Apple : Google brings its .new TLD to the rest of the internet |
- Google brings its .new TLD to the rest of the internet
- New macOS Catalina 10.15.1 update supports AirPods Pro, AMD Navi graphics
- PlayStation Vue will stop working on January 30, 2020
- EA Access: play games for days on EA's unlimited subscription service
- Samsung's clamshell foldable design is the future of the Galaxy Fold
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplay, release date, trailers and news
- Samsung’s TV OS, Tizen TV, is now available to third-party TV makers
- Red Dead Online: latest news, updates and multiplayer features
- iPhone XR deals just had their biggest price drop since the iPhone 11 came out
- Samsung introduces a fleet of Ultrabooks with the first QLED displays for laptops
- These early iPad Pro Black Friday deals can save you up to $300
- NordVPN ups security following cyberattack
- Razer Hammerhead true wireless earbuds aim for a headshot on mobile audio lag
- You can now watch Netflix movies 1.5 times faster – and directors are furious
- Voxi Mobile is cutting the cost of 5G with a selection of Pay As You Go contracts
- EE is the network to go for with big data Google Pixel 4 deals right now
- Best PC games 2019: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss
- Fancy Bear hackers return to target sporting organizations
- World Series 2019 live stream: how to watch Nationals vs Astros Game 6 online from anywhere
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is officially coming to Steam, alongside other EA titles
| Google brings its .new TLD to the rest of the internet Posted: 29 Oct 2019 01:47 PM PDT After announcing its “.new” top-level domain (TLD) last year, Google has now announced that it is bringing .new shortcuts to the rest of the internet. Businesses and organizations will now be able to register their own .new domain to generate a .new shortcut that will work with their own web apps. Microsoft and Spotify have already jumped on the opportunity with Microsoft registering “word.new” to create a new Word document and Spotify registering “playlist.new” to allow its users to quickly make a new playlist on its streaming music app. Google's .new domains are designed to improve users' workflow by allowing them to jump straight into the action as opposed to visiting a site, signing in and then finding the right menu or function to create a new document or start a new activity.
However, while the search giant's doc.new and sheet.new domains often open seamlessly because most users are already signed into Google, other services still require users to sign in before they can begin using their .new domains. New shortcutsMicrosoft and Spotify are not the only companies to begin registering .new domains. eBay has sell.new, Open Table has reservation.new, Cisco has both webex.new and letsmeet.new, Bit.ly has link.new, Stripe has invoice.new and GitHub has repo.new. We are still in the early days of .new domains though from the ones registered so far, it is clear that businesses are interested in giving users any easier way to begin using their services. However, their success will depend on how these new shortcuts resonate with consumers and if they actually end up using them. According to Google, any company can register a .new domain and all of them are secured over HTPS connections in the same way that .app, .page and .dev domains are. Trademark owners will get the first chance to register their trademarked .new domains through January 14, 2020. However, beginning on December 2, anyone can apply for a .new domain during the Limited Registration Period.
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| New macOS Catalina 10.15.1 update supports AirPods Pro, AMD Navi graphics Posted: 29 Oct 2019 01:23 PM PDT Apple has just introduced a new update to macOS Catalina in the form of macOS 10.15.1. While it may be a small increment, it's coming with some new features and support for AirPods Pro as well as AMD's newest graphics cards. Naturally, the update comes with a number of fixes for some of macOS Catalina's problems. As Apple has put an end to the reign of iTunes, the update makes migrating from iTunes to other apps more reliable. It also fixes some issues with the TV, Music and Podcasts apps that replace iTunes functionality. The update also introduces a host of new emoji. It's always fun to get some new ones to play with, and in this case, Apple has worked to make them more inclusive. There are more than 70 new emoji in this set, and they include accessibility emoji, gender-neutral options, and more emoji with skin tone options. If you like to use Siri with your Mac, you'll also get the option to increase your privacy by choosing whether to allow Apple to store the audio from your interactions with Siri. You'll also have an option to delete past audio recordings.
Supporting the new hardwareThe macOS 10.15.1 update also has more in store for users who aren't just excited about their Mac or MacBook hardware. The new operating system update is necessary for anyone looking to use AirPods Pro with their macOS device. Gamers and content creators also get a big buff from this update. The 10.15.1 update finally brings support for AMD Navi RDNA architecture. This isn't an immediate upgrade, but it does enable use of AMD's Radeon RX 5700 and 5700 XT when connecting a Mac to an eGPU enclosure. The support for AMD Navi could also be a hint that the anticipated 16-inch MacBook Pro may make the jump from the Vega graphics found in current MacBook Pro models.
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| PlayStation Vue will stop working on January 30, 2020 Posted: 29 Oct 2019 12:51 PM PDT Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced it is officially shutting down PlayStation Vue early next year. "Today we are announcing that we will shut down the PlayStation Vue service on January 30, 2020," SIE deputy president, John Kodera, wrote on the official PlayStation blog . "Unfortunately, the highly competitive Pay TV industry, with expensive content and network deals, has been slower to change than we expected. Because of this, we have decided to remain focused on our core gaming business."
"We are very proud of what PlayStation Vue was able to accomplish", Kodera continued. "We had ambitious goals for how our service could change how people watch TV, showcasing PlayStation’s ability to innovate in a brand-new category within the Pay TV industry. "We want to thank all of our customers, some of whom have been with us since PlayStation Vue’s launch in 2015." Smart money
PlayStation Vue is a subscription-based streaming video service that pairs live local channels like NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX with dozens of notable cable channels from all across the spectrum. The service is only available in the United States, and as the name suggests, you can indeed watch it on your PlayStation 4. It's no surprise Sony is leaving behind PlayStation Vue as it progresses into the next-generation PS5 - the service wasn't exactly a huge success. According to a recent report by The Information (via Gamasutra), Sony's digital TV service has been haemorrhaging money so much that the company is looking to sell off its technology and subscriber list so it could step away from live TV altogether. And it seems that's exactly what's happening. Sony was always up against tough competition with PlayStation Vue, with services such as DirectTV and YouTube boasting millions of subscribers - while Vue reportedly only has around 500,000 subscribers. PlayStation Vue will cease working on January 30, 2020. However, Sony hasn't explained what will happen to already-paid subscriptions which run beyond that time.
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| EA Access: play games for days on EA's unlimited subscription service Posted: 29 Oct 2019 12:17 PM PDT If you're a fan of EA games, there's little reason to pay for every FIFA, MADDEN, Battlefield, or Dragon Age game up front – given that EA Access bundles them all in together for a low monthly price. Just like subscription-based TV services, there’s an increasing amount of choice when it comes to subscription-based gaming services. Sony and Microsoft have their own dedicated online services where games are there to sweeten the deal – PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live. However, they also have their own services dedicated purely to accessing a back catalog of games called PlayStation Now and Xbox Games Pass. EA Access doesn't have quite the breadth of these other services, given its only EA games you're getting, but at its price point, and given the number of AAA games EA puts out each year, it's definitely worth considering. UPDATE: EA Access is coming to Steam next year. Read on to find out more.
What is EA Access?Launched in 2014, EA Access is publisher Electronic Arts’ own slice of the subscription service world, offering Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners access to its wide library of titles (known as the 'Vault') as well as some additional incentives such as early trials of the newest games and a 10% discount on EA digital purchases. It only launched on PS4 on July 26, 2019, having been on Xbox One for the previous five years. PC gamers on the other hand are able to use the sister service, Origin Access, but the service is also coming to Steam in "spring 2020" (between March and June).
