connection, and those who spend the best part of their days in cyberspace are both present and absent. On the rooftop of a tired, five-story apartment building – just a stone's throw from the heart of the corporation high rises – a curious scene is unfolding. Nikki Lovelace, an alcohol-drenched Rockerboy is trying to manhandle a large woman over the railings, while Montana, a former farmboy turned gun fanatic, is trying to detach the cyber arm of Bolt Harrison, a gruff ex-military Solo, from the rooftop door he has somehow soldered himself to. Meanwhile, an insurgence of soldiers are trying to force themselves through the other side. And it all started with the TechRadar team, some donuts, a couple of pizzas and an eagerness to find out more about Cyberpunk 2077. TechRadar goes tabletop
We needed a Night City fix Here at TechRadar, we don't tend to cover tabletop games. They aren't exactly 'tech' and therefore don't really fall into our parameters. However, as we patiently wait for the release of CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077, a thought occurred to us. We don't need to wait to jump into Night City. We can do it right now, with Cyberpunk Red. Now, for those who don't know, Cyberpunk 2077 is based off the Cyberpunk pen and paper role playing game: Cyberpunk 2020. By pen and paper RPG we mean like Dungeons and Dragons, where the game is conducted through speech. You create a character using stat sheets, which outlines their background, skills etc; and then you describe the actions you want them to do undertake based on what you think they would do. Meanwhile, there's a very stressed Gamemaster (GM) acting as a narrator, referee and organizer (among other things). They take the players through the game, setting each scene and making sure everyone doesn't get too carried away.
Essentially, all the actions you want to do require you to roll a certain number on a dice – paired with your own skills – to do so. So, say you want to punch someone, whether that is successful will depend on how athletic you are mixed with how high your dice roll is. It's a bit confusing at first... Cyberpunk 2020, which the upcoming video game is based on, is the second edition of the original Cyberpunk RPG by Mike Pondsmith, and was published in 1990. Since then, several new editions of the game have come out. The latest new edition of Cyberpunk is Cyberpunk Red, which has been released to coincide with the launch of CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077. Even better, R. Talsorian Games has published a Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit which is marketed as the "perfect introduction" to Cyberpunk – in other words, it's for newbies. So, our thinking was that we could get our Night City fix by trying out Cyberpunk Red and maybe, in doing so, learn a bit more about Cyberpunk 2077. Having seen an hour's worth of Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay at Gamescom 2019, I realized that we were successful. Set the scene
Let me quickly set the scene for you because tabletop RPGs are a slow-burner. Our group had three players: myself (gaming writer Vic Hood) as the Rockerboy Nikki Lovelace, our phones editor James Peckham as Bolt Harrison and staff writer Tom Bedford as Montana – who turned out to be the wildcard. Not one of us had ever played a pen and paper RPG before. Meanwhile, our GM was staff writer (and regular DnD player) Henry St Leger. It was Henry's job to take us through the garbage-strewn alleyways and neon-clad streets of Night City. However, before starting, we all had to brush up on the lore of Cyberpunk. That means reading the world and rule books – to understand the world we were inhabiting. This in itself painted a clearer picture of Cyberpunk, it forced us to learn the history of Night City, the tech, the character types and even the food we would be eating. If you want full lore and immersion before Cyberpunk 2077, jump into the Cyberpunk world book.
But, actually, we found that simply playing Cyberpunk Red was enough to automatically sponge up aspects of the Cyberpunk world. Once we got over the real-world ties of embarrassment and sank into our madcap dystopia, everything fell into place. We learned about Exotics from Beanie, the odd cyber-enhanced cat lady our group met at the start of the game, and discovered the unsettling power of megacorporations through our violent scuffle with Militech (which saw sweet farmboy Montana shotgunning a man point-blank and Nikki punching a woman in the throat). It was under the guise of fun, but at the same time we were becoming more and more part of Mike Pondsmith's world – more connected with each encounter. This didn't become inherently obvious until I went to see Cyberpunk 2077 at Gamescom 2019 – about a week after our first dive into Night City. I'd watched Cyberpunk 2077 footage previously, but this hour long gameplay presentation seemed to click more than ever before. The character creator, the allocation of skills: it was essentially the stat sheets we had filled out for our own characters a week before. The terms used by characters, the ambiance of the city and the gangs which inhabited it, everything felt clearer than it had before. It's also a testament to how Cyberpunk 2077 hasn't abandoned its roots. The Gamesmaster
As a player, Cyberpunk Red is fairly straightforward. You sit back and enjoy the ride mostly. The real hard work, taking Pondsmith's world and making it real, falls down to the Gamemaster (AKA Henry). So after the Cyberpunk Red session, I caught up with our narrative wizard to chat about how he found the experience – because, as a player, you're not allowed to read certain parts of the rule book to avoid spoilers and such. Henry's points were pretty straightforward: Cyberpunk Red has extensive GM notes and guides; while stats can be intimidating, the mechanics help with guidance; the game in PDF format is much easier to navigate than a hardback book; and Tom Bedford's Montana is a psychopath. To be fair, Montana shot at least three characters during our short playthrough. “As a previous tabletop RPG player, I was familiar with the kinds of mechanics and stats that Gamemasters running a game have to deal with, but Red has its own personal flavor that doesn’t make it feel like a copy," Henry explains.
“I found it somewhat easier to pick up and play than some other TTRPGs – like Dungeons & Dragons – as the character customization options are a lot looser and stick to only 1-2 pages per class, with ready-made characters concepts to choose if you don’t want the pressure of making up your own. "As a Games Master, the example story they provided ran me through everything I needed from the environment, NPCs, and story threads too – even if we naturally ended up tweaking the template to suit the party we played with (all journalists having a taste for the sensational).” What we're saying is...
You don't need to play Cyberpunk Red before Cyberpunk 2077, but if you want to immerse yourself in the world before the videogame comes out then we highly recommend it. With the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit you can control the game world within your boundaries, without controversy or living in a developer's specific interpretation. It's the perfect time for those who have been intimidated by tabletop RPGs to finally jump in and for veterans to remember why they loved them in the first place – even if that's the simple pleasure of a wildcard player sending the GM into meltdown. Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit is available now and Cyberpunk 2077 will release for PS4, Xbox One, PC and Google Stadia on April 16, 2020. Henry St Leger, James Peckham and Tom Bedford contributed to this article. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Enterprise IoT use set to explode this year Posted: 29 Aug 2019 12:00 PM PDT The enterprise and automotive Internet of Things (IoT) market is expected to grow to 5.8bn endpoints in 2020 according to new forecasts from Gartner. By the end of this year though, 4.8bn endpoints are expected to be in use and this represents a 21.5 percent increase from 2018. Utilities will be the highest user of IoT endpoints with a total of 1.17bn endpoints in 2019 but this is expected to grow by 17 percent in 2020 to reach 1.37bn endpoints. Senior research director at Gartner, Peter Middleton explained what factors will drive utilities increased adoption of IoT endpoints, saying: “Electricity smart metering, both residential and commercial will boost the adoption of IoT among utilities. Physical security, where building intruder detection and indoor surveillance use cases will drive volume, will be the second largest user of IoT endpoints in 2020.”
Building automation is expected to see the largest growth rate in 2020 (42%) driven by connected lighting devices followed by automotive and healthcare which are forecast to grow 31 percent and 29 percent respectively. Chronic condition monitoring will drive the most IoT endpoints in healthcare while cars with embedded IoT connectivity will do in the automotive industry. Use cases by regionResidential electricity smart metering will be the top use case for Greater China and Western Europe in 2020 and will represent 26 percent and 12 percent of total IoT endpoints respectively. North America on the other hand, will see its highest IoT endpoint adoption in building intruder detection with door and window sensors representing eight percent of total IoT endpoints. Revenue earned from endpoint electronics will total $389bn globally in 2020 and will be concentrated across North America, Greater China and Western Europe. These three regions will represent 75 percent of overall endpoint electronics revenue and North America will record $120bn, Greater China will reach $91bn and Western Europe will total $82bn in 2020. Consumer connected cars and networkable printing and photocopying are the two use cases that will produce the most endpoint electronics revenue in 2020, totaling $72bn and $38bn respectively. Connected cars will retain a significant portion of the total endpoints electronics spending as manufacturers implement connectivity in a greater percentage of their vehicle production moving forward. Indoor video surveillance is another use case that will see increased endpoints as governments focus on public safety. Research vice president at Gartner, Alfonso Velosa explained how the rise in IoT endpoints will likely lead to more work for CIOs, saying: “Overall, end users will need to prepare to address an environment where the business units will increasingly buy IoT-enabled assets without policies for support, data ownership or integration into existing business applications. This will require the CIO’s team to start developing a policy and architecture-based approach to support business units’ objectives, while protecting the organization from data threats. Product managers will need to deliver but also to clearly and loudly communicate their IoT-based business value to specific verticals and their business processes, if they are to succeed in this crowded arena.” This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Microsoft Surface Go with maximum storage is nearly $100 off on Amazon Posted: 29 Aug 2019 11:54 AM PDT Amazon is offering the Microsoft Surface Go tablet with the maximum storage available for almost $100 off in a Deal of the Day. The 10-inch Windows tablet is a favorite of ours, bringing ultra-mobile and budget-strapped customers a much more fitting version of the Surface tablet. In fact, we gave the tablet 4.5 stars and our 'Recommended' award. However, it's important to note that this Surface Go deal does not include the Microsoft Type Cover ($129) nor does it include the Surface Pen ($99). Collectively, getting the complete Surface Go experience will cost an additional $230, roughly speaking. This is, unfortunately, par for the course for Microsoft Surface products and has been for a few years now. Ultimately, with this deal, you could get the Surface Go in this configuration for just $615. In comparison to the $779 this complete setup would cost you normally – albeit with 4GB more RAM – you're saving $165 altogether. We bring all of this up, rather than simply tell you that the tablet is 100 bucks off, because the Surface Go isn't really a complete product without at least that Type Cover. Regardless, this is the cheapest the Surface Go with 128GB of storage is likely to be between now and Black Friday.
