Saturday, November 16, 2019

Apple : When does episode 3 of The Mandalorian release on Disney Plus?

Apple : When does episode 3 of The Mandalorian release on Disney Plus?


When does episode 3 of The Mandalorian release on Disney Plus?

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 12:46 PM PST

Wondering when the next episode of The Mandalorian will release? Even though episode one launched with Disney Plus on November 12, episode two dropped just three days later on November 15. That's because the majority of season one episodes release every Friday through to the holidays.

Below, we'll show you the official release schedule of The Mandalorian season one. Don't miss our guide if you're wondering how to watch The Mandalorian.

When is the next episode of The Mandalorian?

The next episode of The Mandalorian, episode three, releases on Disney Plus on November 22, this coming Friday. You'll be able to stream it then in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, and after their launch on November 19, Australia and New Zealand. Episode two arrived at around midnight PT, so expect this to be the targeted time for the rest of the season. 

If you want to watch each new episode as soon as it arrives, be prepared to stay up late if you're in the US. It's unclear if launching in different time zones will affect when new episodes arrive. 

When do the other episodes of The Mandalorian season one release?

They all release each Friday over the next two months, with the exception of the seventh episode, which releases on a Wednesday. There are eight episodes in total. Here's the official confirmed release schedule from Disney:

  • Episode one: Out now
  • Episode two: Out now
  • Episode three: November 22
  • Episode four: November 29
  • Episode five: December 6
  • Episode six: December 13
  • Episode seven: December 18
  • Episode eight: December 27

When is The Mandalorian season one finale?

As mentioned above, the season one finale of The Mandalorian arrives on Disney Plus on December 27. Between this show, Jedi: Fallen Order and The Rise of Skywalker, you can pretty much fill this holiday season with as much Star Wars as you can possibly enjoy.

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The best 40-inch TV

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 10:44 AM PST

It wasn't that long ago that 40-inch TVs were considered the biggest TV screens you could possibly imagine in your home. Now though, 55-inch has become the flagship size for most new TVs, while 65-inch and even 75-inch TV ranges continue to grow each year – but a 40-inch TV still remains perfectly sized for those unwilling or unable to fit a massive wall-filling screen into their home.

Especially if you're making the jump up from a 32-inch television to a 40-inch screen, you'll find the new television unlikely to suddenly overwhelm your living room – or eat up your budget.

The biggest drawback with choosing a 40-inch screen rather than one of the bigger options is that you don't always get the latest tech built into a 40-inch TV – like OLED panels or often 4K or HDR. TV manufacturers tend to save the best performance for the biggest models in their range.

But the good news is that we know not all TVs and TV brands are created equal. There are a number of exceptional 40-inch TVs with 4K HDR at a reasonable price and we've done all the hard work and research for you. The result is a list of 40-inch TVs we’ll be constantly updating that we think represent the best 40-inch TVs on the market right now.


Undoubtedly one of the best TV offerings of recent times, the Panasonic GX800 hits that sweet spot of price, performance, and functionality.

Panasonic is leaning more on OLED TVs these days, but the GX800’s HCX processor is more than up to the task. Both HD and 4K images are impressive, while the multi-HDR support (HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG) is a masterstroke is such an affordable price. 

You won’t be getting the full effect of all those formats on this panel – you’ll need to consider a larger, more expensive set like the GZ1000 or GZ1500 to do that – but you’ll also never find yourself unable to play a certain kind of HDR content again.

When it comes to the best Samsung TVs, it’s all about QLED. The super-bright QLED displays offer hundred more nits brightness than most LEDs, with a quantum dot filter to enhance contrast across a 4K display.

The Q60R isn’t quite as accomplished as its premium siblings, being the entry-level QLED and therefore the one with the lowest specs. The edge-lighting can be inconsistent, and you won’t get the tidy One Connect box of other premium Samsung TVs either. 

Given its 43-inch size, though, you won’t be taking up as much space as a larger set, and as the cheapest QLED to come out this year it’s a smart choice for those wanting to save on high-end technology. Its low input lag and responsive smart platform make it a great choice for gamers wanting a zippy experience – or just anyone feeling impatient.

Vizio has repeatedly put out mid-range sets deserving of our various best guides, and the M-Series Quantum is no exception. It features a brilliant quantum dot display at a surprisingly decent price, with a capable sound performance (2x20W speakers) to match the pictures onscreen.

HDR images are a particular highlight, with Dolby Vision support and local dimming helping to reach those deep black levels.

Vizio’s SmartCast smart TV platform isn’t the best out there, but it does come with a lot of functionality, including support for Google Cast and AirPlay 2, and HDMI Arc for controlling your soundbar through the TV controls. Overall, the compromises are more than fair for the price, and you won’t get much better for the money elsewhere.

Like the Panasonic GX800, the Philips 6800 offers a wide range of HDR support in its small size, with both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision baked into the panel.

The TV’s casing itself is sleek and fashionable, with three-sided Ambilight upping the atmosphere with colors that spill and project around the TV screen. What could be better for an immersive night gaming or watching a film?

The outside of the set may be its most impressive aspect, though. The 4K display is best for HD, and can struggle with lower-resolution sources. You’ll also want to look at the TV square-on rather than from the side, as viewing angles aren’t the best. Overall, though, this a solid choice for a smaller set.

TCL has some of the strongest mid-range sets out there. While the TCL 6 Series offers a pretty big jump in quality, only the 5 Series goes down the super convenient 43-inch size so many TV models are leaving behind these days.

So what do you get with a TCL 5 Series TV? While the design of the set itself is pretty nondescript – with some messy cabling around the back – the inclusion of the Roku smart TV platform makes for a fast and well-organized interface. HD/SDR images too are right at home, with good color balance and clarity even on the Ultra HD screen.

4K/HDR isn’t quite as impressive, without the luminance to really make those added colors shine, but for everyday watching the TCL 5 Series is solid bet.

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The best cheap camera

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 10:38 AM PST

Thanks to intense competition, technological advancements and manufacturers clearing out order models to make way for new arrivals, you can grab a brilliant compact or mirrorless camera, or even a DSLR, for less than you might think.

New cameras aren't always that different from previous models, so if you do a little research you may be able to get the same kind of image quality, performance or functionality in a slightly older but cheaper offering. Better yet, you can simply leave the research to us and see what we reckon, having tested all the options below and many more.

We've compiled a selection of the best budget cameras going, so whether you want something to simply slot in your pocket for the odd snap that will be better pictures than your smartphone ever can, or a camera you can get a bit more creative with, you'll find it here.

Nikon's D3400 was a hugely successful and popular DSLR, and it retained plenty of appeal once the D3500 was introduced, as it managed to offer much the same thing for less money. Now, the D3500 has dropped enough in price to make it the clear best buy. Key changes over the older D3400 include a newly developed APS-C sensor (though still with 24MP) and an even better battery life of 1,550 frames per charge, next to the D3400's very capable 1,200 shots per charge. You also get a better grip and a slightly redesigned body that's a bit lighter too. The D3400 is still around and remains an excellent first-time buy, but this newer model just has a slight edge.

Still one of our favorite compact cameras, the RX100 Mark IV manages to be technologically up to date without the lofty price of the (admittedly excellent) Mark V and VI models that came after it. In fact, it's this series has gone up to the seventh generation, giving credence to the popularity of this excellent line-up of compacts. And it's these successors that have seen the price of the Mark IV model drop significantly since launch. Now the RX 100 IV offers great bang for your buck, with 4K video on board and excellent image quality. Performance in both low light and in bright conditions is superb and, while the focal length is slightly limited, it's enough for most situations.

When the original EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 launched, it became an instant hit with anyone looking to enter the world of photography. Its easy-to-use menu system and on-screen user guide was a great help and the EOS 250D (confusingly also called the Rebel SL3 and EOS 200D Mark II) carries on that tradition. It offers beginners room to grow into more confident shooters. Canon's superb Dual Pixel CMOS AF system is available for smooth focusing during Live View, although 4K video is subject to limitations. 

Don’t let the price fool you. The A6000 costs the same as other entry-level DSLR and mirrorless cameras, but it’s an advanced and powerful camera that has only dropped to this price through being on the market for a few years now. So it may be old, but most of the specification still looks pretty fresh today. This includes a 24MP sensor, a fast hybrid 179-point autofocus system and continuous shooting at 11 frames per second (fps). Its age shows in other areas, though; it only shoots 1080p Full HD video and not 4K, and the screen isn’t touch sensitive. And while it’s cheap enough, the A6000’s high-end features make it a little advanced for beginners. 

For adrenaline junkies who don't have the spare change to, well, spare for the full-featured GoPro Hero7 Black or the Hero8 Black, this is an excellent option. While you won't be shooting in 4K (it doesn't even have a 4K screen) and it lacks GoPro's Linear Mode, it offers the pretty much the same image quality as its more expensive counterparts. It's remarkably easy to use, with all the mounting accessories from action camera maker available at your disposal. It might also lack GoPro's signature image stabilization but it's still not too bad when mounted on a bike, for example. The body is waterproof down to 10m (33ft) without any housing, so you can recording your adventures – or misadventures as the case may be – pretty much anywhere.