Image credit: EA What are the benefits of being an EA Access member?The most obvious benefit to being an EA Access member is that you’re able to play any of the games in its ever-growing instant access ‘Vault’. At the moment there are over 50 titles in the Xbox One vault and members are able to download and play them for free as long as they’re still paying a membership. Outside of this EA game library there are also early access benefits and discounts to be had. EA’s Play First Trials give members of the service the chance to download and play new release EA games before anyone else. There are limits on how far into the game you can get and how much you’re allowed to play but typically you get to try out a new game around five days before its official release. If you like what you try and decide to purchase the full game, all of your progress from the trial carries over and you can get a discount off the full price. The member discount is 10%, but this applies to DLC, season passes, and Ultimate Team content as well as full games so you can making a saving several times over on games which continually release content. EA Access games: what's in the Vault?
Image credit: EA EA is one of the biggest video game publishers in the world, so it's no surprise there is a host of big-name games to play in EA Access. For shooters, there's naturally Battlefield V, as well as Respawn's Titanfall 2, and Star Wars Battlefront II – not to mention EA's much-hyped and much-shrugged-off Anthem, which may be more worth playing through a catalogue subscription rather than as a standalone purchase. Don't forget Bioware, either: the EA-owned studio has been putting out Dragon Age and Mass Effect games for years, and you'll get a number from across the series here. For the sports fans out there, you get the latest FIFA, MADDEN, NFL, and UFC games. While there's also a selection of smaller indie games like Unravel 2, or the console versions of the long-running The Sims games. While games like Apex Legends are published by EA, they're also free to play, so don't worry about needing a subscription to get going with them. Keep in mind that the line-up is slightly different between Xbox One and PS4, the latter of which has around 30 fewer games, meaning that PlayStation players won't get the Dead Space games, Dragon Age or Dragon Age 2, Peggle, Plants vs Zombies, or Mass Effect Trilogy (though you do get Mass Effect: Andromeda). That's probably because of the number of Xbox 360 games on the service, but GamesRadar has put together a list of all the missing games on PS4. EA Access price: how much is it?An EA Access membership is $4.99 / £3.99 / AU$6.99 a month on both Xbox One and PS4 (and apparently it'll be the same price on Steam). When you buy a new EA game you’re typically offered 10% discount on your membership so buying a new EA game will generally get you a month’s free access. There is, of course, the option of an annual membership which costs $29.99 / £19.99 / AU$39.99. Prices don’t tend to mean a lot without context so when it comes to EA Access, a 12 month subscription is half the price of a 12 month Xbox Gold membership which is $59.99 / £39.99 / AU$79.95. It’s also half the price of Xbox Games Pass which costs $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$10.95 on a monthly basis. A PS Plus 12 month subscription is also $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.95 or $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$10.95 per month. It’s worth noting that EA Access payments are handled through the specific console's billing system, so the payment method you want to use will have to be attached to your account. Payment is automatically renewed every month or year depending on what membership duration you choose. Do I have to be online?Given that you download the games you play on EA Access, the only time it’s absolutely essential to be online is when you want to actually download them or access their online services. Other than that you can download and play offline as much as you like. You also have to be online to access Play First trials, given that they track how long you’ve been playing and where you’ve gotten to. Download limits and speeds can, of course, create problems here but download services have proven more popular and easier to use than streaming services like PlayStation Now which Sony has struggled to push. This article was amended to remove an accidental reference to Fortnite being an EA title.
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| Samsung's clamshell foldable design is the future of the Galaxy Fold Posted: 29 Oct 2019 12:03 PM PDT Samsung has plenty to say about the future of its devices at Samsung Developer Conference, but its biggest reveal came out in a video showing a new clamshell foldable phone design - which could be the future of the Samsung Galaxy Fold. The video shows the concept was shown transitioning from the old Fold design (with a 'hot dog' centerline fold) to the new design, which took a Samsung Galaxy S10-style standard smartphone and folded it top-to-bottom ('hamburger' fold). We've heard rumors that the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 could have a clamshell-style square design, but this is clearly a narrowly vertical smartphone in the modern fashion that folds on itself. The rest of the conference focused on broader strategy, including further commitment to foldable devices like the Galaxy Fold, an expansion of its One UI, and even more plans for Bixby, Samsung detailed in a news brief. Folding away the issuesAfter the debacle that has been the Galaxy Fold, it's almost a surprise to see the foldable handset actually on the market. But, a few bumps on the road haven't stopped Samsung. At SDC, Samsung reiterated its commitment to developing foldable devices, and in the news release, Samsung specifically emphasized that it would "continue to explore a range of new form factors in the foldable category." While that could mean larger foldable tablets in the future, the version teased seems to follow smaller devices along the lines of the expected foldable Motorola Razr 4. One UI 2 in more than one placeSamsung introduced One UI for its smartphones last year, and it was a major shift in the look and feel of the software powering its devices. As phones have bloomed into monstrosities measuring well over six inches diagonally, Samsung set out to make one handed use easier with One UI. We've had a positive experience using the clean, new interface on Samsung devices like the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. And, with One UI 2, Samsung looks to bring the simplicity and ease of use to tablets, wearables, and other devices like foldables. More love for BixbySamsung launched the Bixby Marketplace earlier this year, and has seen the number of developers working on Bixby capabilities double in the past six months. Samsung is also trying to make it easier for developers to work on Bixby, adding templates they use a springboard to get a quicker start on making their Bixby Capsules (e.g., abilities). Samsung also aims to make it easier for developers to design their capsules' appearance across different devices, and to give Bixby users easier ways to find new skills. Samsung aims to have Bixby continue to grow alongside the number of developers, and will have it work with even more hardware from mobile to IoT devices. Via SamMobile
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| Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplay, release date, trailers and news Posted: 29 Oct 2019 11:39 AM PDT Hold on to your lightsabers: there's a new Star Wars game on the way, and it's called Jedi: Fallen Order. In development by Respawn Entertainment (the studio behind Apex Legends and Titanfall), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was announced during E3 2018 but we didn't get a proper look at the game until early in 2019, during a special panel at the annual Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, before EA lifted the covers completely at E3 2019. While the official reveal only gave us a glimpse at a story trailer, it was more than enough to get us hyped for the upcoming game. E3 2019 gave us a far more meaty look at the game - including some lightsaber-fueled gameplay - before the developer dropped an extended demo at the end of the month. Now we only have to wait mere weeks before getting our hands on the game for ourselves. While fans of the galactic franchise have seen official tie-ins in the form of Star Wars Battlefront I and II, the new entry takes on a different tack, focusing on a single-player experience more in line with 2008's The Force Unleashed – and we have all the concrete news and wild speculation you could want below. [Update: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be the first EA game in six years to come to Steam. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release dateEA has confirmed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will release on November 15, 2019, just in time for Christmas and the long-awaited release of Star Wars Episode IX: Rise of Skywalker. If you pre-order the Deluxe Edition ahead of the game's launch, you'll get two exclusive in-game lightsaber colors plus an exclusive hilt, in addition to skins for your droid and star ship. EA and Respawn will also include a digital art book in the Deluxe Edition and a few behind-the-scenes videos.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order trailers and storyYou'll take the role of Cal Kestis, a former Jedi padawan (AKA, a student of the Force). The game is set in the period following Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith – the fateful time when the evil Emperor Palpatine executed Order 66, which saw the Jedi ambushed and killed by their own supporting Clone Trooper soldiers. Few survived and were forced into hiding. And that seems to include Cal! A youngster only partially through his training, Cal has been forced into hiding, working construction sites and trying to keep a low-profile as the Jedi-hunting Imperial Inquisition continues to track down any remaining survivors. The reveal trailer shows Cal having to use his Force powers to defend himself against rogue troopers, and to save a friend from falling from an accident. The trailer suggests the game will have some lavish set-pieces and environments, and hinted at a very-story-driven experience to enjoy. A story trailer released in September gave an even better idea of what to expect from the game's main story, showing that Cal is not only on the run from the Empire, he's actively racing them to get to an item related to the Jedi Order. Check it out both trailers below: You can also watch the EA Play 2019 gameplay reveal for the game below, but note that you're going to have to jump into around the 30 minute mark to skip the build up portion, that's basically just 30 minutes of an EA logo! If you just want to see the game in-action, there's a brand-new official gameplay trailer that should provide everything you need to know about the game - including a few surprises. (Spoiler warning!) This is the same demo that journalists and attendees saw at the EA Play event. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplayEA Play 2019 showed us a 15 minute slice of gameplay from the game, roughly 3 hours into the game. We were shown Chewbacca's homeland Kashyyyk, where Jedi Cal is trying to kickstart the rebirth of the Jedi order. But the poor Wookies are enslaved by the Empire! So Cal has to try to help them out.