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| Microsoft reveals HoloLens 2 release date Posted: 29 Aug 2019 11:36 AM PDT The next edition of Microsoft's augmented and virtual reality headset, HoloLens 2 will go on sale next month, the company has confirmed.. Speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Microsoft's head of AI and research, Harry Shum, revealed the surprise news onstage. HoloLens 2 was unveiled by Microsot back at Mobile World Congress in February, but the company had not disclosed any information about release dates until now - although there's still no exact date or pricing information available.
Hololens 2In the six months since MWC, Microsoft has remained fairly tight-lipped about its plans for HoloLens 2, preferring to concentrate on fine-tuning the device that was shown off in Barcelona by CEO Satya Nadella. The company did open pre-orders for HoloLens back in May at its Microsoft Build conference, as well as revealing a HoloLens 2 Development Edition to help developers get a head-start on creating news apps and services for the device.
The HoloLens 2 Development Edition will cost $3,500 (about £2,600, AU$4,900) to buy outright or developers can choose to pay $99 per month with Microsoft's installment plan. The Development Edition does not include any special hardware or different features from the retail version of the HoloLens 2 but instead includes $500 in Azure credits as well as a three-month trial of Unity Pro and Unity PiXYZ plugin to help bring engineering renderings into Unity. Much like its predecessor, HoloLens 2 will look to target businesses and enterprise customers, and features both a lighter build and improved hardware. This includes an upgraded view system, with Microsoft employing a 2K MEMS (or microelectromechanical systems) display to allow a larger field of view that is now 52-degrees, beating the original’s 34-degree option. It’s also no longer in a 16:9 aspect ratio, allowing your augmented reality view to be taller. Microsoft also revealed that Unreal Engine 4 support for HoloLens 2 will be available by the end of May, potentially meaning greater gaming and VR support. Microsoft is also opening an open app store, allowing developers to create their own marketplaces for content, and will support all web browsers - not just Edge. Firefox is the first big partner to sign up, with its new browser offering available on HoloLens 2.
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| Warner Bros. films and TV shows will be streamable on Plex for free Posted: 29 Aug 2019 11:22 AM PDT Plex may have built its reputation on DIY streaming software, but now it's taking another big step in the direction of being a traditional media streaming service: the company just announced a new deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution that will bring AVOD shows and movies to all of its users. According to Plex, the shows and movies will be available for free (with ads) and won’t require you to be a premium Plex Pass holder to watch it. The shows will appear inside the Plex app - likely in a different place than the rest of your content - and will likely be joined by content from other studios in the future. The downside here is that those shows and movies will only be streaming in the US and no specific titles have so far been named in the deal. There’s also no hard date set for when the content will be available on the service. While those key details will determine the success of the partnership this ultimately feels like a good step forward for the service and follows in the footsteps of The Roku Channel and Sony's ad-supported Crackle streaming service.
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| Google could shift production away from China Posted: 29 Aug 2019 10:50 AM PDT Google reportedly plans to shift some hardware manufacturing away from China in a move that would allow it to expand its operations and minimise the impact of tariffs. Devices, such as the Google Pixel smartphone and Google Home voice-activated assistant, are currently made in the country. However the US and China are engaged in a trade dispute that has seen President Donald Trump impose tariffs on Chinese-made goods.
Google ChinaAccording to Japanese publication Nikkei, Google has commenced the conversion of a former Nokia facility in northern Vietnam – the same region used by Samsung to develop a supply chain over the past decade. This will allow it to draw upon a pool of skilled workers to produce phones. Nikkei says Google has plans to increase smartphone shipments to up to ten million by the end of the year – nearly double the figure last year. The new facility would give the company greater capacity to achieve that goal. Google would not be the first major US tech firm to move production away from China. While tariffs have been a catalyst for the shift, there have also been concerns about rising labour costs. Apple is reportedly looking to shift between 15 and 30 percent of its production to other countries, with India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Mexico among the candidates. However it would take several years to move even a portion of production away from China given the complex ecosystem that has been established there. Google’s relatively smaller operation means it could move more production more rapidly. Via Nikkei This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| iPhone 11 launch date set for September 10 Posted: 29 Aug 2019 10:44 AM PDT Apple has invited press from all around the world for an event on September 10, which is likely to be the launch of the next iPhone. The event is set to take place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. Apple will kick off at 10AM PT / 1PM EST / 6PM BST (4AM AEDT on September 11 in Australia). The invite says "By innovation only", which suggests we'll be seeing some changes on the next set of devices from Apple, but it isn't a huge giveaway of what we can expect to see.
The full invite from Apple TechRadar has been invited to the launch, so we'll be there live covering all of the latest announcements from Apple. It's currently rumored that we'll see three new iPhone products including the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11R. We may also hear word of the Apple Watch 5, and we may even hear more of other upcoming products such as the Homepod 2 and a quick update on Apple TV Plus. And, of course, Mac fans should find plenty to love with a release date for macOS 10.15 Catalina. We might even see that rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro – that would certainly be an innovation. This is also likely to be when we hear of a rollout date for new software from the company, so expect to hear more on iOS 13, iPadOS and watchOS 6. Since this is traditionally a window to announce new devices, we aren't sure whether we'll hear updates about Apple's services. But it's possible that we'll learn when Apple Arcade is set to go live, as it was originally slated to launch in 'Fall' 2019, or Apple TV Plus. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Huawei Mate 30 Pro release date, news, price and leaks Posted: 29 Aug 2019 10:36 AM PDT Update: After Google suspended Huawei's future access to Android Play Store and security updates, there are serious question marks over the future of Huawei and Honor phones. While Google and Huawei have promised to support phones currently on the market, Google confirmed that the same doesn't apply to the Mate 30 Pro - and it won't ship with "licensed Google apps and services." Sure, users could sideload them later, but most folks won't go to the effort of doing so; more to the point, that locks Huawei out from crucial security and feature updates. We'll see how the situation develops. The Huawei Mate 30 Pro is the next major phone launch from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer and the successor to the Mate 20 Pro. We're expecting the new handset (along with the base Huawei Mate 30) to be officially revealed in October. And while there's still uncertainty around the company's future business in the US despite a 90-day extension of its limited license, this is a phone that should still be worth considering.
That said, while the Huawei P30 and the Huawei P30 Pro have full access to Android and Google's apps, there's an outside chance that Huawei Mate 30 Pro may launch with the firm's own operating system. We doubt it though as things stand at the moment. Latest leak: A new report suggests Huawei may be ready to debut the fastest wireless charging on the market in the Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro. Not much is known about the Huawei Mate 30 Pro yet, but rumors are starting to roll in, all of which you’ll find below. We’ll also update this article any time we hear any credible new information. Could the phone come out, and if it does will it reach our list of the best Android phones? We'll have to wait until launch to find out for sure. It's not just the Mate 30 Pro that's worth keeping an eye out for though. The new iPhone and Google Pixel 4 are both hotly tipped to arrive in the coming months too, giving you plenty of new options to consider. Cut to the chase
Huawei Mate 30 Pro release date and priceOriginally we expected Huawei to introduce the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro in October considering the company announced both the Huawei Mate 20 range and the Huawei Mate 10 in October of their respective launch years. One rumor has suggested it may come earlier in 2019 though, with Russian news site High-tech Mail claiming that Huawei's Consumer Business Software President said in a briefing that the phone will launch on September 19. Huawei has yet to confirm that date in public, but it may well be we see the phone earlier than October. At the very least the Mate 30 Pro will likely be announced in the last few months of 2019, alongside the standard Huawei Mate 30.
The Mate 30 Pro is likely to land in October. There aren’t any price rumors yet either, but the Huawei Mate 20 Pro cost £899 / AU$1,599 (around $1,150) at launch, so it’s likely that the Mate 30 Pro will cost at least that much. It’s worth noting also that given Huawei’s ongoing issues in the US, the Mate 30 Pro probably won’t be available there. Huawei Mate 30 Pro news and rumorsOne of the major Huawei Mate 30 Pro rumor so far comes from a Huawei patent, which shows a phone case with space on the back for extra camera lenses. You can see the image below and based on that it looks like there could be room for five rear lenses, up from three on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and four on the P30 Pro. Of course, patents don’t always become real devices, and even if this does get used it might not make it to the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, but it would make sense for Huawei to increase the number of lenses on its flagship, given that a number of other phones are doing the same.