At launch, the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 / TZ220 (sorry, we just had to give you all the names) was one of the most expensive compact cameras, albeit one that was far more advanced than the competition at the time. However, the price had dropped, giving you the option to grab a full-featured compact camera the next time you want a pocketable traveling companion. The large 1-inch sensor delivers excellent image quality with lots of details, although do be wary of image smoothing in JPEGs when shooting at high ISO values. The camera does this to reduce noise, although you'll have more pleasing results when shooting in RAW. The 15x zoom range means you should be able to shoot anything from landscapes and architecture to tight portraits, making it a versatile option.

Fujifilm has made its reputation with its high-end X-mount mirrorless cameras, but it also makes a series of simpler X-A cameras for novices. While we've seen the recent launch of the X-A7, we're still fans of the X-A5 with its retro good looks and 15-45mm retracting kit lens. While there’s no viewfinder, the touch-screen display works very well and flips through 180 degrees for selfies. The image quality is terrific, even though its regular CMOS sensor rather than Fujifilm’s special X-Trans sensor, though the 4K video mode only works at 15fps, which is a let-down.

The D5600 is a step up from the D3000-series models, with a stronger set of specs to rival the likes of the Canon EOS Rebel T7i / EOS 800D. Key advantages over the D3500 (listed in position one here) include a larger LCD screen, which not only flips out and swivels all the way around to face the front, but also responds to touch, together with a more advanced autofocus system, Wi-Fi and a healthy range of additional control on the inside. Sure, you pay a little extra for the privilege, but if you need a little more growing space it makes sense to go for the D5600 so that it stays with you for years to come.

The OM-D E-M10 Mark II is another example of a camera that's now been updated – in this case, by the excellent OM-D E-M10 Mark III – but that still makes a lot of sense for the budget-conscious user. Inside a sturdy body that's far more dashing than the average mirrorless camera lies an excellent electronic viewfinder, a highly effective image stabilisation system and burst shooting to a very respectable 8.5fps. True, it may not have the latest sensor, not 4K video recording, but neither is necessary if you're simply focused on taking great images.

The Lumix FZ1000's 16x optical zoom is less than that of typical bridge cameras, but that's due to its sizeable 1-inch sensor, which delivers a big boost in image quality. This isn't just any old lens, either, but rather a Leica optic with a large f/2.8 maximum aperture at the wide-angle end, which narrows to a still-respectable f/4 at full zoom. This helps you capture shots in low light without resorting to high ISO sensitivities, while the Hybrid 5-axis Optical Image Stabilisation minimises camera shake. 4K (Ultra HD, strictly) 3840 x 2160 video recording, advanced autofocusing, a superb 2,359,000-dot electronic viewfinder and raw shooting all help to make the FZ1000 one of our top picks.

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The best mirrorless cameras

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 10:32 AM PST

While DSLRs still have their place for traditionalists, there's no doubt that mirrorless cameras are the most exciting models around for their cutting-edge features and versatility. But what exactly is a mirrorless camera? And what should you bear in mind before deciding which one's the right one for you? We've answered all this and more below. 

Looking for a quick answer to the best mirrorless camera for most people? Our top choice right now is the Nikon Z6. It's small and light for a full-frame camera, without compromising on Nikon's signature handling, and combines great image quality with a superb electronic viewfinder. While it doesn't have many native lenses right now, you can pair it with hundreds of existing ones via an adaptor.     

Sony may have got to the full-frame mirrorless market before the likes of Canon, Nikon and Panasonic, but now that all four are active in the sector, the playing field is starting to level a little. And our nod right now goes to Nikon's Z6, which combines a sound 24.5MP sensor with a super-sharp 3.69 million dot EVF and lovely 4K video into a compact shell. The beefy grip makes for great handling while the FTZ adapter that's either bundled with the camera or available separately means you can carry on using hundreds of F-mount lenses, with autofocus and auto-exposure maintained. It's not perfect, but a recent firmware update gave it a nice boost – and now that its price has fallen some way it's even more accessible than ever. We love it.

The Alpha A7 III may sit on the bottom rung of Sony's full-frame mirrorless camera range, its siblings being the pricier A7S II and A7R III, but it should no longer be seen as the poor relation to its pricier siblings. This is a brilliant choice for the enthusiast photographer or pro, and when you look at the specification, it's easy to see why. Sony has taken some of the best bits from its flagship Alpha A9 and A7R III cameras, and distilled them into a single camera that offers a fantastic mix of performance and image quality. The full-frame 24.2MP sensor is excellent in a range of lighting conditions, while the advanced 693-point AF looks set to get even better with a firmware upgrade in April. This is one advanced camera that's at a great price considering the features and performance on offer.

Looking for a small, powerful mirrorless camera with a great design and lens system? The Fujifilm X-T30 is our favorite right now. While we love its bigger brother, the X-T3 (position number 8), this model's combination of size and all-round performance makes it one of our favorite cameras of 2019. You get more than you might expect from the X-T3, including the same 26.1MP APS-C sensor and processing engine, making it suitable for everything from sports snapping to landscape photography. This is helped by a phase-detect AF system that covers almost the entire frame, plus the usual range of Fujifilm's excellent Film Simulation modes, which subtly ape the company's old film looks. Throw in the option of recording 4K video and you have a fantastic all-rounder that actively encourages you to get out and shoot.  

Sony's A7R line of cameras has been all about resolution, and the A7R IV delivers a lot more of it than ever before. Its class-leading 61MP delivers an excellent level of detail, augmented by the impressive Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode. An update to the autofocus system has made it faster and smarter, with face- and eye-detect AF working amazingly well – but with Sony at the helm, there was no doubt about that. The camera body is now even more sturdy and better equipped to handle the worst of the elements while out on field, while the deeper grip makes it comfortable to use over long periods of time. Although the addition of top plate command dial makes the mode dial a little harder to access. And while the A7R series wasn't designed with videographers in mind, video quality here is excellent, even though the rolling shutter effect is an issue.

Panasonic Lumix S1R

The S1R is the first of two camera's in Panasonic's S series, and it arrives with some mightily impressive technology. That 5.76million-dot viewfinder is streets ahead of the 3.69million-dot alternatives in rival bodies, while the rugged build, effective sensor-based stabilization and cracking 4K video show it to be a camera that excels in a wealth of areas. The 47.3MP full-frame sensor also manages to perform brilliantly in good light and bad, and the further option to output images at 187MP may seem a little crazy, but it opens up new possibilities for cropping and for macro work. We're very impressed.

Canon's first full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R, delighted in some ways and frustrated in others, but the EOS RP made a much more positive impression. While technically a more junior model and not as fully featured, its much smaller and lighter body, together with a far nicer price, means that it's far more accessible for those who were hoping to make the jump to mirrorless but didn't want to stretch all the way to the EOS R. Without only around 4MP difference between the two you're not really sacrificing much in terms of sensor resolution, while the responsive touchscreen, fast autofocus and deep buffer makes it a pleasure to use in all kinds of situations. And while the native lens range for the R mount are still limited, a lens mount adapter allows users already invested in Canon's ecosystem to use their existing EF lenses.

The OM-D E-M1X may look strange to some photography fans, but if form factor isn’t an issue, then this is by far the best Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera money can buy. In fact, if you can ignore the sensor size, this is arguably the best mirrorless camera money can buy. Despite the smaller sensor size, the E-M1X produces bigger image files than any full-frame camera or medium format camera. And if you thought that this MFT system couldn’t keep up with its new full-frame mirrorless competitors, think again – there are so many features packed into this snapper, it can put Panasonic’s Lumix S1 series and Nikon’s Z series cameras to shame. Boasting up to 60fps RAW burst speed with locked autofocus (AF) and 18fps with AF tracking, the E-M1X is clearly aimed at wildlife and sports photographers. With two image processors under the hood, it is any wonder it can achieve these speeds? Picture quality is fabulous, both with stills and video, and image stabilization is sound. The only reason it features way down in this list is because of the hefty price tag.

It might not be as great for video as the Lumix GH5, but the G9 prioritizes stills. Like Olympus OM-D E-M1X listed above, the smaller MFT sensor size is made up for by a camera that is packed full of features. Its high resolution combines eight images into a single 80MP photograph, while its amazing image stabilization allows you to shoot handheld for about a second with sharp results. Throw in 60fps shooting, polished handling and a wealth of advanced features and the Lumix G9 is a brilliant all-round mirrorless camera.

Canon EOS M6 Mark II

Just because this little snapper doesn't have a built-in viewfinder, doesn't mean you can dismiss it out of hand. It more than makes up for it in its specifications list. It compact size and light weight makes it one of the best traveling companions you can get, and its 32.5MP sensor captures excellent images at 14fps. Color reproduction has always been Canon's strong suit and you won't hear us complain here. You won't find built-in image stablilization, but as long as you're aware of that you can compensate for it. You will, however, need to contend with the idea that there are limited lenses for the M-series of snappers but you can use EF and EF-S lenses via an adapter. Just steer clear of the bigger lenses as they will unbalance this tiny package.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III

The OM-D E-M10 Mark III might not be a massive leap forward over the Mark II, with much of the camera's specification remaining the same. However, Olympus has refined and tweaked one of our favorite mirrorless cameras to make it an even more tempting proposition for new users and enthusiasts alike. Some will criticise the smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor format, but the effect on image quality is minor and it means that the lenses are as compact and lightweight as the camera itself. Sporting a five-axis image stabilization system, a very decent electronic viewfinder, an impressive 8.6fps burst shooting rate and 4K video, it's no toy – the OM-D E-M10 Mark III is a properly powerful camera. The recently announced Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III may yet knock it out of this list when we've had a chance to test it properly, but for now this remains a great buy.