Walking through a tech-filled jungle corridor, gameplay at first doesn't look unlike Uncharted 4, with a tool that lets you swing from beams, and some wall-running ala Respawn's other game, Titanfall. Cal's pretty nimble, able to clamber up walls and climb as if he was Assassin's Creed's Ezio. He moves weightily. After meeting up with some resistance fighters, he carves his way through a door and comes across a burning refinery, using his lightsaber as a torch in the darkness. A battle ensues below and Cal needs to reach a troop of Stormtroopers , so force-pushes a tree below to make a path to them.
Here we see our first glimpse of lightsaber action. Cal can force pull and push troops, as well as throwing his lightsaber at them for a ranged attack. Combat is lock-on focussed, not unlike Dark Souls for one-on-one combat, but seems massively more forgiving. There also seems to be finishing animations that trigger when you've took a baddie to low health. Lightsaber combat, thankfully, looks weighty and measured – this will be a tactical fighting game, rather than a hack and slash, with the classic ability to slash blaster bolts back at an enemy.
Cal also seems to have the ability to focus the force and slow time, letting him take on dangerous foes, like flamethrower stormtroopers with a little more ease, as well as avoiding environmental hazards like spinning blades. One cool moment had him slow time, and force pull a stormtrooper towards him in time to use it as a human-shield against the very same blaster bolt it had fired at Cal moments earlier. The same technique can be used to halt a foe momentarily in its tracks – very Kylo Ren. So far, levels, though expansive, seem fairly linear – you're very much set along a path from one action scene to another, although the densely-designed levels prevent it from appearing too much like a series of corridors, back to back. Each scene has lots of AI interactions between NPCs, too – you'll see stormtroopers battling the native, giant-beetle-like creatures of Kashyyyk, and timing your attack against them could help to swing the odds in your favor.
Cal acquires upgrade points as he defeats enemies, and also seems to be able to complete side missions if he goes off the beaten path and explores levels in detail. C The timing of the story, set after Revenge of the Sith, also means there was a familiar face or two turning up. Rogue One's Saw Gerrera, aka actor Forest Whitaker, was present, as was a bot that looked like K2SO. You'll have to fight this one, though.
Skill points will go into your force abilities, letting you upgrade force pulls and push, double jumps and force slowing tricks. You'll get a droid, too, BD1, to help you on your way, offering the ability to hack terminals, heal your player and manage your hologram map, as well as being your buddy. You won't be able to turn to the Dark Side though – Cal's good to the core.
So far then, so good. This is a classic-era Star Wars game, giving you a taste of the most-loved period in Star Wars history. Rather than the original reveal's suggestion that Cal will be a weak newbie Jedi, he's going to be fairly advanced in his training. And, it's all cannon – these characters are going to turn up in the wider Star Wars universe. It looks visually impressive... except for the Wookies. They looked like the plastic figures from the 70s. A bit more free-flowing, walking-carpet Wookie hair please, EA! Minimum and Recommended PC specsThe minimum specs required to play Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order aren't too bad, and most older gaming PCs should be able to scrape by without a problem. Here's what you'll need:
That said, the recommended specs are a bit... loftier. If you want to run the game at the recommended spec, you'll apparently need 16GB of RAM (*originally EA said it would be 32GB before dialing the number back), an AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU plus an AMD Ryzen 7 1700 or Intel Core i7-6700K. Here's all the details:
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order news and rumorsReleasing on Steam And it's not the only EA title coming to the platform. The publisher has confirmed we will see the likes of Unravel Two, The Sims 4 and "other major titles" appearing on Steam in the next few months, with big-hitters FIFA 20, Apex Legends and Battlefield V all arriving next year. If that's not enough, players on Steam and Origin will be able to play together. PS4 Pro and Xbox One X enhancements Gone Gold New story trailer Those Sekiro Comparisons The team readily admitted to being fans of From Software's games, though given Jedi: Fallen Order was in development before Sekiro's release the similarities can't be much more than coincidence. Game director, Stig Asmussen, said that he and his team had a look at previous Star Wars games to determine what worked in them and how those fun elements could be brought forward. The Jedi Knight games, for example, were singled out as being good examples of lightsaber combat because they "really sold the lethality of the lightsaber" and served as better inspiration than the kind of heavy-handed combat found in Force Unleashed. Protagonist potential While Asmussen admitted that he would be interested in an alien protagonist, he said the team wanted to make sure that “there was a real human connection to the character”. Having an alien protagonist in a Star Wars title certainly has the potential to offer a new and interesting perspective on the universe so it seems a shame that the opportunity was passed by. Fingers crossed it’s something that will be re-explored in the future. That said, Fallen Order has made a good impression thus far and hopes are high ahead of the game’s November launch.
EA doesn't plan to release Fallen Order on Switch You can check out Ingram's reply to a fan tweet below: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was livestreamed – check it out But luckily for fans that couldn't make the trek to the event, EA livestreamed it. Check out EA's announcement tweet below for a chance to replay it: The galaxy-wide premiere saw the head of Respawn Entertainment, Vince Zampella, and game director, Stig Asmussen (whose previous work includes God of War 3), revealing the much-anticipated details of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order toys -confirmed A Padawan called Cal? Confirmed It's set after Revenge of the Sith This places it after the Galactic Empire hunted the 10,000-strong Jedi Order practically to extinction, leaving only a small fraction of Jedi alive (aka Order 66). With the promise that the game will be set 'in the dark times', it sounds like our Jedi protagonist may be more the hunted than the hunter.