This could point to extra lenses on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro. Image Credit: Mobielkopen We've also heard from Huawei itself that the Mate 30 range might support 5G, but that so far the company is only "considering" this. Beyond that, we can be confident that the Mate 30 Pro will have a new generation of the company’s top-end in-house chipset. The current top version is called the Kirin 980 and made its debut in the Huawei Mate 20 range. Based on previous names we can guess that the next one will be called the Kirin 990. Another report suggests Huawei may be able to include 25W wireless charging, which should mean super quick recharge times for your phone when using wireless pads. The Mate 30 Pro is also likely to have at least four rear cameras, given that the Huawei P30 Pro does, and it might have a similar design to that phone, including a tiny notch and hardly any bezel. Having said that, multiple leaks have now shown a design with a larger notch, along with a curvier screen. The curves of the screen can be seen below. But we've also seen an older set of renders supposedly showing the handset. The over-sized camera block matches the cutout in the patent leak above, and appears to house at least four cameras. On the front, this Huawei Mate 30 Pro leak suggests the handset will have dual front-facing cameras, surrounded by screen in a similar fashion to the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus.
Is this our first proper look at the Huawei Mate 30 Pro? (Image Credit: IT Home) Big camera blocks are starting to become one of the major design points for phones set to launch in the second half of 2019, with both the iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4 also tipped to adopt larger bumps. We've actually heard an alternative to this large phone block, though, as a leaked render shows a circle camera block with the lenses aligned in an X shape. It's a futuristic design for sure, but it's rather surprisingly large, and could be obnoxious in physical form. That circular block can be seen again in another leak (below), albeit without the 'X' configuration and oddly only seemingly housing three lenses. This leak also highlights the large notch, and seems to show a headphone port on the standard Mate 30, but not on the Mate 30 Pro. As well as the actual design of the cameras, we've heard a tiny bit about the camera capabilities, thanks to Huawei trademarking the phrases 'Cine Lens' and 'Camera Matrix'. We're expecting the former to be a lens with specific features designed for video recording, but the latter is a bit of a mystery at the moment, as it could refer to many things. Elsewhere, a leak has suggested that at least one of the phones will have four rear cameras, consisting of two 40MP lenses, an 8MP lens, and a time-of-flight (ToF) depth sensor. On the front of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, leaked images of the display show screen cut-outs for many cameras – more than for a dual-lens front-facing snapper, as some smartphones have, so it's possible that the device will have Apple-style facial unlocking. What we want to seeThe Huawei Mate 30 Pro is likely to be a powerful, impressive phone, but for it to really stand out it could do with the following things. 1. An improved cameraThe cameras on the Mate 20 Pro are generally very good, but in our review we found that shots taken with the ultra-wide-angle lens would sometimes have warped edges. We also noted that the phone’s HDR skills weren’t a match for some of its top rivals, such as the Google Pixel 3 and iPhone XS, so these are two things that we’d like to see improved for the Huawei Mate 30 Pro. 2. More lenses
Three is good, more is better. While we’re on the subject of the camera, we’d also like more lenses. The three on the back is a good start, but with the likes of the Nokia 9 getting five lenses there’s always room for more. This may well happen too, as early rumors suggest that extra rear lenses could be a feature of the Mate 30 Pro. Similarly, we’d like to see an extra lens on the front of the phone, especially if it can be used to power Apple-calibre facial recognition. 3. No notchThe Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a good-looking phone, but one element that could start to look dated in 2019 is its notch, since phones are starting to arrive with punch-hole cameras instead. But ideally we don’t even want that for the Mate 30 Pro, what we’d like to see is a truly all-screen design with the camera and sensors somehow built into the screen. That might not be possible, but Huawei is often among the first to show new technology in handsets, so you never know. 4. A slicker interfaceOne ongoing issue with all of Huawei’s phones is the heavy EMUI overlay the company sticks on top of Android. We’d like to see the Huawei Mate 30 Pro stay closer to stock Android. Better yet, ditch EMUI entirely and use Android One – which would also ensure software updates could be offered rapidly. 5. An improved in-screen scanner
The Mate 20 Pro's scanner needs work. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has an in-screen fingerprint scanner and it was among the first phones to sport one. It’s a cool feature but in the Mate 20 Pro’s case it’s not perfect. It’s only on a small area of the screen, so can be hard to find without first turning the screen on (which brings up an icon). It also isn’t perfect at recognizing prints. That’s all forgivable since it’s the first generation of the tech, but by the time the Mate 30 Pro launches, Huawei will have had another year to perfect it, so let’s hope it will use the time wisely. 6. A 3.5mm headphone portLike many phones, the Mate 20 Pro lacks a 3.5mm headphone port, but we’re still not convinced that it’s time to abandon wired headphones. There are lots of arguments for the convenience of wireless headphones and the fact that the space used for the port could better be used for other things. This is all valid, but many of us still have wired cans that we don’t want to bury just yet. Some of us also don’t want to have to charge our headphones, and when it comes to sound quality wired can still have the edge. 7. Something newMost of the things listed above are focused on perfecting the Mate 20 Pro, but what we really want to see for the Huawei Mate 30 Pro is something completely new and exciting. Some sort of futuristic feature perhaps or a completely new, completely dazzling design. We’ll leave the specifics to Huawei, but in the face of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the iPhone 11 it’s likely to take more than impressive basics for the Mate 30 Pro to truly stand out.
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| MacBook Pro 2019: 16-inch MacBook Pro release date, news and rumors Posted: 29 Aug 2019 10:20 AM PDT The MacBook Pro 2019 refresh is an upgrade from its 2018 predecessor, but there are still many MacBook users who are tired of Apple’s recent moves. The Cupertino company has been releasing new MacBook Pros and other Apple devices faster than we can replenish our bank accounts. And yet, while some of these upgrades have resulted in better devices – hats off to you, Mac mini – many of those releases are falling a bit flat. However, there are plenty of old-school Apple users that are being alienated by Apple’s latest design philosophy. To be fair, the MacBook Pro 2019 did benefit from a significant internal revamp, now rocking 9th-generation Intel processors (CPUs) and some of the fastest SSDs we’ve seen to date. Additionally, Apple has fixed the issues with the Butterfly keyboard – or some of them at least. Even better, now there are 15-inch MacBook Pro configurations that tout the latest 8-core Intel Core i9. What do these latest improvements mean for the oft-rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019? Recent reports have reinforced the possibility of a true redesign gracing us with its presence this year, perhaps alongside the new Mac Pro 2019. However, Apple might opt to roll out a completely new model in 2020 or 2021. Regardless, the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 could still happen, especially since famed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has produced some leaks that suggest Apple is going to release a 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 with an “all-new” design. With it, we’re hoping that Apple will give that still-pesky keyboard a redesign, and recent reports are looking good in that regard. If a 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 is indeed in the works, here are the things we’re hoping to see. Cut to the chase
Image Credit: Apple MacBook Pro 2019 release dateWhile a 16-inch follow-up and redesign to the MacBook Pro 2019 is still something many Apple fans are looking forward to, there’s only a vague "2019" rumored release date at this time. That’s hardly a surprise since the last major update came out in July 2018, and Apple just dropped its 9th-gen Intel Core CPU configurations and a 13-inch MacBook Pro July 2019 refresh. Still, it would be curious to see macOS Catalina in an overhauled or 16-inch MacBook Pro. We might need to wait a few more months for a clearer date, or even a confirmation that it will happen, but rumors and reports are piling up. If we’re going by Apple’s previous release dates – with the MacBook Pro 2017 launching in June 2017 and the MacBook Pro 2018 model debuting under the radar in July 2018 – a summer release for the MacBook Pro 2019 makes sense. We must consider that the 10nm Ice Lake chips are now available and Apple's macOS Catalina is set for a fall release. With these two factors in mind, we could see Apple release the MacBook Pro somewhere around then to take advantage of the new tech and operating system update immediately. The possibility of a redesigned 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 is high, so we'll be keeping a close eye on Apple's forgone iPhone event in September – if not, we could be looking at an October or even November launch of this 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Image Credit: TechRadar MacBook Pro 2019 priceJust the fact that Apple has refreshed its non-Touch Bar MacBook Pros this July 2019 to boast a higher processor, a better keyboard, and the Touch Bar and Touch ID features says a lot about the direction in which they’re going. The worst part of the 2019 models is the fact that you need to spend thousands of dollars to secure the highest amount of RAM (the 32GB RAM option is only available to the 15-inch models) and the largest SSD combo. Otherwise, you’re stuck with smallest amount of RAM and a Touch Bar that isn’t even universally compatible. You can also forget about upgrading your 13-inch. The majority of its parts are soldered, so you’ll be forced to bring in a professional and break your warranty. You also may have to buy a third-party docking station since the only ports available to you are the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack. Of course, it’s hard to predict these things, but you’ll probably see more of the same price tags. Currently, the base model of a 13-inch MacBook Pro gets you an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, 128GB SSD storage and the integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645. The good news is that this entry level 13-inch model sticks with the same price tag at $1,299 (£1,299, AU$1,999), despite its recent upgrades. As far as the 15-inch’s 9th gen Intel Core i9 configurations, which currently start at $2,399 (£2,399, A$3,499), we’d like to keep its price while still getting its design refresh. A Chinese technology site has recently reported the 16-inch MacBook Pro to start around $3,000 (about £2,450, AU$4,350). Later, analyst Ming Chi-Kuo reported improvements to the keyboard with a new scissor switch design. It may seem outlandish to you, but but "$2,999" sounds like a fine price for Apple to go with.