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The best PC gaming headsets

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 10:26 AM PST

Nothing will quite immerse you the way the best PC gaming headsets can when gaming. And while having a good monitor and a powerful gaming PC is important for an immersive experience, it’s not going to be enough. Strong visuals and horsepower are necessary but so is great audio, and there’s no better way to get there than with one of the best PC gaming headsets.

You might need the best PC gaming headset to drown out the fans in your gaming rig or because the gaming monitors you’ve been looking at come without speakers. Maybe it’s a matter of privacy or a way to turn up the sound with waking the neighborhood. Either way, quality audio is vital for the full gaming experience and you’ll want to get the best headset available for that reason alone.

To get that full experience, that immersion into the vast, vibrant worlds of the best PC games, you’ll also need a pair of cans with good sound staging. You might be delighting in the explosions and frenetic firefights of Gears 5 or relaxing in the laid-back world of Journey. And with that excellent sound stage, you’ll be able to pinpoint the location of each sound, making you feel like you’re really there.

HyperX Cloud Revolver S


When we first sat down to review the HyperX Cloud Revolver S, we were a tad conflicted. On one hand, it boasts incredible 7.1-channel surround sound, delivered through Dolby's trademark digital signal processor. On the other, it's extremely expensive when compared to other similar headsets. Fortunately, as one of Kingston's most subdued pair of cans we've ever seen (or heard), the pure comfort and top-notch sound more than make up for its high price and weirdly placed detachable mic. And that’s why it tops our list of the best PC gaming headsets.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro


SteelSeries is known for offering impeccable audio, but the SteelSeries Arctis Pro takes things to the next level. This headset doesn’t just offer up immersive surround sound for all the explosive action of your favorite games, but thanks to its included DAC (digital to audio converter), the Arctis Pro also serves you well when listening to your favorite music. One of the best PC gaming headsets to date, this one’s a little on the pricey side, but when you consider just how comfortable and exceptional sounding this headset is, well, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best gaming headsets you can buy today.

Astro A50 Wireless


For years, the Astro A50 has been one of the best gaming headsets, known for premium comfort and audio quality. And, the latest model improves it on almost every level. Not only is the sound quality still there in full, but it looks better, with a full-black design, rather than the clashing colors of past models. The docking station is also smaller and less of an eyesore. Just keep in mind that this is still a pricey headset. 

Beyerdynamic Custom Game


While it’s more expensive than we’d like, the Beyerdynamic CUSTOM Game is one of the best PC gaming headsets we’ve used in some time. It doesn’t feature flashy surround sound or wireless functionality, unfortunately. However, this headset does excel in two of the most important categories: sound and comfort. Seriously, once you put it on and experience your games in headphones this amazing, there’s no looking back.

Corsair HS50


Usually when you're purchasing anything, including gaming peripherals, you get what you pay for. However, Corsair takes this rule and turns it on its head. The Corsair HS50 is, for the budget gamer, the best PC gaming headset you can get today. The HS50 has sound and mic quality that rivals headsets that are double the price. Everything, down to the build materials, radiates quality. If you don't mind forgoing some extra bells and whistles – like 7.1 surround and Bluetooth connectivity, for example – then you need to take a look at the Corsair HS50.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless


Compromises are a part of everyday life, but nobody actually enjoys making them. Luckily, you won’t have to with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. With it, you can get high quality lossless audio playback with a wireless headset. And, when you add the unique and ultra-convenient dual-battery charging system that lets you wear this headset in perpetuity to the mix, you have a formula for one of the best PC gaming headsets we've ever had the chance to use. If you have the money, and you absolutely need the best wireless headphones money can buy, this is your best bet.

Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition


Creative has made a name for itself over the years for crafting sublime audio products – and the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition further cements that legacy. Instead of just sitting back and iterating on the same winning formula of its previous products, Creative gives the Sound BlasterX H7 a full overhaul, resulting in a PC gaming headset that looks just as great as it sounds. If you’re looking for a comfortable, solid and meaty-sounding headset, the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition is one of the best PC gaming headsets you can get.

Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero


Yes, there might be a few things that hold the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero back from true greatness – namely, its tight fit and not-so-appealing aesthetic. However, when it comes to what really matters, this headset delivers. With great sound quality to start, coupled with its ProSpecs Glasses Relief system to make it more comfortable for wearers with glasses, plethora of features and incredibly powerful software, this is one of the best gaming headsets we’ve ever put over our ears. And, for it, you’ll be happy to pay what would have felt like an exuberant price. 

Razer Nari Ultimate


Anyone can simply just listen to their games, but with the Razer Nari Ultimate, you can feel them as well. This gaming headset has haptic motors in the ear cups that make your ears vibrate. That’s more than enough to make this at least a curious headset, but when paired with the long battery life, amazing sound quality and comfortable build, it’s clearly one of the best gaming headsets out there. Do yourself a favor and turn off the haptic feedback, even when you’re listening to music.

Astro A20


If you're searching for one of the best PC gaming headsets, but the high price tags on those high-end cans make your stomach turn, you should take a closer look at the Astro A20. Boasting solid stereo sound performance in a wireless headset, not to mention the superb 15-hour battery life, this headset has all the necessary qualities that you might want in its price range. Sure, it doesn't come with surround sound, but it more than makes up for it with its economy and battery life.

Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700


With its Republic of Gamers brand, Asus has built a reputation for being the name behind some of the best gaming peripherals to constantly meet consumer standards. The Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 joins their ranks. Packed with 50mm Neodymium drivers and Bluetooth compatibility, this gaming headset provides fantastic sound quality without being tethered with a wire. It’s even compatible with other gaming platforms, so you won’t have to switch between different headsets. It’s a little pricey, but considering how good this headset sounds and how flexible it is, we’d say it’s worth it.

HyperX Cloud Flight


The HyperX Cloud Flight is a long-lasting wireless gaming headset that boasts up to 30 hours of battery life. This means you can likely get two full days of gaming in between full charges. There is a catch, however – unlike the Cloud Flight’s competition, namely the Astro A20, this gaming headset only offers stereo sound, ditching any surround sound capability. You can thankfully get circumvent that by messing around with the Dolby Access app, though, and the sound profile is balanced enough to make this a non-issue, making this one of the best PC gaming headsets money can buy.

Corsair HS70 Wireless Gaming Headset


Corsair unveiled one of the best PC gaming headsets late last year with the Corsair HS50, and now, it has taken it to the next level by making it wireless and flourishing it with virtual surround sound capabilities. These features on their own might make a great gaming headset, but when you add in the fantastic Corsair CUE software on top of it, you get a complete package that would make a great addition to your gaming setup.

Corsair Void Pro RGB


It wasn't that long ago that Corsair was only known for PC components. However, over the last five years or so, it has possibly become better known for its gaming peripherals. With products like the Corsair Void RGB Wireless, it's not hard to understand why. While at first glance, some may scoff at the asking price, the Void Pro RGB Wireless delivers on that price point with great build quality, fantastic sound fidelity and – perhaps most importantly – RGB lighting. Plus, if you've already got a full arsenal of Corsair peripherals, the Void Pro RGB Wireless fits in perfectly, and can even synchronize lighting effects with other peripherals through the Corsair Utility Engine.

Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament


If you're the type of gamer who likes to let the world know you're playing games, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament may just be the best PC gaming headset for you. Not only is it extremely comfortable to wear, but its 50mm drivers mean that sound quality is always top notch – even if it could have a bit more bass in the mix. You really do have to like the 'gamer aesthetic' however, as its plastic build and orange highlights personify the style. Still, if you can get past or embrace the looks and the price tag, there's a lot to love about the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament.

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The best cameras

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 10:13 AM PST

All cameras are a compromise. Finding the best camera for you is a process of discovering which balance of strengths and compromises suits your style of photography. For example, there's no point buying a big, powerful full-frame beast if you're mainly looking to do hobbyist travel photography. 

Beginners looking to learn manual shooting, meanwhile, are better off with a mirrorless camera or DSLR that offers easy access to these physical controls, rather than a touchscreen-based premium compact. 

We've taken all of these nuances into consideration when compiling our top ten list below. Just want to know what we think the best camera is right now for most people? That's the Nikon Z6. It's small, light and relatively affordable for a full-frame camera. And while it's only compatible with a handful of native lenses, you can use hundreds more through an adapter. 

We've rounded up the very best options across the three main categories: DSLR, mirrorless and compact. Each camera stands out in some way. That might simply be because it's the best camera in its category, or because it offers great value. Or perhaps it has a unique, ground-breaking feature.