Could famous Jedi appear? The single-player mode comes first – and there will be no microtransactions It looks like a multiplayer component won't be available at all in the game – surprising given EA's focus in recent years on games that extend beyond a single play session. Even more surprising is the fact that there will be no microtransactions at all, ever, in Fallen Jedi. It's great news considering the industry falls over itself to offer chunks of games piecemeal these days – but don't be surprised if that means there will be an aggressive DLC system instead. I find your lack of faith disturbing Jedi: Fallen Order has been handed to a different studio, albeit one that's still a subsidiary of EA. But Respawn has garnered a lot of respect as the studio behind Titanfall and Titanfall 2, two critically acclaimed sci-fi action games that pit players against each other in giant mechanized suits, and which both came with strong single-player and multiplayer offerings. (Image credits: Respawn Entertainment) Keep checking back here for all the latest Jedi: Fallen Order news This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Samsung’s TV OS, Tizen TV, is now available to third-party TV makers Posted: 29 Oct 2019 11:36 AM PDT Today at the Samsung Developer Conference the company announced that it would open its smart TV platform, Tizen TV, to third-party manufacturers. “With Tizen, consumers can stream content from hundreds of apps,” Sang Kim, Global Head of Smart TV Business Development said during the keynote. “For the first time we’re going to make the Tizen TV OS available to other manufacturers.” According to Kim, over 100 million TVs currently support Tizen and while that’s a substantial number, this move could stem the flow of manufacturers like Hisense and TCL from rushing to Roku TV and Android TV platforms for their smart platforms. It could even increase the Bixby user base too, which is a key goal for Samsung. So what, exactly, makes Tizen so appealing that TV makers would want to adopt it? Primarily its Samsung TV Plus platform which offers free content and integrates with over-the-top cable providers, as well as its large app library powered by developers (hence why the announcement was made at its developer conference). Unfortunately, beyond the announcement of news, Samsung isn’t offering any additional details – it’s not ready to announce potential partners, for example, nor is it ready to reveal when the first third-party Tizen TVs will be available. The silver lining? With CES 2020 right around the corner, more information is likely coming in two month's time. Source: Samsung
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| Red Dead Online: latest news, updates and multiplayer features Posted: 29 Oct 2019 11:14 AM PDT Red Dead Online is officially out of beta testing and is beginning to earn its stripe as a fully-fledged online game. But with such a massive open-world to explore in Red Dead Redemption 2's single-player story, why should you be excited about the game's online mode? Rockstar's open-world Western game, a prequel to 2010's Red Dead Redemption, was released to wide critical acclaim last year and was all anyone could talk about for months on end. While you might have expected an online mode to be live from the game's successful launch, it makes sense that Rockstar wants you to focus on the main story – and boy is there a lot of it – before waltzing into a less narrative-driven multiplayer experience in Red Dead Online. Rockstar has proved itself at converting a massive single-player game into a lively online experience, as shown in the launch of GTA Online in 2013, which has become almost as massive a phenomenon as the mainline GTA V game it spun off from. So what can you expect from Red Dead Online, and how can you access it? UPDATE: In the latest Red Dead Online update, Rockstar is getting spooky for Halloween. Keep reading to find out more.
Image Credit: Rockstar Games Red Dead Online update news and patch notes
Red Dead Online is getting spooky in time for Halloween, adding a new limited-time mode, Legendary Bounty and themed treats. Fear of the Dark is a new limited-time Red Dead Online Showdown Mode which pits supernatural Night Stalkers against mortal Hunters. The Night Stalkers' powers are tied to skull masks which Hunters must get their hands on to weapon the beasties - while growing stronger themselves. Fear of the Dark is live now and will run until November 12. In addition, a new Legendary bounty has been added in the form of Tobin Winfield. That's not very spooky but there are some Halloween-themed masks for you to earn. Licensed Bounty Hunters will receive an exclusive variant of the Creature Mask, Traders will receive an exclusive Swine Mask, and Collectors receive an exclusive Masquerade Mask - all for free. Meanwhile those who achieve Tiers 10 and 20 of the Outlaw Pass will earn free and exclusive versions of the Freak and Horror Mask, respectively. According to Rockstar, players who win a round of the all-new Fear of the Dark mode, will also receive an exclusive tint of the Freak Mask. Finally, Collectors can also collect a nice stipend from Madam Nazar by tracking down a new Weekly Collectible List: the Witch Hunt Collection.
Red Dead Online: tips and tricks guidesThe wild west is dog eat dog. So make sure you're not the mutt of the litter with our Red Dead Redemption 2 guides, which cover everything from fishing and hunting to mini-games and weapons.
Image Credit: Rockstar Games Red Dead Online: how to accessIt doesn't take much to jump into Red Dead Redemption 2's online mode. You can access Red Dead Online by selecting the 'Online' option from the Red Dead Redemption 2 title menu ( which you can find at the top-right hand side of the screen). You then pick which online mode you would like to play and you're ready to get started.
Image Credit: Rockstar Games
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| iPhone XR deals just had their biggest price drop since the iPhone 11 came out Posted: 29 Oct 2019 11:01 AM PDT Since iPhone 11 deals hit the shelves, we've been guilty of leaving the iPhone XR on the back burners. What was once our favourite iPhone has slowly fallen out of our minds. But that has all changed now that we've discovered that iPhone XR deals have come crashing down in price! And we have the retailer Mobiles.co.uk to thank for that price drop, cutting a number of its top iPhone XR deals by around £75. That means that the iPhone XR is at the cheapest price we've ever seen it, looking more Android than Apple in price. We could keep boring you with the details of Apple pricing or we could just get straight into these offers. Below we've listed the key iPhone XR price drops so you can rejoice in a rare experience - cheap iPhones...well, cheap for this phone at least!
So what's so good about the iPhone XR?As one of the best iPhones currently on the market (even with the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro out!) there is a lot to love with the iPhone XR. Above everything, the battery really stands out. Before the launch of the iPhone 11, this was the biggest Apple battery at 2942 mAh. Sporting Apple's Liquid Retina display and a powerful A12 Bionic chip, going for this more budget flagship doesn't have to mean taking a hit on specs. Read our full iPhone XR review
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| Samsung introduces a fleet of Ultrabooks with the first QLED displays for laptops Posted: 29 Oct 2019 11:00 AM PDT Samsung's phones might get most of the attention, but the company has its share of laptops as well. And, with the introduction of the new Galaxy Book Flex and Galaxy Book Ion lines, it's delivering even more in the way of Ultrabooks. The Galaxy Book Flex is a 2-in-1 with a built-in S Pen, while the Ion is a more traditional laptop, incorporating the now-trendy, raised-hinge design to create more airflow below the computer and a better typing angle. Both laptop lines come in a 13.3- and 15.6-inch variant, and all of them feature Full HD displays. But, they're not the typical LED panels found on laptops. Instead, Samsung is bringing over its QLED display technology, making these the first laptops to feature the premium screens. The displays also feature an Outdoor Mode, which offers a maximum brightness of 600 nits.
All the specs of an ultrabookAs part of Intel's Project Athena, the new Galaxy Book Flex and Galaxy Book Ion have the high-end features you'd expect from an Ultrabook. They all offer Thunderbolt 3 connections and Wi-Fi 6. They also offer Qi wireless charging through the trackpad, though it doesn't sound like the most practical feature. Beyond those features, the laptops are otherwise more straightforward. The Flex models offer the efficient performance of Intel's 10nm Ice Lake processors, while the Ion models go with the beefy Comet Lake processors. They'll also come with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of NVMe SSD storage, with the 15-inch Galaxy Book Ion coming with an extra memory and extra storage slot for further expansion. The 13-inch models of both lines come with Intel integrated graphics options, while the 15-inch models have the option of NVidia GeForce MX250 graphics. Both lines will be available in the US in early 2020, perhaps to coincide with a Galaxy S11 launch. We don't have details on pricing or global release yet.