Image Credit: Apple What we want to see from MacBook Pro 2019Apple hasn’t been getting a lot of love lately, what with the great keyboard debacle of 2016 through 2019, the problematic Touch Bar and the soldered RAM, to name a few. Still, we’re hoping that Apple takes a new lease on life in 2019, and actually offer its loyal fans some of the things they need and not upsell them on things they don’t need. So far, it does look promising. More port variety, please Though if we're being honest, limiting us to Thunderbolt 3 is inconvenient. MacBook Pro is for professionals who are looking for a seamless workflow. While Thunderbolt 3 is efficient, powerful and versatile, offering a port for charging as well as super fast output and data transfers, many of us are still using devices and accessories that don’t support it. If we’re expected to connect this cable to that adapter to plug into that other port, we’re not going to be happy about it. Plus, is it possible to bring back MagSafe charging? Some of us tend to trip over those cables, and it was nice to know that we wouldn’t damage those older models by doing so. Seeing as how Apple launched the latest MacBook Air with just two Thunderbolt 3 ports and no MagSafe charger, chances are slim that Apple is going to diversify the ports on the MacBook Pro 2019. So, what we’re really gunning for now is a docking station or an adapter out of the box. Improved Touch Bar That’s all fine and dandy, and, we admit, the technology does look promising. However, if Apple is going to ask to pay a few hundred bucks more for a new feature, we’d like to maximize its use. So far, Touch Bar compatibility is only limited to a few programs and apps, and we demand to see more added to this list if it’s here to stay. Plus, it would be nice to get it properly working sans the freezes and fat finger issues.
Image Credit: TechRadar Offer an alternative We’d like to see an option for such users. It would be great to see Apple to resuscitate the Touch Bar-free models, and price them cheaper than their Touch Bar counterparts. Better keyboard, display and sound Rounding the design out, MacBook Pro designers should take cues from the iPhone X and phase out the bezeled design. That’s a lot of valuable real estate wasted, and rolling out a bezel-free screen will give users a bigger display without having to sacrifice size — not to mention, giving the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019 a fresher, more modern look. Also, a laptop designed to edit 4K media should have a 4K screen option, though we're hearing that 3K is going to be this laptop's game. Finally, we’d like to see Apple reconsider those speakers. We get that Apple is going for a thinner design, but the speakers in the older MacBook Pros are considerably better. With all that technology they come up with, it wouldn’t be that hard to get a premium set of speakers that are louder and have better bass. New Intel processor At CES 2019, however, Intel announced Ice Lake, its first round of 10nm Sunny Cove processors for laptops. These chips are now available, and we’re hoping that Apple already has plans to include these next-gen CPUs in the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019. If that happens, we’d like to see Apple offering both 9th-gen and 10th-gen configurations, as well as awarding one of its 13-inch model a 9th-gen Coffee Lake Refresh configuration.
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| Best processors 2019: the best CPUs for your PC Posted: 29 Aug 2019 10:14 AM PDT Are you looking for the best processor 2019 has on offer with which to build your new computer? Lucky for you, the CPU market is teeming with powerful silicon and growing. Thanks to the fiery competition between Intel and AMD, now is a great time to invest in a new processor. AMD has been slowly dominating the market, especially now with its Ryzen 3rd generation processors to compete with the likes of Intel Core i9-9900K and Intel Core i9-9920X. Intel, on the other hand, has its 9th-generation Coffee Lake Refresh chips with the Intel Core i9-9900K leading series, and they are still ever popular. Plus, not to be outdone by AMD, Intel has been rolling out Ice Lakechips, and we should start seeing them in computers by the end of 2019. The market is completely packed with a number of impressive chips, from budget big shots, like the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, to HEDT heroes, like Intel’s Basin Falls Refresh lineup. There are also many mid-range megastars to round out this best processors list, like our current favorite, the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X. In fact, you can hardly throw a stone without hitting an impressive processor that does the job and more. This just means that finding the most ideal one for your rig is key. Lucky for you, even if the latest and greatest silicon is out of your wallet’s reach, there are many excellent Coffee Lake and Ryzen Gen 1 chips on the market. Get ready to experience incredible PC performance – as well as great deals thanks to our included our price comparison tool. These are the best processors on the market in 2019.
The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X isn’t just AMD’s best mainstream processor right now; it’s also currently the king of all mainstream processors. With multi-threaded performance that destroys everything in its path to start, you won’t find a processor more impressive without stepping up to the HEDT market. Sure, there are some workloads where the Intel Core i9-9900K will still come out better, like with old games that are completely single threaded. However, thanks to this chip, the gap is definitely starting to narrow. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Image Credit: Intel Thanks to increasing pressure from AMD, Intel’s offerings have been heating up like crazy (sometimes literally.) Out of this fiery competition came the Intel Core i9-9900K, an absolute beast of a processor that packs eight cores and 16 threads. That’s more cores than any mainstream processor released by Intel. The performance shows that it’s worth it, as this chip can go head to head with some of AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper chips. If raw performance is what you’re seeking, the Intel Core i9-9900K is, without question, one of the best processors you can go for. Read the full review: Intel Core i9-9900K
Image Credit: AMD Looking to purchase one of the best processors for content creation on a tight budget? The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X might just be an ideal choice for you. With 6 cores, 12 threads and a base clock of 3.6GHz, you’re getting a much better performance than the pricier Intel Core i5-8600K. As a bonus, you get a gorgeous RGB CPU cooler included. Yes, the gaming performance over the blue team is marginal at best, but when you start multi-tasking – and who doesn’t always end up with 100 chrome tabs open by lunchtime – that value starts to manifest. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Image Credit: AMD If you’re putting together a gaming PC while on the tightest budget, the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G might just be your best investment yet. It doesn’t inherit the hyperthreading capability of its predecessor, the Ryzen 3 1200. However, the introduction of integrated graphics makes this APU one of the most affordable ways to experience casual PC gaming, a good enough reason to give this a spot in our best processors list. Impressively, we were even able to play Overwatch at 4K Ultra-HD resolution at ‘Epic’ settings. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
With more threads than the Intel Core i5-9600K, this mid-range graphics card delivers impressive multi-threading performance. However, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X doesn’t just stop there: it takes that budget-minded stage of performance to a new level, with its increased IPC (instructions per clock) performance and a higher clock speed while staying at the same price point. It also stays competitive in even the most intense single-threaded applications. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Image Credit: AMD Initially the Intel Core i7-7700K’s biggest competition, the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X still holds its own today, despite having been succeeded by the Ryzen 7 2800X. Its high core count, when compared to its Intel rival, means that it's better suited for VR workloads. Now that it’s dropped considerably in price, it’s more affordable than ever. If you’re building a VR rig, do yourself a favor: save some cash without sacrificing too much on performance with the Ryzen 7 1800X. It’s undoubtedly one of the best processors for VR gaming. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 7 1800X
The single-threaded performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X admittedly still falls behind Intel, but what matters most in video editing and rendering is how a chip does with multi-threaded workloads. If you’re building a computer that can handle your video editing demands, this chip is an absolute beast and our top pick for video editing. That’s not all: this AMD chip offers impressive performance and a Wraith Spire cooler at a very affordable price. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Image Credit: Intel Are you the kind of user that demands world-class performance, and money is no object? The Intel Core i9-9980XE is among the best processors for you. With 18-cores and 36-threads, it absolutely destroys all its competitors on the market right now, if just barely. Multi-threaded applications and workstation-class projects are going to breeze by with this chip. However, if that steep price tag makes you do a double take, then you might want to look somewhere else. Read the full review: Intel Core i9-9980XE
Image Credit: Intel If you choose the Intel Pentium G4560 over a Core i3 chip, you might not even notice the slight loss of performance, as you’ll be too busy counting all the money you saved. As the first Pentium chip in a long time to boast hyper-threading, the G4560 shows us what low-end CPUs have been missing for a long time. In benchmarks, it proves that it’s easily adjacent to the pricier Intel Core i3-7100.
Image Credit: AMD One of the only things that was missing in AMD’s Ryzen processors when they blew up was the integrated graphics support. But then, the Ryzen 5 2400G hit the streets and changed everything for mainstream PC users. With excellent AMD Vega graphics, it’s a fantastic APU most ideal for anyone looking to build a home theater PC. In addition, now that AMD has slashed the price, you can get your 4K action for cheaper than ever. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Michelle Rae Uy also contributed to this article.
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| Ransomware threats see major resurgence Posted: 29 Aug 2019 10:00 AM PDT Ransomware is making a comeback according to a new report from McAfee which observed that ransomware samples grew by 118 percent during the first quarter of this year as cybercriminals adopted new tactics to evade detection. The cybersecurity firm's McAfee Labs Threats Report: August 2019 saw an average of 504 new threats per minute during Q1 alongside changes in ransomware campaign execution and code. Additionally over 2.2bn stolen account credentials were made available on the dark web over the course of the quarter and 68 percent of targeted attacks utilized spear-phishing for initial access while 77 percent relied on user actions to execute their campaigns. McAfee fellow and chief scientist, Raj Samani stressed the fact that every cyberattack has a human cost, saying:
“The impact of these threats is very real. It’s important to recognize that the numbers, highlighting increases or decreases of certain types of attacks, only tell a fraction of the story. Every infection is another business dealing with outages, or a consumer facing major fraud. We must not forget for every cyberattack, there is a human cost.” Ransomware resurgenceMcAfee Advanced Threat Research (ATR) also observed innovations in how cybercriminals launch ransomware campaigns with shifts in initial access vectors, campaign management and technical innovations in their code. In Q1 2019, ransomware attacks increasingly targeted exposed remote access points such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). RDP credentials were either purchased on the dark web or cracked through brute-force attacks and they can be used to gain admin privileges to distribute and execute malware on corporate networks. McAfee researchers also observed how the cybercriminals behind ransomware attacks began to use anonymous email services to manage their campaigns instead of the traditional approach of setting up command-and-control (C2) servers. Dharma (also known as Crysis), GandCrab and Ryuk were the most active ransomware families during the first quarter of this year with other notable ransomware families including Anatova (which McAfee exposed before it spread) and Scarab. Lead scientist and senior principal engineer at McAfee, Christiaan Beek provided further insight on ransomware's resurgence, saying: “After a periodic decrease in new families and developments at the end of 2018, the first quarter of 2019 was game on again for ransomware, with code innovations and a new, much more targeted approach. Paying ransoms supports cybercriminal businesses and perpetuates attacks. There are other options available to victims of ransomware. Decryption tools and campaign information are available through tools such as the No More Ransom project.”