That means that while many of these cameras are new, some are older models that have now dropped in price to tempting levels. Newer isn't always better, particularly if there's only been a marginal increase in performance and a disproportionately high increase in price. But you don't need to worry about that, as we've cherry picked both new and older models that have proved themselves worthy.

Nikon Z6

The Z6 is out pick for the best camera money can buy. Being a fantastic all rounder with superb handling, there's nothing yet which beats it in terms of versatility, usability and affordability. The Z6 combines both excellent stills and 4K video quality with everything else that's key for a full-frame mirrorless camera. That means we get a lightweight and compact body that still manages to handle beautifully on account of a substantial and ergonomically designed grip. There's also a sharp and crisp 3.69-million dot viewfinder along with a responsive, and tilting touchscreen. The native lens range for the Z mount is expanding rapidly, but if there's something you need that's not covered then you can use F-mount optics via the optional FTZ adapter ($245 / £270 / AU$180). We've also been treated to features such as Eye AF for the past few months, which helps it to compete even more strongly against Sony's Alpha line. We love the Z6 – though the Sony A7 III (see below) isn't too far behind it.


Fujifilm's X-T3 may still one of the most capable APS-C mirrorless cameras around, but that fact that the company managed to incorporate so much of its tech inside the smaller and cheaper X-T30 makes this our recommendation for most people. A solid 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor, popular Film Simulation modes, excellent 4K video capabilities and a hybrid AF system with 425 phase-detect AF points stand out as highlights from its strong spec sheet, while improvements to overall speed and face/eye detection (with more to come via scheduled firmware updates) make for a slightly more polished performance over the previous X-T20. Our only gripe is the small viewfinder magnification, but there's enough handling prowess to still make it one of the best APS-C options out there. Hot on its heels is the newly-announced Nikon Z50, which may just push the X-T30 out of this list once we've had chance to test it properly.

Best camera: Sony A7 III

We love the A7 III. The original A7 and A7 II showed Sony was moving in the right direction and making all the right noises. But despite being over 18 months old, it's this third iteration that still stands out in the full-frame mirrorless market. The core of the camera – namely a 24MP full-frame sensor, 4K video, sensor-based image stabilisation, 10fps burst shooting and a 693-point hybrid AF system – is strong enough, but with two card slots and a 710-shot battery life on top of that, you're getting excellent value for money as well as top performance. We have some reservations with the viewfinder and weather-sealing, but this is still one of the most versatile cameras around right now, mirrorless or otherwise. 

Best camera: Nikon D850

You'd be forgiven for thinking that mirrorless is the only option right now for class-leading tech, but the Nikon D850 still manages to hold its own as one of the best cameras on the market. It has a well-rounded feature set which means it appeals to a diverse range of users, particularly those who are already heavily invested in the DSLR space. If you need high resolution, it's got it with a 45MP full-frame sensor. If you need speed, it has that too with a 7fps burst shooting option which can be boosted to 9fps with a battery grip. OK, that's reasonably modest compared with the likes of the 20fps Sony A9 II, but it's still good enough for capturing most kinds of action. On top of that you also get 4K video recording options, as well as a rugged body protected against inclement weather. One feature which is definitely king over its mirrorless rivals is battery life – with a massive 1800 frames per charge, you shouldn't need to worry about the camera dying in the middle of the decisive moment.

Best camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III

While the main specification of the OM-D E-M10 Mark III doesn't offer a huge upgrade from the Mark II, Olympus has refined and tweaked one of our favorite mirrorless cameras to make it an even more tempting proposition for new users and enthusiasts alike. Sure, the Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than the competition, and its 16MP resolution may seen a little behind the times too, but don't let this put you off. Sensor-based image stabilization, something many cameras at this level don't offer in favour of lens-based stabilization, is a huge plus and very effective too, while 4K video recording and 8.6fps burst shooting are also very competitive. The fact that you can use it with so many excellent and compact Micro Four Thirds lenses only adds to its charms. The recently announced Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, which we'll be testing soon, may become our preferred Micro Four Thirds option, but until now this more affordable model remains a great choice for beginners and travelers. 

The best two beginner DSLRs we've seen recently are the Nikon D3500 and Canon Rebel SL3 / 250D. While the former wins out for value, for this list we've gone for the slightly pricier 250D. Having the rather dubious moniker as the world's smallest DSLR with a fully-articulating screen, the 250D is still a great option to learn with. Thanks to that screen, it's also a decent option for vloggers or video fans. Being an upgrade from the popular 200D, it brings with it some new features such as 4K video recording and a new processor. If your budget is limited and you don't need 4K video, the older SL2 / 200D is a good option, putting the cash you save towards a new lens. If you're new to a "proper" camera, the 24.2 megapixel sensor of the EOS 250D will give your photography a good step-up, while the fluid AF system comes into play when shooting live view and videos. There's also an easy-to-understand interface, which is great for those who are just starting out. The number of lenses available for Canon's EF mount is almost endless, while accessories are also numerous.

Best camera: Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200

Panasonic keeps hold of its best travel-friendly compact camera title with the Lumix ZS200 (known as the Lumix TZ200 outside the US). It pairs a large 1.0-inch sized sensor with a flexible 15x optical zoom lens in a package which is just on the right side of affordable (an area where Sony's RX100 series falls down). There's a built-in electronic viewfinder which you can use in bright conditions if the touch-sensitive screen is difficult to see. Other useful features include 4K video recording, as well as Panasonic's 4K Photo modes which enable you to extract 8MP images of fleeting moments. There are undoubtedly more powerful pocket-friendly compacts currently on the market – if you have very deep pockets, then the Cyber-shot RX100 VII is the best available. For most ordinary people who don't have such enormous budgets, the ZS200/TZ200 is the much more sensible option.

If you're looking for a solid all-rounder and like to shoot video as well as stills, the G90 / G95 is a great option. Inheriting a lot of features from both the G85 and the video-orientated GH5S, this is a camera which manages to cram a lot into its relatively small body. The design is well-considered which means the G90 / G95 handles very well, while Micro Four Thirds lenses are so small that the overall system is very neat and compact. For video shooters, there's 4K video with V-LogL profile, in frame rates including 24p, 25p and 30p, while Full HD recording is up to 120fps in the High Speed Video mode. Microphone and head-socket ports also round out the video-centric features, but stills shooters needn't feel left out either as it's also very capable in that area too. 

If you're looking for a waterproof camera that can venture into places that your smartphone daren't tread, then the TG-6 is the best option around. Olympus has done a lot to impress with its TG range over the years. While the TG-6 represents a fairly modest upgrade from its predecessor (the TG-5), it's still the go-to name for a tough or underwater compact camera option. Designed to throw anything you can throw at it – sometimes quite literally – the TG-6 is waterproof down to 15 meters, crushproof to weights of 100kg, and drop-proof from heights of 2.4m. it can also be used in temperatures as low as -10°C. Combine all that with a camera that can shoot in raw format, record 4K video 30p or high-speed footage at 120p in Full HD and you've got something very appealing indeed. For underwater photographers, there's some new underwater modes, but if you're mainly working on land, you'd do well to consider the older TG-5 model to save some cash.

A bridge camera combines the flexibility of a bag of lenses with the convenience of a single body. The RX10 III is the third bridge-style superzoom in the popular RX10 line, and while it's been succeeded by the newer RX10 IV, we reckon the great spec sheet and lower price of the RX10 III makes more sense for most people. Thanks to its large, high-quality 1-inch sensor and image-stabilized 24-600mm-equivalent zoom lens, it's one of the best DSLR alternatives for those that need a massive focal range. Excellent 4K video capabilities and 14fps burst shooting show it to be more than capable when faced with moving subjects too. Too expensive? The previous RX10 II is still available (although its lens has a more modest 24-200mm scope), and Panasonic's competitively priced FZ1000 is another stellar option.  

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Sony isn't about to make the best camera phone, despite promising sample photos

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 08:00 AM PST

When Sony posted pictures taken with its new 60MP IMX686 smartphone camera sensor, the internet got excited; does this mean Sony phones are finally about to get great cameras? 

In the past few years, Sony's smartphones have stayed far clear of our list of the best camera phones, with relatively lackluster offerings that don't near the heights of the Huawei P30 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and Google Pixel 3. That's surprising, given Sony Alpha cameras are some of the best DSLR shooters available right now.

Is it possible, then, that the new IMX686 sensor could finally bring Sony phones back in the top-tier league? Well, we're sorry to say that the answer is probably a resounding 'no'. Here are a few reasons why.

Pretty limited photo samples

Sure, the few pictures we've seen from the Sony IMX686 look great, but there are a few reasons that this doesn't represent how pictures taken on the Xperia 2 or similar device will look.

Firstly, this sensor would be used on the main phone camera, but a phone nowadays has two, three four, or even five. The other snappers will use lenses like macro, telephoto, and ultra-wide, with sensors that aren't the IMX686. In other words, you probably won't be taking pictures with Sony's new sensor all that often.

Secondly, the sample pictures are all taken of colorful subjects in bright settings, which would naturally bring out the best of any camera. But Sony's cameras have often fared worse in low-light and dark circumstances, and there's no indication of if that's fixed here.