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| These early iPad Pro Black Friday deals can save you up to $300 Posted: 29 Oct 2019 10:31 AM PDT Black Friday 2019 is well and truly on its way, with Walmart and Amazon opening the show on their iPad Pro deals this week. You can grab an iPad Pro for as little as $599 in this early sale, saving plenty of cash to pick up some extra accessories to enhance the experience as well. These 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models were first released in 2018, making them prime territory for big Black Friday sales. Boasting a large liquid retina display with amazing color accuracy and true tone, the 2018 iPad Pro really is a powerhouse of tablet computing. Plus, that A12X Bionic chip makes gliding through games, videos, and high-intensity video or photo editing apps a breeze. Featuring Face ID, USB-C charging, and a 10-hour battery life, it's easy to see why the iPad Pro has become such a powerful tool. While we're seeing significant discounts across the latest 11 and 12.9-inch models, we're also seeing amazing price drops on the 10.5-inch model as well. This older tablet still holds up as one of the most powerful computers on the market right now, so there's no point in ignoring these savings. Early Black Friday iPad Pro dealsEarly Black Friday iPad Pro accessory dealsLooking for more accessories to complete your iPad Pro experience? Check out our top picks of the cheapest AirPods prices going. If you want to hold out until next year or perhaps closer to Christmas, you can always keep an eye on the best iPad deals we've found. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| NordVPN ups security following cyberattack Posted: 29 Oct 2019 10:22 AM PDT Following last week's security incident involving NordVPN and a third-party data center, the company has announced that it will be taking action to better enhance its security. One of NordVPN's first moves to improve its security posture is entering into a long-term strategic partnership with the cybersecurity consulting firm VerSprite. VerSprite will work together with the company's in-house team of penetration testers to challenge NordVPN's infrastructure and ensure the security of its customers. Under the new agreement, VerSprite will also provide intrusion handling as well as source code analysis. The cybersecurity consulting firm will even help to form an independent cybersecurity advisory committee which will consist of selected experts that will oversee NordVPN's security practices.
Head of public relations at NordVPN, Laura Tyrell explained what the company plans to do to prevent future security incidents, saying: “We are planning to use not only our own knowledge, but to also take advice from the best cybersecurity experts and implement the best cybersecurity practices there are. And this is the first of many steps we are going to take in order to bring the security of our service to a whole new level.” Improved securityNordVPN is planning to introduce its own bug bounty program over the next few weeks to help discover flaws and vulnerabilities in its software. Security researchers who discover vulnerabilities will get a well-earned payout while NordVPN users can rest easy knowing the service is scoured for bugs by thousands of people every day in an effort to make it as secure as possible. The company also plans to complete a full-scale third-party independent security audit in 2020. The audit will cover NordVPN's infrastructure hardware, VPN software, backend architecture, backend source code and internal procedures. NordVPN will announce the chosen vendor for its security audit in the near future. To better protect its servers, NordVPN is planning to build a network of collocated servers. Although these servers are still located in a data center, collocated servers are wholly owned exclusively by NordVPN. The company is also in the process of wrapping up its infrastructure review in order to eliminate any exploitable vulnerabilities left by third-party server providers. Finally NordVPN is planning to upgrade its entire infrastructure of over 5,100 servers to RAM servers. This will allow the company to create a centrally controlled network where not even an operating system is stored locally. Suffering a major security incident can often derail a business which is why NordVPN's proactive approach to its security is both impressive and forward-thinking.
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| Razer Hammerhead true wireless earbuds aim for a headshot on mobile audio lag Posted: 29 Oct 2019 09:53 AM PDT You might have to grow another pair of ears in order to hear all the new true wireless earbuds headed your way this year. Latest to join the fray is gaming brand Razer, whose new Razer Hammerhead true wireless buds are squarely aimed at the mobile gamer. It's looking to set itself apart with a unique "Gaming Mode" built into the Hammerheads. This reduces audio lag to just 60ms using a customised ultra-low latency Bluetooth 5.0 connection. With mobile gaming a growing concern thanks to the success of PUBG Mobile and Fortnite, the thinking here is that having more accurate audio response will give you the edge during a mobile multiplayer match.
Razer-sharp audio?Elsewhere, it's more or less business as usual for true wireless earbuds. Each earbud holds a relatively-slight 3 hours of usage per charge, with a USB-C charging case capable of fully recharging them an additional 4 times. So that's 15 hours total playback time. A 13mm driver delivers the noise, with the buds supporting touch gesture controls. If you get sweaty when you game, they're also rated at IPX4 for wet-and-wild splash protection. Available now, you'll pay £99.99 / $99.99 for the Razer Hammerhead. It's proving to be a busy week for true wireless earbuds. Not only has Apple just lifted the lid off its souped-up AirPods Pro, but the Amazon Echo Buds are also set to go on sale in a matter of days. The competition is hotting up, but Razer's gaming focus may see it carve out a niche among its super-loyal fanbase.
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| You can now watch Netflix movies 1.5 times faster – and directors are furious Posted: 29 Oct 2019 09:41 AM PDT Netflix is testing a feature that lets you watch movies and TV shows at up to 1.5 times the normal speed – and the film industry isn't happy about it. The option to tweak playback speed is currently being tested with Android users, reports Android Police. It lets viewers play videos between 0.5 and 1.5 times the usual speed.