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| iPhone 11R release date, price, news and leaks Posted: 29 Aug 2019 09:53 AM PDT Apple is largely expected to release three new iPhone models at its Q3 event, which we now know will be on September 10th. Among them we’re likely to see a successor to the iPhone XR, which for now we’re calling the iPhone 11R – though that might not be its launch name. We’ve got more insight on potential names below, but more importantly, we’ve also gathered all the leaks and rumors we can find about the iPhone 11R’s design, specs and features. Being an iPhone, and being this close to launch, a lot has been leaked, so there’s plenty to get stuck into. We’ll also be sure to update this article whenever we hear anything new, so check back regularly for all things iPhone 11R. Update: The iPhone 11R could be more shatter-resistant than previous iPhone models. Plus, a video shows how the iPhone 11 range might look, and a walkie-talkie feature was apparently in the works, but has now supposedly been put on hold. Cut to the chase
iPhone 11R release date and priceThe iPhone 11R will very likely be announced on September 10 during Apple's official Q3 event, which is when the company typically announces new handsets. That date was heavily rumored from an image showing this date found in the iOS 13 beta, and was finally officially announced. Even before that though, we predicted that it would be announced on September 10, as in the last few years the announcements have taken place on the Tuesday or Wednesday around that date. However, the iPhone XR actually went on sale later than the iPhone XS range, with people unable to buy it until October 26 of 2018, so we can’t rule out a similar delay here. Though sources do suggest they will all go on sale at the same time, and either way a September 10 announcement is still likely. Even that isn’t set in stone though, with @evleaks (a reputable leaker) posting a timeline that suggests a late September announcement for the iPhone 11 range. As for the price, there aren’t any real rumors about that, but much of a price rise for the most basic model seems unlikely, so we could be looking at something similar to the $749 / £749 / AU$1,229 starting price of the iPhone XR.
The iPhone XR was a 'budget' model, so the 11R likely will be too. iPhone 11R or just iPhone 11?One thing that we’re unclear on is what the iPhone 11R will actually be called, with one source pointing just to ‘iPhone 11’ (with the two more premium models being called iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max). There’s also the question of whether ‘11’ will be used, or whether Apple will opt for ‘XI’. Or perhaps the number will be dropped altogether and we’ll simply get the ‘new iPhone’ or the iPhone R. iPhone 11R design and displayThe consensus so far is that the design won’t be changing much for the iPhone 11R, meaning you can still probably expect a notch and a similar overall look. The one key difference that has been heavily rumored is the look of the cameras though, as these are now expected to sit in a square block at the top left corner, making them rather more prominent than the iPhone XR’s small single-lens snapper. Most leaks so far show the more premium iPhone 11 models, but the video below gives you a look at the possible design of all three, complete with that camera change. You can see similar designs in another video, which used dummy units created based on rumors. The source of this video above also claims that the iPhone 11R will be 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm, which is identical dimensions to the iPhone XR. So if true then there really won’t be many changes at all. Another difference could be the colors, with the iPhone 11R rumored to land in black, white, yellow, lavender and green shades, as you can see in the image below, showing shards of glass supposedly intended for the phone. You can also see the possible design of the iPhone 11R again, this time in the form of case moldings. Elsewhere we’ve similarly heard talk of black, white, gold and dark green shades. There’s also the possibility of a ‘rainbow’ finish on some models – though expect this to be subtle if it appears at all. Slightly less convincingly we may also have seen the iPhone 11R in the wild, appearing in the reflection of a Galaxy Note 10 Plus. It’s not the best of looks, but it shows the redesigned camera that we’re expecting. As for the display, rumors suggest that will stay at 6.1 inches and continue to use LCD, rather than OLED. However, it’s said that the screen could sport some improvements, such as better anti-aliasing. Both the screen and the back glass might also use new shatter-resistance technology. So don’t expect a big change here. Think subtle. iPhone 11R cameraThis is the biggest change we’re expecting for the iPhone 11R, with rumors not just pointing to a new square shape, as detailed above, but also to an extra lens, with the iPhone 11R thought to have two rear lenses, where the iPhone XR has just one. It’s possible that it could even have three, as some phones in the range reportedly do, but two is looking the most likely number for now. It’s expected that these lenses will both be 12MP, but a source claims that they will be ‘new’, suggesting some upgrades. It’s not clear what roles the two lenses will serve – one is expected to be a standard lens, but the other could either be wide-angle or telephoto based on leaks (with the iPhone 11 Max getting all three). If we had to guess, we’d say the 11R would get the telephoto lens, as the iPhone XS had a main and telephoto combination. One report has also said as much. We’ve also heard that the image signal processor might be enhanced, and that the front-facing camera will be boosted from 7MP to 12MP, and will incorporate an extra layer of glass to improve the quality of photos.
The iPhone 11R could go from one lens to two. iPhone 11R battery and specsAccording to one source, the iPhone 11R could have a 3,110mAh battery, which would make it around 5.7% larger than the 2,942mAh one in the iPhone XR. That’s not a big jump, but then the iPhone XR already has the best battery life of any modern iPhone, so that might be all it needs. Elsewhere, respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said to expect a battery increase of around 5%, which tallies with the rumor above, so they could well be on to something. As for charging, while some early reports suggested Apple might move to USB-C, most rumors point to Lightning remaining. This is believable, especially in the case of the iPhone 11R where Apple will be trying to keep costs down. The iPhone 11R might charge fast though, with claims of an 18W charger potentially coming in the box, though elsewhere we’ve heard that it will stick with slow 5W charging, so we’re not sure what’s true here. If we had to guess, we’d say faster charging on this basic model is unlikely. Moving on to core specs, Apple is sure to include a new chipset, likely to be dubbed the A13. Storage meanwhile could come in at 64GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities, or 128GB, 256GB and 512GB, depending on which rumors you believe – though in both cases it’s not clear whether all iPhone 11 models would get all these sizes or not. As for the operating system, that’s sure to be iOS 13. What the phone almost certainly won’t have is 5G. iPhone 11R other featuresThe iPhone 11R is sure to have Face ID of course, but it could be even better this year, with one source saying that it will work from a wider range of angles. Beyond that we’re moving into the territory of unlikely things. It’s rumored for example that at least some iPhone 11 models will support the Apple Pencil, and we've even seen a case emerge for the iPhone 11 Pro with an Apple Pencil slot, but we’re not convinced, and if any do, the iPhone 11R will be last in line. We’ve also seen patents for a camera designed for underwater photography, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner that would let you place your finger anywhere on the screen to unlock the phone. But patents often don’t get used, and if these ones do we’d think they’re too premium for the features to appear on the iPhone 11R. One feature that was rumored but has apparently been put on a hold was a walkie-talkie mode that would let users send text messages even when there's no signal, by using long-distance radio waves. But it sounds like if this feature ever arrives it won't be ready in time for any iPhone 11 models.