No matter how great the cameras on Sony's future handset end up being on paper, there's something more important in taking a great picture: software.

Software is more important

Most great camera phones right now use software to make a picture look great, from AI scene optimization or automatic editing used get color accuracy and white balance right from the start – or immediately in post.

However Sony phones have typically been rather light on the software front, with pared-down offerings compared to competitor devices.

Sure, this is okay in some phones like the Xiaomi Mi Note 10, as that has impressive enough camera specs to only need a soft touch afterwards to take great pictures. Sony phones typically haven't been very spec-heavy, which is why their pictures haven't looked great.

If upcoming Sony phones don't have better image processing software, the pictures won't be noticeably better, despite the improved camera array.

Other companies will profit

So if this new smartphone sensor doesn't guarantee Sony phones are about to get good, why is it still exciting news? Well, it's because Sony sells its smartphone sensors to other companies, some of which will make much better use of the IMX686.

Some of the phones using older Sony sensors include the Honor 20 Pro, Oppo Reno 10x Zoom, OnePlus 7T Pro, Huawei P30 Pro and many more, including some of the best camera phones available right now. These phones combine great hardware with impressive post-processing software, to take absolutely breathtaking pictures.

It's almost guaranteed that the IMX686 will pop up in plenty of other smartphones, especially given Sony is the most prolific smartphone sensor provider, and these non-Sony phones will likely combine the 60MP pictures with great software to make great camera phones.

In 2020 the Huawei P40, Google PIxel 4a, OnePlus 8, Huawei Mate 40 and more all could take Sony's tech and put them in great camera phones – the one company we're not expecting to release a great camera phone, though, is Sony.

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Disney Plus will fix the aspect ratio on The Simpsons in 2020

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 07:00 AM PST

If you've already signed up for the new Disney Plus streaming service, then you may have noticed older episodes of The Simpsons are shown in the wrong aspect ratio. Disney now says a fix is on the way – but it won't arrive until next year.

It's not that the episodes are unwatchable, but the forcing of the modern 16:9 widescreen look on the classic 4:3 seasons of the show means part of the picture is getting chopped off – and it's ruining some great visual gags.

"We presented The Simpsons in 16:9 aspect ratio at launch in order to guarantee visual quality and consistency across all 30 seasons," Disney has said in a statement, as The Verge reports. "Over time, Disney Plus will roll out new features and additional viewing options."

"As part of this, in early 2020, Disney Plus will make the first 19 seasons (and some episodes from season 20) of The Simpsons available in their original 4:3 aspect ratio, giving subscribers a choice of how they prefer to view the popular series."

Classic viewing

So there you have it – you'll be able to view those classic Simpsons episodes as they were meant to be viewed early next year (with black letterbox bars on show to compensate.

From season 20, which began airing on television in 2008, The Simpsons switched to the modern 16:9 widescreen ratio to fit with newer screens. It's a reminder of just how long the show has been around.

Despite some initial teething problems, Disney Plus has attracted millions of subscribers in its launch markets of the US, Canada and the Netherlands, though the free trial might be something to do with that. A UK launch is scheduled for March, with Australia and New Zealand getting access next week.

If you're just getting started with the service, check out the top three Disney Plus shows we're watching right now – and yes, The Mandalorian is one of them.

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Disney Plus and Hulu – should you get both?

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 05:00 AM PST

Hulu and Disney Plus are two names you're going to hear together a lot in the near future. Ever since Disney took over full control of the Hulu streaming service back in May 2019, Disney has clearly seen it as a cornerstone of its streaming strategy, and a strong relationship between Hulu and Disney Plus is a huge component of that. As a sign of Hulu's healthy future, for example, it recently announced a partnership with cable network FX, which will make original content for the streaming service.

If you’re based in the US and looking to sign up to a TV streaming service, you may well be thinking of choosing either Hulu or Disney Plus. The two platforms are very distinct in terms of content libraries and interface, though, and you might want to consider having both.

UPDATE: Take a look at our Disney Plus review to see what we think of the new service. Check out our Disney Plus hub, too, including info on how to sign-up. We've also revealed our top three Disney Plus titles that we just can't get enough of right now, and the best movies on Disney Plus.

It's possible, though, you just want to pick one. Previously your choices between streaming services were likely to take the form of Hulu vs Netflix, or Netflix vs Amazon Prime Video. Now that Disney Plus has launched in the US, though, there's a new big player in town competing for your eyeballs, and it has plenty to draw subscribers. Where Hulu may have an advantage, though, is in its range of more mature content, while Disney Plus is primarily focused on family-friendly movies and shows.

So what do you need to know about Disney Plus and Hulu? We've got everything you need in the guide below.

Disney Plus and Hulu: basic overview

Disney Plus is the new Disney streaming platform that launched in the US on November 12. It's a one-stop home for Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic programming, and is likely to make a big dent in the share of online streaming enjoyed by the current big dogs.

Hulu, on the other hand, has been around in some form since 2008, with various iterations of its online TV catch-up service existing over the years, including a separate online portal called Hulu Plus. The offering is a bit more streamlined these days, with a central Hulu platform for streaming TV episodes, movies, and more – and a close relationship with major US broadcasters ensuring high-profile content regularly hits the service.

Disney, though already a shareholder, increased its 30% stake in Hulu to 60% through its purchase of 21st Century Fox – begun in 2017, completed in early 2019 – which had also had a 30% stake in Hulu. Disney then bought a 9.5% stake from AT&T, while Comcast agreed to relinquish its control in Hulu to Disney with a formal acquisition to be organized in the coming years.

Disney Plus and Hulu: cost and bundles

For now, Disney Plus costs just $6.99 per month in the US or $69.99 per year. There's only one pricing tier, meaning every subscriber gets the same content library and up to 4K resolution (and HDR) streaming for compatible films and shows – without any ads, either.

If you want more information on the prices of Disney Plus don't forget to check out our Disney Plus price guide, or pop right to the Disney Plus 7-day free trial.

Hulu's cheapest pricing plan comes in at $5.99 per month, though that is an ad-supported plan. To get rid of commercial breaks during shows, you'll have to subscribe to the $11.99 per month plan, though a handful of programmes (New Girl, Agents of SHIELD, Grey's Anatomy) will still have the occasional ad. There are also options to add live TV channels for a total $44.99 per month, or to add services like HBO, Showtime or Cinemax for a $10-15 increase.

The key thing to consider here, though, is the option of bundling Disney Plus and Hulu together.

Disney has announced a joint bundle that includes Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN+ for a highly affordable $12.99 – the same price as Netflix's Premium Plan. For three separate content libraries, and a broad range of US television, that's a pretty good deal.

  • What's included in ESPN+?

Disney Plus and Hulu: features and user interface

We finally got to test out the Disney Plus interface in our Disney Plus review. We found it was well-organized, with a clean UI and a clear breakdown of its different content verticals (Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, etc). It's not hugely different from Netflix in its use of a topside banner ad and scrolling lists of titles beneath it – albeit organized more by brand than genre.

Hulu has a much more streamlined interface now than it has in years past, and has finally added offline viewing after around two years of talking about it. Hey, it took a while, but it's a useful feature.

Disney does, however, allow for up to seven user profiles and four screens streaming simultaneously – unlike Hulu, which will only allow one stream at once per account.

Hulu is also one of only two streaming apps on the Nintendo Switch console – along with YouTube – and Disney Plus will not available on Switch for the foreseeable future. Both Hulu and Disney Plus can be found on a wide range of smartphones, browsers, streaming sticks and smart TVs – though Disney Plus won't be on the Amazon Fire TV Stick at launch.

Disney Plus and Hulu: content

handmaid's tale season 4

Disney Plus already has many big-name properties on the service, and there's plenty of hype for its fleet of new exclusive shows, including Marvel shows like Loki or Hawkeye, and the Disney Plus Star Wars live-action TV series The Mandalorian, which is already proving to be a hit with fans. 

We've been promised every Disney film ever made on the service, meaning many classic Disney animation and modern live-action films are there to enjoy – we've got the impression from Disney that titles will be coming and going each month though to shake up the offering, so not everything is likely to be available at once. New Disney films will then be added to the service within the following year after a theatrical release.

There won't be the same volume of titles as on Hulu, though.

Hulu has close relationships with ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, streaming big-name shows from each network the day after they premiere. There’s also plenty of content from the likes of Bravo, Comedy Central, FX and a large back catalog. Notable shows include Saturday Night Live, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Marvel’s Runaways – while Hulu's relationship with anime streaming service Funimation means you're getting a lot of good anime shows (Bleach, One Piece, Naruto, My Hero Academia) thrown in too.

There's clearly plenty of scope for Disney to leverage its existing IP beyond the big screen, and its purchase of 20th Century Fox brought 30 seasons of The Simpsons to the service, which is a huge win.

Takeaway

Do you want ESPN+ in your bundle?

So, what does all that mean for you?

Disney Plus and Hulu offer something quite different to their respective subscribers. The Disney platform will be more of a repository of Disney movies and content geared around its five specific verticals, while Hulu acts more as a general on-demand portal for TV shows from US broadcasters.