The ability to view in slow-motion will be welcomed by eagle-eyed viewers who want to capture every moment of a scene, or for anyone wanting to check a minor detail. Alternatively, if you're pushed for time and looking to cram in as many episodes as possible into a weekend, faster playback will be a real boon. Filmmakers fight backFilmmakers, however, are not pleased. Angered auteurs include Peyton Reed, direct of Ant-Man, who expressed his frustration on Twitter. Reed isn't alone in his disapproval of Netflix's tinkering with artists' work. Actor Aaron Paul was similarly shocked, saying: "Stop. As the person talked about in this article I felt the need to speak out. There is NO WAY Netflix will move forward with this. That would mean they are completely taking control of everyone else’s art and destroying it. Netflix is far better than that. Am I right Netflix?" Filmmaker and actor Judd Apatow didn't mince his words expressing his opinion of the idea, either. It's important to note that, at the moment, this is not only limited to the Netflix Android app, but also that it is an experiment; it may not be around for long, and it ma not make its way to iOS and web users. In a statement about the feature, Netflix said: "We're always experimenting with new ways to help members use Netflix. This test makes it possible to vary the speed at which people watch shows on their mobiles. As with any test, it may not become a permanent feature on Netflix". It remains to be seen whether viewers like the idea of being able to speed through seasons of shows faster, or believe Netflix should stop playing with time. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Voxi Mobile is cutting the cost of 5G with a selection of Pay As You Go contracts Posted: 29 Oct 2019 09:30 AM PDT Youth network Voxi, from Vodafone, has today announced that it will be offering the top speeds of 5G with the low commitment of Pay As You Go. That means you can enjoy the freedom and flexibility of no contract while still accessing the fastest smartphone network speeds available in the UK. Head straight to Voxi to find out more about Pay As You Go 5G Despite 5G phone deals offering speeds up to ten times faster than 4G, you don't have to pay that much of an increase. Voxi will also offer an Endless Data plan with an introductory price of £30 which will last until February 2020 when it jumps to the standard price of £35. Since Voxi offers 5G as standard, that means you won't need to do anything to get the speed when you sign-up. Vodafone provides the network infrastructure which offers the 5G to its Voxi customers spanning 77 towns and cities in the UK and Europe, with 30 of those inside the UK. The Voxi 5G offering will come with three phone options: Prices start at £23 per month and jump up to £53 per month for the top end option, including the new unlimited data plan. What is Voxi?Voxi is an MVNO. That stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator - in other words, it uses another network's coverage and speeds (Vodafone in this instance). While this all sounds like a convoluted way to say Voxi won't be able to keep up with the big names when it comes to speeds, all it really means is that you'll be getting the same speeds, coverage and areas as those on Vodafone. It stands out from the crowd with three main features: Endless social media: With Voxi, one of the key selling points is the completely unlimited use of social media you get. That means you will never use up your data while using Facebook, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and Pinterest. Endless calls and texts: With all of Voxi's plans, you'll get unlimited calls and texts. We wouldn't let this one sway you too much as most networks now offer this on all of their plans. Endless Flexibility: Much like competitor Smarty Mobile, Voxi offers flexible monthly plans. You will be charged every 30 days and can leave whenever you want. That makes it a perfect stop-over or a safe haven for those who don't love commitment. Find out more with our guide to Voxi
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| EE is the network to go for with big data Google Pixel 4 deals right now Posted: 29 Oct 2019 09:30 AM PDT For anyone who has been biding their time to get their hands on a jealousy-enducing Google Pixel 4 deal, the time might have finally arrived. A good few weeks before the Black Friday sales even kick in and EE has taken a major lead in the race for the most attractive Pixel 4 contracts. Thanks to the retailer Affordable Mobiles, you can currently get the Google Pixel 4 at its best price points on the UK's fastest 4G network - EE. A trio of offers stand out above the rest, offering the phone at three different data points. And with prices starting from £38 a month or the option to pay absolutely nothing at the start, these deals have undercut the rest of the market, allowing you to get your hands on a phone that hasn't even been out for a month at a stellar price. We've listed these three Pixel 4 deals below so you can find the one that makes the most sense for you. Or, if none of them catch your eye, head on over to our mobile phone deals page to see what else is available. The Google Pixel 4 offers a number of innovative features and major upgrades. It's the first phone to fully implement motion sense features, allowing you to use the phone with gestures. The processor has seen a major improvement, finally bringing the Pixel range up to competitive standards of RAM. The OLED screen has seen major improvements, now capable of 90 HZ and offering ambient EQ technology to adjust the screen to your environment. Read our full Google Pixel 4 review Read more:
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| Best PC games 2019: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss Posted: 29 Oct 2019 09:26 AM PDT Whether you’re trying to decide which one of the best PC games to play next or you’re new to the world of PC gaming, you’ve come to the right place. We selected the best PC games from different genres – with each entry proving once and for all that the PC is the best gaming platform in the world. And, we put them on this list to make it easier for you. Now that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and the Nvidia Super RTX range of graphics cards are here, as well as Intel’s Coffee Lake Refresh processors, there’s never been a better time to get into PC games. There’s also a remarkably massive catalogue of brilliant games for PC, starting with the best Steam games 2019, on offer, which means that you can play to your heart’s content and never run out of new games to play. Forget about your PlayStations and Xboxes. The best PC games cover a wide gamut of genres, from platformers and point-and-click adventures, to retro favorites and action-packed first-person shooters that take advantage of the best modern graphics tech for eye-popping visuals. There are even co-op PC games that you can enjoy with friends. In fact, the sheer number of brilliant PC games will leave you wondering where to get started. Lucky for you, we listed our best PC games of 2019 list to get you started. The best new PC game: Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3 The Borderlands franchise might not offer much when it comes to innovations. Plus, its third installation’s vehicle combat is unimpressive, and its humor isn’t all that clever. Still, Borderlands 3 has proven itself more than capable of showing gamers a rollicking good time, with its arsenal of weapons and gear, deep RPG systems and new areas to explore. These are all excellent reasons that justify Borderlands 3 as our top pick for the best new PC game in our best PC games 2019 list. It isn’t just your combat skills that are put to the test here; you’re better off sharpening your survival skills as well, since you’re dropped on a Mad Max-esque arid planet where encounters with dangerous local wildlife is not unusual. In Borderlands 3, however, you can get a break from that by exploring exciting – not to mention, stunning – new locales with better climates. And, having better weaponry this time around, like the ‘guns on legs’ and guns that moonlight as explosives, only make your journey all the more riotous. 1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is aging like fine wine. Even several years after it hit the streets, it’s still one of the most impressive open world games that’s ever existed – mixing Skyrim’s unapologetic scale with Grand Theft Auto V’s incredible depth. It’s such a jam-packed game, which is why it claims the top spot on our list of the best PC games in 2019. Staggering, beautiful and an absolute time sink – in a good way – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t just the best PC game of 2019 or among the best open world games on PC. It might just be one of the best video games of all time.
2. Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 While it's arguably not as hard as earlier titles in the series, From Software's Dark Souls 3 takes everything you like about the Souls series and improves on it by blending it with elements found in Bloodborne, the developer's more recent title for PS4. We won’t sugar coat it: you’re going to die in Dark Souls 3, perhaps more than once. It takes patience to master its complex combat system, but it also plays fair, which makes it more approachable for casual players so they too can take part in its bleak, fantastical world. And, on the bright side, it’s much more optimized for PC than the first two games. Now that you can pick up Dark Souls: Remastered, and see where the apocalyptic series began, there’s never been a better time to link the first flame. 3. Control
Control It’s not hard to see why Control has taken the gaming world by storm. The creative team at Remedy Entertainment made sure to pack this title with plenty to love, paying very close attention to the intricate details. A deeply cinematic game, this action-adventure offers its players staggering visuals, inspired environment design and brilliant performances – not to mention, a deeply satisfying combat experience. Control places you in the capable shoes of fiery-haired Jesse Faden. You’re tasked to seek out The Oldest House, a building in New York City that’s in a constant state of architectural flux and only appears to those who desire to find it, and locate your missing brother, all while heading the Federal Bureau of Control as its director and overseeing the containment of paranatural entities. There’s nothing quite like Control on the market, and it makes it one of the best PC games to play right now. 4. Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter Monster Hunter is one of the biggest gaming franchises you’ve probably never heard of for years now. With Monster Hunter: World, the series broke into the mainstream and came to the PC (much to many gamers’ relief), and now, it’s one of the best PC games you can play to date. Monster Hunter: World puts you in the shoes of a monster hunter, and you’ll hunt increasingly bigger and meaner monsters, strip them for parts, and craft bigger, badder armor. It’s a deviously simple gameplay loop that ends up being one of the most compelling and rewarding PC games you can play right now. There’s an incessant onslaught of content in this game, and Capcom, the developers of this monster hunting hit, are committed to bringing a wealth of free DLC to the game – as well as a new frosty expansion in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. If you’re looking for an addictive, immersive and most importantly, fun game to play on your own or with all your closest friends cooperatively, Monster Hunter: World is the PC game of your dreams. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best PC games you can buy today.
5. Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V Grand Theft Auto V was one of the most anticipated console ports to ever hit PC gaming, and you won’t any arm-twisting to wander back into Los Santos's incredibly detailed and extremely interactive world. This time around, it’s 10 times more thrilling with the PC's richer graphics and smooth as butter 60 fps gameplay. What’s even better, after you’ve finished its 30-hour campaign, the fun doesn’t end, as there’s an overflow of post-game content to enjoy so the mayhem can carry on. Most recently, that includes The Doomsday Heist in GTA Online and even a radio station hosted by Frank Ocean. 6. Sid Meier's Civilization VI
Sid Meier's Civilization VI Sid Meier's Civilization VI is the most recent installment in the iconic turn-based strategy game, and it's without a doubt among the best PC games you can play to date. One of the things that make the PC the best platform for gaming on is the sheer breadth of different game genres on offer. And, what Civilization VI has to offer is its massive scope, despite the fact that it might seem slower paced next to the likes of Fortnite. Spread your empire across the map and crush your enemies. You build up your empire from a simple settlement to a world power, and you can decide to do this through military might, technological supremacy or cultural influence. Since its launch in 2016, it has had two expansion packs that really cement this game as an epic entry in our best PC games list. Civilization VI: Rise and Fall released in February 2018, with Civilization VI: Gathering Storm following in February 2019. 7. Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation Set 15 years after the events of the first Alien film from 1979, Alien: Isolation is the suspense-filled game that fans of the franchise have long been waiting for. Playing the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, your mission is to track down and retrieve the flight recorder of the Nostromo spacecraft from the first Alien film, which has been traced aboard the Sevastopol space station. First and foremost a stealth game, Isolation intensifies the tension by giving you minimal weaponry. Its superb graphics shine on high-end PCs and brilliant AI helps ramp up the dread, leaving you shuddering at every corner. This and more make Alien: Isolation one of the best PC games 2019 has to offer. 8. Overwatch
Overwatch Overwatch, if nothing else, has considerably changed the landscape, moving it away from the norm of gray-ish cover shooters to the domain of competitive gaming. Its bright, vibrant colors are only made better by its endearing characters, each coming with their own compelling backstories, which, though non-existent in game, make for a collection of amazing webcomics and cinematics. Overwatch is also one of the best PC games, owing to the fact that it runs beautifully on all kinds of different hardware. Sure, it’s a little older now. However, even in 2019, it’s the best PC game for anyone with a competitive streak. If you missed out on this game before, do yourself a favor – sign in to your Battle.net account and take Overwatch – not to mention, its colorful cast of characters – for a spin today. 9. Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4 Microsoft's racing series is only getting better with each release, and in many ways this spin-off has exceeded the main Forza Motorsport line as the best racing games on PC at present. They're definitely more fun, adding a dash of arcade fun to the strikingly recreated cars and race tracks we've come to expect from Forza. Forza Horizon 4 is easily one of the best PC games you can buy today, and this entry brings the racing to the UK after having explored America, France, Italy and Australia in the previous three instalments of the franchise. Now, you can rip through charming villages, seaside towns and the city of Edinburgh by way of many miles of country roads and dirt tracks in between. It's fast, frantic and a lot of fun. You can purchase Forza Horizon 4 through the Microsoft Store. It's also available as part of the Xbox Game Pass for PC, or you can buy the Xbox One version and get a download code for PC using the Xbox Anywhere feature. 10. Thimbleweed Park
Thimbleweed Park Fans of classic point and click games such as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle, which are some of the best PC games ever made, should add Thimbleweed Park to their must play list. Made by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, two of the people behind PC classics Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, Thimbleweed Park plays like a love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games. From the splendid retro artwork, entertaining dialogue and perplexing puzzles, Thimbleweed Park deserves its place on our list of the best PC games, merging the best of old school PC game design with modern technology. 11. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice From Software is a household name when it comes to designing the best PC games. The minds behind the critically praised Dark Souls series have transported PC gamers to some of the most forsaken landscapes and through some of the most challenging yet rewarding gameplay. From Software is back at it once more, with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Sekiro places you in the shoes of the Young Wolf, a shinobi tasked with rescuing his young master. The game will take you through 16th-century Japan, but things will get eerie and supernatural: this is From Software we’re talking about. Don’t expect an easy time of it, however. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an awfully difficult game to master, and you’ll need quick reflexes to deflect enemy attacks, as well as to master stealth. You won’t be able to hide behind a shield all day, like you were able to in Dark Souls III. 12. Minecraft
Minecraft The phrase "build it, and they will come" rings truer than ever with Minecraft, the survival-based sandbox RPG that has now been bought more than 100 million times since its release in 2009. In it, you can construct your own worlds using resources you find in the wild, or discover existing ones created by other players online. In Minecraft, you can either limit yourself to the numerous tools and blocks offered by the developer, Mojang, or you can install mods to truly capitalize on your investment. Moreover, sometime in 2019, you’ll be able to take part in the Super Duper Graphics Pack, an optional piece of DLC that offers more realistic lighting effects and textures to an already amazing game. 13. Doom
Doom A crudely rendered first-person shooter series, Doom was as controversial as it was adored when it first took PC gaming by storm in the 90s. That’s due in large part to its cutting-edge depictions of gore and violence that only a computer could deliver. But just because Id Software's brainchild was a phenomenon for PC gamers in the ‘90s, that doesn’t mean that its premise and gore-fille gameplay doesn’t hold up. Parents be damned, the franchise underwent a revival in 2016 with a fresh reset, aptly titled Doom, and it’s still proving to be among the best PC games years later. Although the multiplayer might not appeal to shooter fans regardless of age, the single player campaign will pit you against demons in Hell for a lengthy mission that is bloody satisfying, pun intended. 14. Fortnite Battle Royale
Fortnite Battle Royale It’s possibly the biggest game in the world right now, so Fortnite Battle Royale is a natural shoo-in for this list. After all, it is a global phenomenon and among the best PC games to play right now if you like super-competitive online games. This is a game people keep coming back to, and that's mostly due to its addictive gameplay and regular updates from Epic. Fortnite Battle Royale is actually a game mode for the Fortnite game, but this mode has become so popular, many people consider it a separate game in its own right. As with other Battle Royale games, the aim of Fortnite Battle Royale is to fight your way through an ever-shrinking map until you're the last player standing. While that might sound simple enough, there's a whole lot of depth to this game once you start playing. 15. Cuphead
Cuphead Cuphead's 1930's animation aesthetics certainly makes this one of the most beautiful looking – and sounding – PC games on our list. Incorporating run-and-gun platforming with boss rush battles, it's also an extremely challenging game. But, that only means that it's even more rewarding to play. With hand-drawn cell animation, watercolor backgrounds and original jazz soundtrack, Cuphead is unlike anything you'll play on PC. Just keep in mind that the steep difficulty curve may put people off. However, if you're willing to put in the work and hone your gaming skills, you'll be rewarded with one of the best PC games you’ll ever experience. Welcome to TechRadar's PC Gaming Week 2019. We're celebrating the most powerful gaming platform on Earth with in-depth articles, exclusive interviews and essential buying guides that showcase everything PC gaming has to offer. Visit our PC Gaming Week 2019 page to see all our coverage in one place.