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| Apple Watch 5 release date, price, news and rumors Posted: 29 Aug 2019 09:37 AM PDT The Apple Watch holds the title of the best selling smartwatch, and a version of it adorns wrists all over the world - but it's still not perfect. The Apple Watch 4 is the company's most elegant device yet - it sits near the top of our best smartwatch list - and it's packed with lots of brand new top-end features too. The Series 4 saw Apple introduce an ECG monitor as well as fall detection and a refreshed design that ensures existing straps can still be used, while offering more screen space. So why are we already excited about the Apple Watch 5? If the last few years are anything to judge by, it won't be long until we hear from Apple about a new device. It's likely to launch alongside the new iPhone, which is expected to be announced on September 10. At the moment we're expecting it to be called the Apple Watch Series 5, and below we've put together all of the rumors we've seen so far. There aren't many rumors yet though, so more importantly you’ll find a selection of improvements we'd like to see on the next smartwatch from Apple. Update: Apple has sent out invites to an event on September 10 when it's expected we'll hear about the iPhone 11 family as well as the Apple Watch 5. Apple Watch 5 release date and price
Apple Watch 4
We don't know for certain when the Apple Watch 5 will launch, but we're pretty confident it'll be on September 10 alongside the next iPhone. Apple often introduces its smartwatches alongside the new iPhone, so this date seems likely for a launch as that's the next big Apple event. Often Apple introduces devices and then releases them 10 days later too (meaning perhaps September 20), so once you've heard about the Apple Watch 5 it probably won't be long until you can buy one. When it comes to price, we have no real reason to believe the price is set to increase from the RRP of the Apple Watch 4. That watch started at $399 / £399 / AU$599 for the smallest GPS version, and $429 / £429 / AU$649 for the larger one 44mm one. If you want mobile internet, you'll likely be able to buy the smaller watch for $499 / £499 / AU$749 and pay $529 / £529 / AU$799 for the larger watch. There may be some fluctuation when it comes to the Apple Watch 5 price, but this is the clearest indicator of how much it will cost you when it launches. Apple Watch 5 news and rumorsSo far we've yet to hear much about the Apple Watch 5, but one report may give us a hint at what we'll see. The first important report comes from trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has said the company may be set to introduce a "new ceramic casing design" on at least one model. Kuo also believes Apple will bring support for the ECG monitor to more countries with the Apple Watch 5 - although that may also be a software upgrade for the Apple Watch 4 - as well as a new way to charge your watch. He believes Apple will adopt two-way wireless charging on its next generation of smartphones, which would mean you'd be able to place your Apple Watch on the rear of an iPhone 11 and charge it up using the phone's battery. The design might not be changing much though, with the leaked image below supposedly showing an Apple Watch 5 and looking a lot like the Apple Watch 4. The only real giveaway that this could be a new model is that the model number displayed isn't attached to any current Apple Watch - though has recently been listed by the Eurasian Economic Commission (spotted by MacRumors), so is likely a model that's on the way soon. We'd take the photo with a pinch of salt, but we're largely expecting a similar design from the Apple Watch 5, so it could be accurate. Elsewhere, it has been reported that Apple is working on a sleep tracking feature, so the Apple Watch 5 might finally be able to track your sleep without you needing to download a third-party app. Thanks to some images uncovered in watchOS 6, we know that ceramic and titanium casings are likely to be on the way – either for the Series 5, the Series 4, or both.
Apple Watch 4. Image Credit: TechRadar Given that much of the hardware should already be in place, it's possible that sleep tracking will also come to older models as a software update. However, the report says that the feature should arrive by 2020, so we might not see it until the Apple Watch 6. A report from Reuters has also claimed Apple will be looking to Japan Display to make OLED panels for the Watch 5. That's unlikely to have any effect on the end product, but it's interesting to see the company is already preparing its manufacturing deals ready for this year's device. A patent filed by Apple shows a system that monitors chemicals in the air to 'smell', which could track your body odor or sense air quality where you're exercising. A glucose monitor manufacturer has also confirmed it's making a device specific for the Apple Watch, which may mean we're closer to seeing an unobtrusive version of tech included on a future Apple smartwatch. Another rumor suggests the Apple Watch 5 may be the first Apple wearable to come with Wi-Fi Assist technology on board too. That's unlikely to be on the Apple Watch 5, but the new accessory may specifically work on the next-gen Apple Watch. Another report suggests Apple may be readying itself to switch over to microLED technology from the traditionally used OLED tech on its Apple Watch range. That is unlikely to happen for the Apple Watch 5 though as the company is said to only be in the early stages of the switch now, so it's likely whatever Apple Watch we see in 2020 will be the first to include it. It's thought the company is switching to microLED to help improve the watch's battery life. Little else is known about the Apple Watch 5. Consistent rumors surface every year with Apple patenting round screens and a variety of other technologies, but at the time of writing we have no reason to believe these are true for this smartwatch. Apple Watch 5: what we want to seeA new smartwatch from Apple hopefully means some meaningful innovation. The Apple Watch 4 was a big change for the wearable line, but we're hoping for even more on the next-generation smartwatch. Here’s what we're hoping for: 1. Improved battery lifeThe Apple Watch doesn't have the worst battery life for a smartwatch, but neither does it have the best. The Apple Watch Series 4 does have the best battery we've seen on a smartwatch from the company so far... but we always want more. Apple may be able to improve its processing tech to eek more out of the battery that's already inside or perhaps the company will include a larger cell to result in improved battery life. Apple may even take a radical step and include a low battery mode like we've seen on other watches, such as the TicWatch Pro. 2. A wider selection of apps
Image Credit: TechRadar This is something that would improve the entire Apple series of wearables. We've seen some major players drop support for Apple Watch including Instagram and Slack, and we'd like to see Apple invest in getting those users back onto watchOS. If it can't get the big name services, we'd like to see Apple get developers more involved in the platform to create innovative apps for the service that compete with Tizen and Wear OS. 3. And something special for Spotify2018 saw the debut of a Spotify app on your Apple Watch, but it's not what everyone wanted. You can currently only use it to control music on other devices, meaning you can't download albums or playlists directly to your watch. Apple Music does allow that on the Apple Watch, so why can't the company include similar support for Spotify? In fact, we'd like to see the company embrace support on its wearable for Tidal, YouTube Music and a variety of other streaming services too. It’d be a major step for Apple to open up like this and in return it'd mean a lot for certain users. 4. Better sleep techApple's sleep tracking technology isn't the best on the Apple Watch, and we have found it doesn't always track each night's sleep with great accuracy. We'd like to see the company focus on improving this feature that some find essential on their smartwatch. You can buy a variety of different sleep monitors that can be installed under your sheets, and we'd like to see Apple embrace its top-end heart rate tracking tech to rival some of these. 5. A slightly thinner design
Image Credit: TechRadar It's another one we're always asking for, but the Apple Watch does still feel thick on your wrist. The Series 4 in 44mm does feel thinner because it's larger, but it's still a thicker device than some other smartwatches money can buy. Apple may be able to trim it down a touch further too by including smaller processing tech and perhaps a new battery tech. We don't know how Apple can do it, but we'd like it to. 6. Support for AndroidHere's the one on the list we're almost certain won't happen, but we're including it anyway. We'd like to see the Apple Watch 5 include support for Android devices. In the five years since the announcement of the original Apple Watch we've always wanted this, but the company has kept compatibility limited to its own iPhone line. Android Wear started out as a platform for those with Android phones, but a few years in the company opened it up for support with iPhone. That has been a major boon for the company and at last count over a third of its users were on iPhone. Wouldn't that mean a surge in sales for the Apple Watch if it suddenly worked with Android devices? Apple has made one of the best smartwatches money can buy, why not share it with everyone? It probably won't happen, but we can dream. 7. Another gamechanger
Image Credit: TechRadar You might not be able to use the feature right now, but allowing for a electrocardiogram (ECG) easily on a smartwatch is a gamechanger for anyone who's worried about their heart health. We'd like to see Apple follow that up with another feature that makes our jaws drop on the Apple Watch 5. That's an easy task, right? It's thought the new ECG feature on the Apple Watch 4 is set to be embraced on a variety of competing smartwatches from other manufacturers coming in 2019 proving Apple is a trendsetter with this tech. We don't currently know what that next thing will be, but we're sure the brains at Apple are already trying to come up with that new tech. Perhaps a device that's suitable for those who suffer from diabetes? Only time will tell.
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| New iPhone 11 release date, price, news and leaks Posted: 29 Aug 2019 09:15 AM PDT The iPhone 11 launch date is all but certain: we'll be seeing the phone on the date we predicted – Monday, September 10, according to the Apple invite we got. We're also starting to see some real, solid iPhone 11 leaks. We have an idea of how the upgraded handset will look - and what features Apple will include. If you're not up to speed with what's coming out of the iPhone 2019 rumor mill, then prepare for some disappointment: the new iPhone range looks like it will just be an incremental upgrade. We've got some experience sifting through these rumors - we've been at it for over a decade - and nothing we've picked up suggests anything more than that. What does that mean? Well, a similar shape and size to previous launches (with three phones mooted for unveiling at the new iPhone 11 launch) but they won't bring amazing changes just now. If you're interested in what's coming next, then we're predicting 5G, whether the Lightning connector will finally get dropped, and possibly even a foldable phone - but either way, that won't be happening until we see the next iPhone in 2020 at the very least. Latest story: A piece of information included as part of the iOS 13 developer beta shows that Apple might be taking a page from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 book, as it seems the iPhone 11 could have a live video editing function. This is a great feature that Samsung devices use to great effect, and if Apple were to imitate it, it'd make the iPhone 11 a fun video smartphone. Will we get the iPhone 11 'Pro' this year? We discuss this at greater length below, but as we're not expecting big changes this time around we doubt we'll get that much of a name change. It would make sense to save it for the cooler elements mentioned above, in 2020. What we do know is that the new iPhone 11 will be the poster-child for iOS 13, and we're pretty certain that we'll be seeing the iPhone 11, iPhone 11R and iPhone 11 Max... what Apple is going to call them remains a mystery though, with there being no obvious next step to the iPhone XS. The main change will be that camera upgrade - we're now fully expecting three sensors on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max, and just two on the iPhone 11R - but with enhanced capabilities on each model. What is of more interest is whether Apple will be pushing the iPhone 11R (if indeed it does call it that) as the iPhone XR is the phone that's most prominently featured on its homepage - suggesting the cheaper phone could almost be the star of the show this year. There will reportedly be some smart features added for charging, and Apple might finally have added in something users have been crying out for - read on to find out the full rundown of what TechRadar's iPhone experts expect to see for the new iPhone in 2019. We've rounded up the key iPhone 11 leaks in a little video just for you, to give a quick overview of what you may be able to expect later this year. New iPhone 11 release date
Apple has confirmed its next launch event, and it's happening on Monday, September 10 at 10am PT. Like every year, we did some sleuthing around the possible iPhone 11 release date beforehand, so we always had a pretty good idea when was coming. This date allows Apple to ship its iPhones into retail channels well before the holiday rush, and is now a well-trodden path to do such. As for the new iPhone 11 pre-order date, Apple tends to open this on the Friday following the launch, which would be September 13 by our calculations. Finally, the new iPhone 11 release date - the day when you'll actually be able to get your hands on the handset for the first time - seems very likely to be a week later on Friday September 20, if previous releases are anything to go by. That prediction was bolstered by an analyst from Wedbush claiming that the three new iPhones launched in 2019 will all go on sale at the same time - the iPhone 11, 11 Max and 11R would all be on sale at the same time thanks to the production process being so much more mature this year - again, suggesting little in the way of upgrades. And it might not be just the new iPhone range that launches on this date, we may well also get the Apple Watch 5 then too. New iPhone 11 price: will it still be $1,000?