Disney Plus will be the least irritating option at the $5.99 price tier, given Hulu still includes ads at that price. For versatile pricing options, though, there's more choice and personalization with Hulu's various plans.

At the end of the say, the $12.99 bundle for Hulu (with ads), ESPN+ and Disney Plus offers the most value, though you can save an extra dollar by not signing up to ESPN+ and subscribing to the other services separately.

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Save up to £567 today with these Black Friday Sky TV deals with Sports, Cinema and more

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 04:03 AM PST

50% off all Sky TV packages... including Sky Cinema and Sky Sports? It must almost be Black Friday time because these Sky TV deals are incredible!

Sky's latest offer is on multiple specific bundles as well as build your own bundle options , so you could customise a base bundle if you wanted to. The great thing about this Black Friday deal is that all the extra add-ons are half price, so you can mix and match - it's up to you.

If you want everything and we're talking everything from Sky Q, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Sky Kids, then the Black Friday Mega Deal is the one for you. This one includes all 11 Sports channels (very handy for the premier league and the NFL too) along with hundreds of entertaining channels.

Click here to go to Sky's website and bag this amazing deal

If any of the above seems a bit complicated don't worry, we've outlined and explained the best Sky TV deals below.

Of course, we understand what you might want from your bundle and the good news is Sky is having an offer on its broadband and TV too. Or if you haven't seen anything you like make sure to check out our best Sky broadband and TV deals. Or if you don't want to go with Sky it's not available in your area, you can always take a peek at our best broadband and TV deals guide.

The best Sky TV deals for sports, movies and more

If you're also in the market for a new TV to enjoy all this content on , we can help you save a lot of money and get the best price via our roundup of the latest cheap TV deals. Want to make sure you don't miss a game this season? Then check out our guide, Premier League 19/20 live stream for advice on how to watch every game online and from anywhere.

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MacBook Pro 16-inch is powerful enough to drive two 6K monitors

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 03:04 AM PST

The MacBook Pro 16-inch is capable of driving a pair of 6K monitors, or if you’re working with 4K monitors, four of the things can be powered by the new larger spin on Apple’s laptop.

The revelation comes courtesy of an Apple support document as highlighted by 9 to 5 Mac, which makes it clear the notebook can power the following monitor configurations:

  • Two 6K displays with resolutions of 6,016 x 3,384 at 60Hz
  • Two 5K displays with resolutions of 5,120 x 2,880 at 60Hz
  • Four 4K displays with resolutions of 4,096 x 2,304 at 60Hz
  • One 5K display at 5,120 x 2,880 at 60Hz and up to three 4K displays at 4,096 x 2,304 at 60Hz

That means the MacBook Pro 16-inch will be able to drive a pair of Apple’s Pro Display XDR monitors at their full 6K resolution, for those who want to fork out a serious amount of cash for two of these beasts (they go on sale in December).

Apple also outlines the configurations you can hook up with LG’s UltraFine 4K and 5K displays, which are as follows:

  • Two LG UltraFine 5K displays configured at 5,120 x 2,880 10bpc at 60Hz
  • Four LG UltraFine 4K displays configured at 4,096 x 2,304 8bpc at 60Hz
  • One LG UltraFine 5K display connected to one side of your Mac and two LG UltraFine 4K displays connected to ports on the opposite side

Careful with those ports, Eugene

As Apple further observes, you have to be somewhat careful about which Thunderbolt 3 ports you’re using here. There are two busses for these ports: one for the Thunderbolt 3 connectors on the left, and one for those on the right.

And wherever possible, you should plug in your monitors to different busses in order to get the best performance (in other words, with two 6K monitors, you should always plug one in on the left, and one on the right-hand side).

Note that the latest MacBook Pro 15-inch can drive four 4K monitors and also a pair of 5K displays, but not two 6K monitors.

As we observed in our hands-on review, the MacBook Pro 16-inch introduces a very welcome new keyboard, ditching the problematic Butterfly switches, alongside that larger display. The notebook can be specced-up to seriously powerful levels, too, although you’ll pay a hefty price for that (unsurprisingly).

But that said, creative pros will doubtless be willing to fork out the cash for this and the likes of the Pro Display XDR if they’re truly serious about wanting top-notch hardware for the job.

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Disney Plus Marvel TV shows and movies: every superhero coming to the service

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 03:00 AM PST

When Disney acquired Marvel in 2009, we were only at the very beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe phenomenon. Since then, the MCU has blown up on a massive scale, with three phases of films and a handful of TV shows already behind us. Some releases have been more successful than others, but all play a part in the big picture of the Marvel universe. 

Now, as Marvel's game-changing Phase 3 comes to an end, and we move into Phase 4 of the studio's grand plan, Disney has finally launched Disney Plus streaming service. Marvel will be a core pillar of what the service has to offer, and now the studio's original TV shows will be closely linked to its movies – unlike the previous Marvel TV offerings on Netflix that were largely of inconsistent quality and lifespan.

It’s pretty clear that Disney has big plans for its Marvel TV shows as well as its movies in the coming years, and Disney Plus will allow you to catch up, and keep up, with the Marvel universe in 4K/HDR.

With Marvel assembling alongside heavy-hitters like Star Wars, Pixar and Disney itself on the streaming service, fans are naturally wondering just how much it will cost them to keep up with the exploits of their favorite heroes. If that’s the case just head to our Disney Plus price guide which has all the information you’ll need. 

So, curious about what Marvel treats are actually coming to Disney Plus, and what you can already stream on the service? Here’s everything that’s been announced so far. 

Disney Plus Marvel Movies: what's available at launch?

We previously knew of eight movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that were coming to Disney Plus at launch, but later, that number doubled to 16, with the late announcement rolling out in another outrageously long Twitter thread. 

Also announced was a special called Expanding the Universe, offering a first look at coming Disney Plus MCU projects

Here's the list of Marvel movies now streaming on Disney Plus:

  • Iron Man
  • Thor
  • Iron Man 2
  • Captain America: The First Avenger
  • The Avengers
  • Iron Man 3
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  • Thor: The Dark World
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Ant-Man
  • Captain America: Civil War
  • Doctor Strange
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
  • Captain Marvel
  • Avengers: Endgame

And these movies are coming to the service later:

  • Thor: Ragnarok (December 5, 2019)
  • Black Panther (March 4, 2020)
  • Avengers: Infinity War (June 25, 2020)
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 29, 2020)

The hope is that one day Disney Plus will become the comprehensive home for the MCU, but a few factors stand in the way, like the Spider-Man film rights belonging to Sony, or The Incredible Hulk distribution rights being with Universal. That means the library won't be complete unless Disney strikes a deal to bring them over, which is entirely possible, but so far hasn't been discussed in the announcement plans for Disney Plus.

Disney Plus TV shows: what and when?

One of the most exciting things about Disney Plus is the prospect of a deluge of new and exclusive Marvel TV shows that might actually hold up against their cinematic counterparts – and make up for previous misadventures. Given the big names attached to the shows, and reports that each episode of each show could have a budget of as much as $25 million, expectations of quality are high. 

Disney has already confirmed a handful of shows that will be coming to the service over the next couple of years and we know that there’ll be a mix of live-action, animation and documentary on offer. But it’ll be a while until the new offerings start, with the first big series starting in 2020. 

The first new and exclusive show out the gate will be The Falcon and the Winter Soldier with Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprising their respective roles for the small screen. 

After that we know Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany will be reunited as Scarlett Witch and Vision in WandaVision; Tom Hiddleston will also be causing havoc as Loki in his very own branch of reality, courtesy of the Tesseract. Like Loki, Hawkeye will be getting his own show, starring Jeremy Renner, although we’re not expecting to see it premiere until 2021. 

On the animated side of things, What If…? will explore a whole range of alternative storylines within the Marvel universe, including what might have happened had Peggy Carter taken the soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers. And just because it’s animated doesn’t mean the stars are stepping back – 25 of the biggest Marvel stars have been confirmed to be returning to voice their characters, including Hayley Atwell and Samuel L. Jackson. 

Disney will be using its TV shows to introduce new heroes as well as delving deeper into the stories of its existing stars. It was confirmed during D23 that Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk and Moon Knight will be making their debuts on Disney Plus with their own dedicated shows. When those debuts will be, however, is still unknown.

Disney Plus Marvel TV shows: release dates

  • Marvel's Hero Project documentary (with launch)
  • The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Late 2020)
  • WandaVision (Early 2021)
  • Loki (Early 2021)
  • What If? (Mid-2021)
  • Hawkeye (Late 2021)
  • Marvel's 6161 (2020)
  • Ms. Marvel (no release date)
  • Moon Knight (no release date)
  • She-Hulk (no release date)

Disney Plus and Marvel: the next phase

With Marvel movies like Black Widow and The Eternals coming in 2020, Disney has plenty of Marvel content to lean on that isn't just the new TV shows. The hope is, this service will become the home of all MCU content, past and present. We're excited to see that vision unfold.

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Spotify can now create the perfect playlist for your road trip

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 03:00 AM PST

No road trip is complete without a perfectly picked medley of tunes to accompany your driving, and Spotify is now rolling out a feature that will generate a road trip playlist automatically for you.