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| Fancy Bear hackers return to target sporting organizations Posted: 29 Oct 2019 09:25 AM PDT As the world prepares for the Tokyo Summer Games in 2020, Microsoft has announced that it has tracked significant cyberattacks targeting anti-doping authorities and global sporting organizations from a hacker group known as Fancy Bear or Strontium. In a blog post, the software giant revealed that the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center has been carefully following the activity of the group which also goes by the name APT28. According to Microsoft, at least 16 national and international sporting and anti-doping organizations across three continents were targeted in this latest round of cyberattacks which began on September 16. The attacks themselves occurred just before the news broke that the World Anti-Doping Agency was planning on taking further action ahead of next year's Summer Olympics.
While some of the attacks were successful, Microsoft has said that the majority were not and the company has notified all of the customers targeted in these attacks. Return of Fancy BearStrontium or Fancy Bear if you prefer, is one of the world's oldest cyber espionage groups and it has also been called Sofancy and Pawn Storm by a number of security firms and government officials. According to the cybersecurity company Crowdstrike, the group could even be associated with the Russian military intelligence agency GRU. In its blog post, Microsoft said that Fancy Bear was reportedly responsible for releasing medical records and emails obtained from sporting organizations and anti-doping officials in 2016 and 2018. These leaked documents led to an indictment in US federal court in 2018. The methods employed in these most recent attacks were similar to those used by Fancy Bear to target governments, militaries, think tanks, human rights organizations, financial firms and universities all over the world. Fancy Bear uses spear-phishing, password spray, exploiting internet-connected devices as well as open-source and custom malware to launch its attacks. With the Tokyo Summer Games on the horizon, expect more attacks from the group and also from other hackers who wish to disrupt the event and prey on attendees.
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| World Series 2019 live stream: how to watch Nationals vs Astros Game 6 online from anywhere Posted: 29 Oct 2019 09:23 AM PDT The MLB's 2019 World Series between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros has lived up to the billing so far. The two top teams in the league are facing off in a best-of-seven battle to see who will be this year’s champions - and we’ll help you live stream every World Series minute! The men from the capital took a fast two to zero series lead last week. But the Astros have hit back on the road, taking three back-to-back wins in Washingon largely thanks to some crazy offence. Now the teams are back in Texas, with the Astros one win away from a third World Series win in three years. The Washington Nationals have made the World Series for the first time in franchise history after sweeping the Arizona Cardinals in the NLCS. The New York Yankees may have won their first game against the Houston Astros in the ALCS championship but Houston was able to turn things around and the team went on to win games 2, 3 and 4. The Yankees then won game 5 but when the two teams returned to Houston for game 6, Jose Altuve secured the Astros place in the 2019 World Series with a walk-off home run in the 9th inning. The Astros won the World Series just two years ago in 2017 but will the team be able to do it again? Whether you’re a Nationals fan in DC, an Astros fan in Houston or just a fan of the sport of baseball, we’ll show you how to live stream every game in the 2019 World Series online from anywhere in the world. Keep reading and we’ll guide you through all of the options to watch this year’s World Series on your TV, computer and even on mobile.
How to watch a World Series live stream from outside your countryWe have your viewing options below if you want to watch the baseball from the US, UK or Canada, including the routes you need if you don't have cable access. However, try watching your usual online coverage when you're abroad and you'll soon discover that you can due to broadcasters' geo-blocking. No, we don't suggest you go running to Reddit to see where you can stream a dodgy, illegal feed. It's by utilising a VPN - or Virtual Private Network - that allows you to change the IP address of your laptop or mobile to one in a different state or country which does have the stream so that you can watch the series from anywhere in the world.
How to watch the Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros in the USIf you’re in the US and want to watch the 2019 World Series on TV, all of the games will be shown on Fox. For those who are out and about but still want to catch all of the action, Fox will stream every game live on its Fox Sports Go app but you will need to login using your cable provider’s credentials. Alternatively, cord cutters can watch the World Series online via a sports streaming service. We’ve listed our favorite options below to make things easier for you, so keep scrolling down to see our favorite streaming services for watching MLB online.
How to stream World Series 2019 with MLB.TVOther ways to watch the 2019 World Series onlineThe dedicated MLB.TV won't be for everyone. If you want a paid option that includes other television and sports, then going for a more all-encompassing plan might be better for you. Below are some other options to consider. But remember that the same applies if you're trying to watch the your home team play locally during a blackout game - you'll need a VPN to do so, so check out how to do that above. World Series streaming for cord cutters
How to stream Astros vs Nationals live in the UKUK baseball fans trying to watch the 2019 World Series can do so on BT Sport which is included in BT’s TV bundles. If you aren't a BT Sport subscriber, you can sign up for the BT Sport app for £10 a month with the first three months free or subscribe via Sky TV or TalkTalk TV for £29.99 a month. Not in the UK but wanting to watch the BT Sport stream online from abroad? Then you'll want to go scroll back up and read about how to use a VPN to watch from anywhere.
How to live stream Nationals vs Astros in CanadaIf you live in Canada and have a cable subscription, you’ll be able to watch the 2019 World Series on SportsNet. Not interested in signing up for cable just to watch some baseball? Don’t worry as MLB.TV is also available in Canada and with the Postseason Pass you’ll be able to watch the entirety of the 2019 World Series for just $24.99.
2019 World Series full scheduleGame 1: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros on Tuesday, October 22 Game 2: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros on Wednesday, October 23 Game 3: Houston Astros at Washington Nationals on Friday, October 25 Game 4: Houston Astros at Washington Nationals on Saturday, October 26 Game 5: Houston Astros at Washington Nationals on Sunday, October 27 Game 6: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros on Tuesday, October 29 Game 7: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros on Wednesday, October 30 All games start just after 8pm ET (5pm PT, 1am BST) and games 5,6 and 7 will only be played if necessary
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| Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is officially coming to Steam, alongside other EA titles Posted: 29 Oct 2019 09:22 AM PDT The rumors were true – EA games are finally returning to Steam. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be the first EA game released on Valve's platform in six years, with pre-orders for the title already live on Steam. And it's not the only EA title coming to the platform. The publisher has confirmed we will see the likes of Unravel Two, The Sims 4 and "other major titles" appearing on Steam in the next few months, with big-hitters FIFA 20, Apex Legends and Battlefield V all arriving next year. If that's not enough, players on Steam and Origin will be able to play together.
EA Access too?
Not only will EA be bringing its games to Steam but it'll also be bringing it's premium game subscription service: EA Access. There's no firm release date for EA Access's launch on Steam, but the publisher has indicated we could be looking at sometime between March and June 2020. EA Access offers subscribers access to EA's wide library of titles (known as the 'Vault') as well as some additional incentives such as early trials of the newest games and a 10% discount on EA digital purchases. To date, the service has only been available via Origin on PC, as well as on PS4 and Xbox One. EA Access on Steam is set to cost the same as on console: $4.99 / £3.99 / AU$6.99 a month. While an annual membership costs $29.99 / £19.99 / AU$39.99. The return of EA to Steam could open the doors for other publishers (with their own launchers) to also sell their games on the platform, though we're not holding our breath. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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