The iPhone 11 price is almost certain not to drop this year - especially for the 'main' new iPhone. After all, Apple priced both the iPhone XS and iPhone X starting at $999 (£999, AU$1,579) and without a massive change to the design or functionality, a price hike doesn't seem likely. With news that Apple isn't selling as many iPhones as it previously forecast, there's a chance the iPhone 11 will be priced more affordably - although we reckon a price freeze, rather than a reduction, is a more likely move by Apple. That said, the new iPhone 11R could be a touch cheaper - depending on the new camera technology. A less-costly iPhone than last year (where the iPhone XR debuted for $749 / $749) could happen if not a lot changes to the hardware... but if Apple goes with the higher-power camera, then the same price is likely to be maintained, in our opinion. The addition of the iPhone 11 Pro rumor - which, it has to be noted, is based on a single tweet (one that does have some form in getting the naming right of past iPhones) - would suggest a price hike for the phones. But given analysts are suggesting that the new phones will 'lack novelty', we're not expecting the inflated cost that would bring. New iPhone, iPhone 11 or iPhone XI?What will Apple call the iPhone 2019? It's a tricky one: Apple has backed itself into a corner with the name. Roman numerals could well remain, but how does the iPhone XI follow the iPhone XS? Apple has been staunch on verbally calling the handsets the 'iPhone 10' and 'iPhone 10-S'. With that in mind, the iPhone XI seems to make the most sense, but then - if the older models remain - there will be an X, an XS and an XI (along with an XR) - and iPhone 11 is easier to understand.
The iPhone XS and XS Max are great, but there's still room for improvement That doesn't easily point to the best, most-desirable model. So could Apple do what's been rumored for years and simply go for the 'new iPhone' as the 'main' XS replacement, and stick with the same iPhone XR name, albeit with a small spec upgrade? As mentioned, the iPhone Pro could be added to the mix, bringing it into line with its iPads (and indeed MacBooks) in terms of their naming, but we're rather doubtful of that. That said, we've now seen the names 'iPhone 11', 'iPhone 11 Pro' and 'iPhone 11 Pro Max' listed by a case-maker, so we can't rule out the 'Pro' moniker. iPhone 11 Pro Max seems very unlikely though. But Apple has already ditched numbered increments for Mac, MacBooks, TV and iPads, so 'new iPhone' would be a logical next step - even if iPhone 11 would be the most pleasing thing for consumers looking for the obviously best new phone. New iPhone 11 designWhat will the new iPhone look like? Pretty simple really: from the front, quite similar (according to the leaks we've seen). The biggest change will be on the back: a hefty triple-lens camera in a square design. We've included a video from Mobile Fun above, one that shows the best rendering of what most are expecting to see from the iPhone 11 when it launches later this year. You can also see a similar design in a video showing unofficial dummy handsets created based on leaks. Indeed, roughly that design shows up in most leaks we're seeing at the moment, with the three camera system being used on the iPhone 11 and 11 Max, with the iPhone 11R still getting the large square bump, but only two lenses. The square protrusion doesn't look as attractive as we're used to seeing on iPhones, but Apple could be springing a surprise to make sure it doesn't lose too much ground to Samsung, Huawei and Google. We've seen huge improvements to the camera quality there, and while Apple's iPhones are still superb at taking pictures on the go, extra capability like a wide-angle lens would be something extra and would explain the extra size of the sensors. Elsewhere, a leaker took a reported photo of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus - but did it with a phone that looked suspiciously like the iPhone 11R, with the double (rather than triple) lens array, according to the placement of the flash. Whether both are real is up for debate (the quality of the snap isn't great, and you'd expect better from Apple, even at this early development stage), but it shows in the real world what the design could be like.
iPhone 11 case dummies (credit: SlashLeaks) In terms of the triple-lens camera, that's on show with the dummies leaked above. It's not confirmed but this matches what we've heard so far - giving us an early look at the likely iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max. Back on the subject of the iPhone 11R, reports suggest that the new phone will be landing in purple and green shades - in addition to the current range of black, white, yellow and red - with coral and blue disappearing - after shards of the new material appeared. These shards were leaked by respected Apple writer Mark Gurman, who also showed the new iPhone range will have this larger camera protrusion in new case moldings, used by third-party manufacturers to secure your iPhone. We've elsewhere heard that all three new iPhones might come in black, white, gold and dark green shades, while one source adds that some models might have a subtle 'rainbow' finish. Another leak from CashKaro and OnLeaks, suggest the new iPhones will get a smaller (and more circular) mute button, but that's hardly going to raise the roof when the new iPhone 11 is announced on stage in September. Rumors of a frosted-glass back do appear once in a while, but (at best) this is likely to be a small variant and not indicative of the wider iPhone 11's design style - even if it would help improve wireless charging. New iPhone 11 display: the same or shifting?Right: let's get one thing straight... there's not going to be a flexible iPhone this year. While we've seen patents so far, that's as far as the rumor mill is cranking about a bendy Apple device - and that makes sense, given how many issues Samsung and Huawei have had with their bending handsets. So what will the iPhone 11 display look like? Well, the smart money is currently saying that things will remain the same. A rumor has stated that the 5.8-inch display will remain, with the bezels shrinking slightly, although that was an added line to a wider 'leak' that the iPhone will have a central camera - which we don't think will happen. While some reports say the display size will stay the same size, others think the main iPhone 11 will be larger. We believe that the same 5.8-inch screen will remain on the iPhone 11, as that will be cheaper for Apple to produce than making a whole new size.
Another way to save the cost would be to drop the 3D Touch element of the screen, according to investment bank Barclays (who claim to have spent time with the Asia supply chain). This is the feature that allows you to press harder to open up a new menu. That would be replaced by a more powerful haptic engine that would do... something. According to 9to5Mac, this is known internally as 'leap haptics' and the source code of iOS 13 hints at Haptic Touch, which would replace the smart 3D Touch menus that pop up. The same confusion over screen size doesn't seem to reign for the iPhone 11 Max screen, with some suggesting the same-sized display as the iPhone XS Max (at 6.5 inches), but fans will have to wait until 2020 before Apple will increase it to a sizable 6.7 inches. The best leaks also suggest that Apple will stick with an OLED display for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max, with the same (cheaper) LCD screen for the new 11R, which would help keep the cost down and preserve battery life. Though one source adds that the LCD screen on the iPhone 11R will see some improvements, such as better anti-aliasing. We've also heard reports that the two OLED iPhones will use the same display type as the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Samsung Galaxy Note 10. Usually Samsung makes a different screen for Apple, but using this one is no bad thing, as those ranges have some of the best displays around. However, they might get an upgrade in the form of more protection, with new shatter-resistance technology rumored to be included (potentially both on the front and back glass). New iPhone 11 camera: the biggest changeAs we've heavily discussed already, unless all the leaks are fake, the iPhone 11 camera looks pretty likely to pack a larger, more square lens array on the rear of the device. This is the only real hardware upgrade we're seeing from Apple this year, with 2019's iPhone coming with enhanced picture-taking capabilities. Schematics suggest the same thing, and most chassis leaks hint at the same square cut-out portion. Respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has weighed in to say that one of these lenses might be almost invisible, adding at the same time that the selfie camera will get a boost from 7MP to 12MP.
Image Credit: Weibo One source claims that only the iPhone 11 Max will have the three camera array, but that seems rather fanciful when Apple made a big deal in 2018 explaining how the iPhone XS and XS Max were almost identical bar the screen size - we expect three lenses on both the higher-end 11 variants. What will those lenses be? Well, smart money suggests that there will be three 12MP lenses: one that takes 'standard' photos (with decent low-light capabilities), one zoom lens, and a new wide-angle option opening up a new world of photography capabilities. That source is suggesting that the third lens on the iPhone 11 won't have optical image stabilization, which would be an interesting move, and that the flash will be even brighter and more useful.