It's called Soundtrack your Ride, and you need to head to a web browser to get the playlist generated to begin with – you can get at it here.

Once you've logged in with your Spotify account, you can specify the start and end points of your journey, or set the length of the trip manually, so Spotify knows how many tracks it has to pick.

You then have to answer several questions about the road trip: who you're traveling with, what kind of music you want to hear, the sort of tempo you're looking for, and so on. At the end, your playlist is generated.

Press play

With a click you can listen to the playlist in the Spotify desktop client, and of course open it up on your phone as well. If you're a premium subscriber you might want to save it for offline playback ready for the long journey ahead.

The new playlist generator might not revolutionize your life but it's another convenient feature to make use of, and a way of leveraging all that listening history that Spotify has access to in your account.

Playlists have always been a focus for Spotify: you can get playlists based on your ancestry, for example, as well as playlists that refresh each day (complete with news and podcasts) ready for your morning drive to work.

It's one way of getting users to pick Spotify over Apple Music and the other streaming services out there – though of course you're still free to curate your own road trip playlist in the traditional way.

Via Engadget

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Anthem is reportedly getting a major overhaul

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 02:44 AM PST

BioWare is reportedly working on a big update for its troubled online shooter, Anthem, in the hopes of turning its fortunes around.

The report comes from Kotaku’s Jason Schreier, who has found that the plans for changes have been in the works for a while now and are internally referred to as “Anthem Next” and “Anthem 2.0”. 

As you’d expect, the planned changes are significant and could see drastic alterations applied to some of the game’s key systems, including but not limited to its loot, missions, difficulty, social aspects and the game map generally. What’s clear from the report is that the game’s developers are dedicated to keeping the game alive, regardless of the many pronouncements of its death. 

Anthem anathema

According to one source, teams at both of BioWare’s offices have “spent a few months just tearing it down and figuring out what needed to change fundamentally (a lot). And we’ve been rebuilding for another few months since.”

Times have been difficult for the game after a series of high profile staff departures and development delays and the need for an overhaul was acknowledged as far back as September when BioWare’s head of Live Services acknowledged fan concerns over issues in the game and said the team was doing a “thorough review” rather than plumping for quick fixes. 

At the moment, however, there are no specifics with regards to how exactly the game will change or even when players can expect to see the changes implemented. With so much to alter, there are even still discussions over whether it’s better to roll out smaller updates, go for one big update or even release an entirely new game (although naturally, Kotaku notes, current players wouldn’t pay full-price for changes if that was the case). 

Anthem isn’t the only game on BioWare’s plate, either. Dragon Age 4 is still in development and according to Schreier, there’s even a new Mass Effect title in its very early stages too. As such, Anthem’s future is likely to be foggy for a while longer until reports of planned changes are confirmed or denied by BioWare and EA themselves. 

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The best smart speakers

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 02:26 AM PST

Remember when the idea of a fully-automated smart home seemed like the stuff of science-fiction? Well, we may not have a robot butler just yet, but many of us have at least a few smart home products these days – and it's all thanks to smart speakers. 

Speakers with built-in smart features and AI-powered voice assistants like the Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Apple HomePod continue to dominate the smart home market. 

Voice assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant have taken our homes by storm, with many now considering smart speakers to be the future of home automation. That's because they can do so much, from answering almost any question, playing music, telling you the news and not only controlling your smart home devices (like your Philips Hue bulbs or smart locks), but running everything from your fridge to your living room lights – sometimes without much help from you.

A new fleet of Amazon products look set to shake things up further, with everything from a third-generation Echo speaker to Alexa-enabled smart glasses (the Echo Frames).

best smart speaker

Image Credit: Sonos

Sonos’ debut Alexa speaker is a cleanly-designed, feature-rich and great-sounding device that brings together the best of both ecosystems. You’ve got the ever-improving Alexa on the one hand, and on the other you’ve got Sonos with its own multi-room smarts and mostly unrivalled sound performance.

There's also a new feature in the mix that promises to change the game: AirPlay 2. With it, the Sonos One can talk to Siri and form a multi-room pairing with the Apple HomePod, making it the most versatile speaker on the list.

If Google Assistant support hits at some point this year (we hope), the Sonos One promises to become the market leader in smart home speakers.

If you like the Sonos range but you've felt a little underwhelmed by its designs to date, then you'll be happy to find out the brand has launched a new range of in-wall, in-ceiling, and outdoor speakers, the Sonos Architectural line.

Apple HomePod

Image Credit: TechRadar

The highly-anticipated Apple HomePod has finally entered the smart speaker battle.

The obvious benefit of an Apple HomePod over an Echo or Google Home device is that it'll play nice with your other Apple products. So if you're a die-hard Apple fan the HomePod may be a no-brainer. 

But it's worth asking the same question you should always be asking yourself when you want to splurge on a new Apple product: how much of a premium should you pay for owning a device that fits only seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem?

When we reviewed the device we were torn because we were really reviewing two things at once: how the HomePod weighs up as a premium speaker and how it fares as a smart home hub.

In the former category, the HomePod is excellent, as it boasts incredible sound and a very intuitive set-up. But in the latter, Siri is only middling in its implementation, and the fact that you're not able to break out of the Apple ecosystem for many key functions also rankles.


The humble Amazon Echo has entered millions of homes already – and with good reason. It's an affordable entry point for those beginning their smart home, with audio capable enough to handle news, podcasts, music, or whatever you might be using your AI voice servant for.

That's especially true with the new Amazon Echo,  a third-generation model that bumps up the audio further with the drivers used in the Echo Plus – though without the latter's Zibgee compatability.

It even looks like an Echo Plus, and it may be confusing to tell them apart if you have one of each in your home – but the new refresh of the standard Echo raises the baseline for the whole range, and it's still cheaper than the Echo Plus, or the Apple HomePod, despite the boost to sound quality.

With softer fabric looks than the more industrial earlier models, Alexa seems more at home in a living room than ever – while new AI capabilities have introduced voice profile features and more variation when it comes to changing voice speed.

We don't think you should be using it to replace your hifi – you might want the new Echo Studio for that – but at the same time it's a really great place to start if you want to try out what the smart home life is like.

Google Home

Image Credit: Google

For starters, you might never appreciate just how much music is on YouTube without buying a Google Home. We’re not saying Google Home is capable of playing any song you can think of, but after dredging the depths of the ’90s we still couldn’t find a tune Google Home couldn’t track down and start playing.

While Google Home excels as a DJ, it’s also a surprisingly intelligent smart home hub. It already hooks into some of the largest platforms now available by including Nest, Philips and Samsung’s SmartThings, and given a few months that number will grow even more.

But we're torn when it comes to recommending the Google Home. In some ways it's disappointing and doesn't live up to be the coveted center of the smart home Google has marketed it as. 

That's because it's just not there yet. It’s a little too rigid in its language comprehension, its list of smart home devices is growing but still a bit underwhelming, and, perhaps the biggest disappointment of all, it doesn’t have many of Google’s core services built into it.

It has the potential to develop to compete with Amazon's Echo in the future, but for now the Google Home is simply a smart novelty with access to YouTube Music, built-in Google Cast and the ability to save you a trip to the light switch. 

Over the past year, the Google Home has received a number of notable updates, including the fact you can now use the device to make calls to landlines in the UK. Google Assistant has also been updated to included bilingual capabilities, Continued Conversation and Multiple Actions. A more recent update has also brought Google Assistant to Nest Security alarm systems.

Google Home Hub

Image credit: Google

With the recent onslaught of smart display devices from the big tech companies, there's more choice than ever if you want a screen included with your smart speaker.

The Google Home Hub is one of the latest crop of smart displays, and it certainly gives its closest rival, the Amazon Echo Show a run for its money, with intuitive voice control and well designed first party apps.

That being said, this is not a speaker for audiophiles - it works well enough to play music in the background while you do chores or read, but it doesn't pack big enough of a sonic punch to serve as your main speaker for listening to music. 

Where the Google Home Hub does excel, is as a control centre for your digital home, supporting over 5000 smart devices from 400 companies - plus it's pretty good value for money too. 

Amazon Echo Show

Image credit: Amazon

The updated Echo Show is a step in the right direction, with better design, a clearer screen, and superior sound, but it has limited support for third-party streaming services.

The touchscreen is 1280 x 720 px - so it won't blow you away up close, but it looks fine from a distance. It also features adaptive brightness, although the screen isn't the main way you interact with the Echo Show - it's optimized for voice activation via Amazon Alexa, and it's great for using while you potter about the kitchen.

Its not the cheapest smart display on the market, however, it adds value by combining devices you already have and ones you could buy at a lower price elsewhere – just look at the Amazon Echo Dot, for example. 

Put everything together though, and the new Show is a marked improvement on the original version, and if you're keen on watching cooking tutorials or listening to music as you cook, it deserves a spot on your kitchen counter.

Amazon Echo Spot

Image credit: Amazon

In our opinion, the Amazon Echo Spot is the best-designed Alexa device Amazon has ever created – it’s a gadget you’d happily have in your bedroom, on your desk, in your kitchen, and pretty much anywhere else.