The same source is also stating that the image processor inside will be enhanced, but we'd expect nothing less from a brand that's likely to push the camera prowess as the main reason to buy the new iPhone range. Apple's Neural Engine did bring some impressive boosts to the photo quality of the iPhone XS, so another jump forward could continue the brand's ability to just take photos that, well, look nice - thanks to intelligent algorithms working out what they're looking at. Smart Frame capabilities would add a better way to improve the snaps you're about to take, but we're still mostly in the dark about what that would bring at the moment. Elsewhere, we've heard that the iPhone 11 could use 'new' 12MP sensors, and will offer improved photography, with the three lenses apparently working in coordination in an RGB mode. One of the lenses is also said to offer a 120-degree field-of-view. What about the front camera? Well, there we're going to get an upgraded 10MP sensor (apparently) - but the same suggests that the new iPhone 11 will have 14MP and 10MP sensors on the rear, which seems unlikely. Even still, an upgrade to selfies would be a welcome addition. A laser-powered 3D camera was also supposedly destined for the new iPhone 11, but it seems more likely that we'll see that on the iPhone for 2020 (if at all), in a bid to really show off the new iPhone's augmented reality (AR) capabilities. Sadly, the notch looks like it will be staying the same size - even though the camera tech is shrinking down, as a source says the notch is staying the same this year. This aligns with rumors that the phone chassis isn't changing size, so does make sense. New iPhone 11 battery and featuresThe iPhone 11 battery was always going to be a source of much debate, with users asking every year for a little more juice coming out of their device. The good news for them is that a couple of nifty tricks might helps things along for the new iPhone in 2019. One thing we're not expecting is that the new iPhone will lose the Lightning connector, the Apple-only port that connects to all manner of accessories. Multiple rumors have stated that it might be replaced by USB-C, but it seems (for now) that won't be the case. We've now heard multiple times that it won't get USB-C, so don't expect a change from Lightning. That said, we could see a compromise here: Apple might finally bundle in the 18W charging block that would see the iPhone charge more quickly. The catch: the USB-A end (the connector most of us think of when imagining a USB lead) would be dropped for a smaller USB-C, allowing for speedier juicing. Another rumor supports this theory, using the same advanced charger that Apple introduced with the iPad Pro (2018) last October. Having that in the box would be a nice addition to the wireless charging that's almost certain to continue. That wireless charging would go two ways, meaning you'll be able to throw the AirPods, in a wireless charging case, onto the back of the iPhone 11 and be able to charge them up on the go. What about that battery pack? Well, noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the iPhone 11 will have a battery that's up to 25% bigger than the current iPhone XS, to allow for this reverse charging without destroying the battery life in a single day. A rumor has some actual number predictions: the iPhone 11 will pack a 3,200mAh battery (up from an estimated 2,658mAh), the iPhone 11 Max will get 3,500mAh (up from 3,174mAh), and the iPhone 11R will get 3,000mAh (slightly higher than the 2,942mAh of the iPhone XR). But it will be hard to ascertain how true these are given Apple's reluctance to share the exact capacity of each iPhone. Huawei and Samsung phones already pack so-called "reverse wireless charging" and it's been well-marketed as a key selling point - so it makes sense that Apple would want to offer it too.
The iPhone 11 Max might not get as much of an upgrade, but a rumored 15% battery boost would still be a large jump forward compared to the current Max device - and without the device getting thicker, thanks to possible upgrades in the screen tech. Having said though, elsewhere we've heard that the iPhone 11 Max will have a 3,969mAh battery, which really would be quite an upgrade. However, the same source says that charging will still be stuck at a slow 5W, in contrast to the 18W rumor above. What about some other smaller features? Well, another possible upgrade is that, according to one source at least, Face ID will be improved for the new iPhone 11 range, allowing it to work from wider angles. As for power, Apple always introduces a new chipset with its new iPhone launches, and the A13 chip is being touted for the iPhone 11, with analysts claiming a manufacturer is lined up to produce the chip. After Apple made a huge deal about the AI learning capabilities of the A12 Bionic chip, one has to assume the big changes to the new chipset are going to be a big talking point come September this year. In terms of storage, one source says the range will offer 128GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities, while another points to 64GB, 256GB and 512GB. Either way, 1TB is looking unlikely. Let's move onto the more experimental features that may (read: mostly patents and leaks of things that could be possible in smartphones) be seen in the new iPhone 11 - but we think they're pretty unlikely. For one: the new iPhones may be easier to use in the rain. A report claims Apple is experimenting with a new tech that allows you to use the phone's screen underwater.
Could we throw the iPhone 11 in? Image credit: TechRadar What's more, a patent suggests the camera on a future iPhone would be able to tell when you're underwater and alter settings accordingly, so that underwater photographs look better. Perhaps the iPhone 11 could have sub-epidermal scanning to be unlocked, in which the front camera would scan the veins and blood vessels in your face using IR to make sure it's actually you unlocking the phone. These blood pathways in your face are the most secure way of monitoring who you are - and can't be fooled in the same way as Face ID theoretically can be. Another patent meanwhile points to the return of Touch ID, but not as you know it. Rather, the patent talks about a system that would recognize your fingerprint when placed anywhere on the screen. So it would be an in-screen scanner that works across the whole display, though we're not convinced Apple will actually use this - lots of weird and wonderful things get patented with nothing coming of them. For something else a little bit weird, a patent filed by Apple shows a system in which a sensor monitors chemicals in the air, in order to 'smell' odors – including body odor. That would be a pretty cool feature for the Apple Watch 5 rather than an iPhone, though. We've also heard that Apple was working on a walkie-talkie-like feature for the phone, which would allow users to send text messages even if there was no signal. However, this has apparently been put on hold, so if we ever see it we probably won't do this year. Inside the device we've heard talk that the iPhone 11 will include support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 connection standards – though 5G tech will have to wait until the 2020 iPhones. One other out there rumor about the iPhone 11 is that it could be compatible with the Apple Pencil - but we've heard that a number of times and we're not going to be drawn in to believing such a thing this year - especially not the size of the Apple Pencil we're seeing right now, which would be be bigger than any iPhone device. That said, the Pencil could be charged on the rumored new wireless charging rear of the new iPhone - so that does make things seem a touch more believable. We've also seen case renders showing a slot for an Apple Pencil that would be smaller than the current one, so it's possible Apple will launch a more compact Pencil for use with the iPhone. We still doubt it though. The iPhone 11 might use new shatter-resistant glass. Plus, an exciting walkie-talkie-like feature has been rumored... but apparently put on hold. And a new video shows off what the iPhone 11 might look like based on rumors. New iPhone 11: what we want to seeWe were mostly impressed with the iPhone XS range last year, but that doesn't mean they're perfect - talk to any ardent Android user and they'll give chapter and verse on why the iPhone isn't anywhere near as well-spec'd as their device. That does kind of miss the point of the iPhone - Apple's never been about the spec, more the usability and overall polish - but there are some things we'd like to see more (or less) of with the iPhone 11 range: 1. No notch (or, at least, a smaller one)The iPhone X made the smartphone notch a mainstream 'thing' - but with the advent of punch-hole cameras and under-screen technology on our phones, the notch needs to go. While Apple needs that space to chuck in the array of sensors that make Face ID as secure as it is, we want a new solution - and Apple has the means to work out what that is, as well as helping attract a new raft of users.
The notch is big... imagine if it wasn't there on the new iPhone 2. A new designWhile the current design of the iPhone XS and XS Max is one of the best out there, we want something new, something more. Apple could make things more sleek, remove more of the physical buttons or even wrap the screen around - a statement can be made with some smart engineering. Sadly, that doesn't seem likely to appear until 2020's iPhone - the new iPhone in 2019 looks destined to stay rather similar to the last two generations' design. 3. Better battery lifeWe say this ever year, but the fact remains that iPhones still aren't the strongest performers when it comes to battery life. That said, the iPhone XR was one of the longest-lasting devices ever from the Cupertino brand, so let's see some of the prowess baked into the larger, more expensive iPhones. It's not easy (damned physics keeps getting in the way) but that doesn't mean improvements can't be made. 4. eSIM onlyThe current iPhones - the XS, XS Max and iPhone XR - all pack an eSim alongside their main, physical card. While it would be weird at first, Apple has the power to change users' attitudes to what's acceptable on a smartphone (think how everyone is now losing the headphone jack) and making the SIM virtual would allow greater freedom to hop between networks and deals at will, rather than being stuck on one contract for too long. With 5G on the way, that's going to see a lot more competition for users - and flexibility will be the number one benefit for those wanting a great phone deal. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| LG CineBeam projectors are bringing 4K light shows to IFA 2019 Posted: 29 Aug 2019 09:08 AM PDT On the lookout for a 4K projector? LG may have you covered, as its new range of CineBeam 4K projectors is set to be shown off at IFA 2019, and a release for European markets (presumably including the UK) is scheduled for September. The lineup will include LG's first ultra short throw projector, the CineBeam Laser (HU85L), which can display a 90-inch image along a wall at only two inches away – and a 120-inch image at seven inches away. At 2,500 lumens brightness, 4K resolution, and HDR support, it's a premium projector offering set to appease home cinema enthusiasts who don't want a massive 75-inch TV (or bigger) taking up space in their living room.
IFA 2019 attendees will also get to see the 4K UHD CineBeam LED projector (HU70L), a smaller model with 1,500 lumens brightness, and a four-LED array "dynamically adjusting" green levels for "nuanced" colour tones. That said, these projectors don't come cheap. The CineBeam Laser is retailing for $6,000 (around £4820 / AU$8630) in the US, with UK pricing yet to be announced or either model. At double the price of the predecessor's $2999 (around £2100 / AU$4230) price tag, it's clear LG is gunning for quality over affordability. But the features speak for themselves; there are new projection methods, LG's magic remote (that you get with LG's best OLED TVs), HDR10 support, and access to major streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime. Both also projectors come with USB, HDMI, Ethernet and wireless mirroring connection options. Electronics manufacturers will often use IFA to show off new models before they start shipping to UK and Europe, and we're expecting a lot of new 4K TVs, soundbars, headphones, and smart home gadgets at the IFA 2019 expo this year too. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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