The Spot is versatile – it doesn’t have a chameleon-like ability to adapt to the room you put it in, but this is certainly not just a smart alarm clock, something Amazon has been very clear about. 

It does everything the Echo Show does, but it all feels better in this smaller form factor. The design is great – it's available in black and white – and we can easily see the Spot being used in the bedroom, kitchen or even on a desk. In fact, you may want it in all of these places.

That's the thing with the Amazon Echo Spot: much like other Echo devices, Amazon wants you to have a multitude of them in your home so you always have access to video chat no matter where you are. 

Essentially, it wants the Echo Spot to replace the Echo Dot. The Amazon Echo Spot is a little more expensive than the new Echo, though, and in turn much more expensive than an Echo Dot.

This is because of the addition of the screen. While we still haven't seen that killer Skill for the screen, it does enhance the look of the Spot and opens up the possibilities for it being much more than just a smart speaker.

We’re just hoping that Amazon’s Skills become much more video-friendly – once this happens, the Amazon Echo Spot will become an absolute must-have.

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Star Wars crossover sees Stormtrooper skin added to Fortnite

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 02:01 AM PST

Epic Games is celebrating the release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order with a timely crossover event that brings a Stormtrooper skin to Fortnite.

The outfit is a reward for those who are ordering Jedi: Fallen Order on the Epic Games Store as it comes free with purchases made before November 30. So if you're planning on buying the game on the Epic Store you might want to do so within the next, well, fortnight.

For those not interested in buying the game but very interested in being a Battle Royale-ing Stormtrooper, then it can also be bought from the in-game store for 1500 Vbucks. It’ll likely be strange seeing dozens of Stormtroopers hit their targets. 

Aren't you a little short to be a stormtrooper?

This isn’t Fortnite’s first crossover; previously we’ve seen franchises like Borderlands, Avengers and Batman pull promotional pop-ups in the Battle Royale with things as small as cosmetics or as significant as entirely new game modes. 

At the moment, the Stormtrooper skin appears to be the only item available but there are indications that there could be more to come. For one thing, in the Fortnite Item Shop, the skin says it’s part of an “Original Trilogy Set” which would suggest more skins or items are on their way. For another, fans have spotted an Imperial Star Destroyer hanging in the sky in the game world. 

It’s far away at the moment and could simply be another aesthetic nod to the crossover but players will be keeping a close eye on it in the coming weeks to see if it moves any closer or changes in any way. We still have another big Star Wars event this year with the release of Rise of the Skywalker in December, so maybe the celebrations aren’t over yet. 

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Apple Watch 6: what we want to see

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 01:00 AM PST

We’re not expecting to see the Apple Watch 6 for a long time yet, but it’s never too early to start hearing rumors or thinking about which features we want in the smartwatch, and you’ll find both of those things here.

We’ve collected all the current news and rumors about Apple’s next wearable, along with our expert analysis on when it might launch and what it might feature.

Below the known information, you’ll find our wish list of the things we want most from the Apple Watch 6 in order to make it a substantial upgrade on the Apple Watch 5. That wearable was good, but it wasn't a huge upgrade on the Apple Watch 4, so we're hoping for more this time around.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next wearable from Apple
  • When is it out? Probably September 2020
  • What will it cost? Likely around $399 / £399 / AU$649

Apple Watch 6 release date and price

With the exception of the original Apple Watch, each new model has launched in September of their respective years, so while there are no Apple Watch 6 release date rumors yet we’re fairly confident that it will land in September 2020.

More specifically, based on the days and dates that Apple tends to release new models we’ll probably see the Apple Watch 6 on September 8 or 15. That’s not when you’ll be able to buy it though – expect to wait roughly 10 days from the announcement to the on-sale date.

As for price, it's likely to cost at least as much as the Apple Watch 5, meaning a starting price of at least $399 / £399 / AU$649.

Apple Watch 5 review

Apple Watch 6 news and rumors

We’re already hearing a few rumors about the Apple Watch 6, including the possibility that it could switch to a new screen type. The Apple Watch 5 uses an OLED screen, but a report suggests the Apple Watch 6 might use microLED.

The main advantage of microLED is that it should be more power-efficient, which could mean the Apple Watch 6 would have better battery life.

Another possible change to the screen is the addition of a Touch ID fingerprint scanner. Currently the Apple Watch range doesn’t have any biometric security, but building a scanner into the screen would be a slick way to offer it.

Apple Watch patent

This theory is based on a patent, and you can see a related image above. The patent explains that this could be achieved by moving the wireless antennas to the strap so there’s more room for other components under the screen.

It’s a change that as well as potentially creating space for a fingerprint scanner could also theoretically leave room for a larger battery. It would however limit the ability for third-party companies to offer straps, and likely mean that strap replacements would be very expensive.

One other feature the Apple Watch 6 might offer is native sleep tracking. That’s according to “people familiar with the work” speaking to Bloomberg.

The Apple Watch range already supports third-party sleep tracking apps, but surprisingly Apple still doesn’t offer its own, so it’s a believable addition.

And as well as new features, the Apple Watch 6 might also sport improved water resistance and wireless connectivity, as well as faster general performance. None of that is terribly surprising, except perhaps water resistance, since the Apple Watch 5 is already water resistant to depths of 50 meters.

This claim comes from Ming-Chi Kuo (a respected Apple analyst), who says a switch to liquid crystal polymer (LCP) materials in the circuit boards will allow for it.

What we want to see

Plenty more Apple Watch 6 rumors are sure to roll in, but in the meantime here’s what we’re hoping the wearable will offer.

1. Better battery life

The Apple Watch 5 actually has worse battery life than the Apple Watch 4, and while there’s a good reason for that (the addition of an always-on screen), we’d still like to see some big improvements for the Apple Watch 6.

At a minimum we want it to match the Apple Watch 4’s life, but ideally we want it to be even better, comfortably offering two or more days of life between charges. That would also make it more viable for sleep tracking – a feature that Apple is rumored to be adding.

2. More fitness features

The Apple Watch is a great health and exercise device already, but we were disappointed to find that no significant new fitness features were added for the Apple Watch 5, so we’d like to see some for the Apple Watch 6.

What exactly they might be we’ll leave up to Apple, but possibilities include the ability to more accurately track more exercises, or additional sensors for monitoring your health. The more granular the health info, the more accurately we can track progress and personal development. 

3. A dimmer option for the always-on screen

The always-on display was a great new feature for the Apple Watch 5, but one significant issue with it is that it’s too bright to comfortably use at night in the dark.

As such we want an option to have it go very dim, without turning off completely. This would also likely improve battery life, so it’s a win-win.

4. Always-on for all apps

Apple Watch 5 review

Another issue with the always-on screen is that it’s not properly supported by all apps, meaning that rather than a basic version of an open app being shown on the always-on display, it will in many cases switch to a basic digital clock, meaning you can’t view the app without properly waking the screen up.

We’d like to see this changed for the Apple Watch 6, so that every app is able to fully support the always-on screen.

5. Sleep tracking

We’ve been asking for sleep tracking on the Apple Watch for years and so far Apple hasn’t listened. There are rumors that sleep tracking might be in the works, so this might be something we finally get. But on the other hand, with third-party apps offering it, Apple might decide not to bother.

6. Improved syncing

We found syncing things (such as songs and podcasts) to the Apple Watch 5 was a lot fiddlier than it really should be, as not only do you need it to be charging and near your iPhone, it also just didn’t seem to reliably work even then in our tests.

Coupled with it being hard to see what’s saved on your watch, the whole process just lacks the polish we’d expect from Apple, so this definitely needs some work for 2020’s model.

7. A circular screen

While our other wishes are realistic, this one isn’t. We can’t see Apple ditching the current screen shape – and nor do we want it to – but we would love to see a circular option added alongside the square screens.

While it won’t happen, it would be a huge selling point for the new model if it did, especially since the Apple Watch 5’s design is very similar to the Apple Watch 4’s.

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Project xCloud has world domination in its sights - but it'll settle for India right now

Posted: 16 Nov 2019 01:00 AM PST

Microsoft's game-streaming service Project xCloud has been in preview for only a month, but already the library has grown from four games to over 50 and the company has just announced the service is rolling out to Canada, India, Japan and Western Europe. But the plan isn't to stop there - not even close.

Microsoft team has big aspirations for Project xCloud, it wants to see the streaming service on every device possible and to reach every gamer in the world, eventually.  

But world domination takes time, and Microsoft is in no rush to convert everyone to their game-streaming service in the next six months.

We sat down with Project xCloud's Kareem Choudhry, corporate vice president, and Catherine Gluckstein, general manager, during a roundable at X019 to discuss xCloud's expansion, roadmap and how it will thrive against the likes of Google Stadia.

Expanding the service

One of the biggest announcements from X019, is that Project xCloud is adding 50 new titles to its preview library, alongside plans to bring Project xCloud to PC next year.

If that's not enough, Project xCloud's preview is also coming to Canada, India, Japan and Western Europe in 2020. Previously the preview has only been available in the UK and US and, while Canada and Western Europe seem like 'safe bets', the move into Japan and India is somewhat of a surprising one. 

Japan has always been a tricky area for Xbox to make a mark in, according to the Internal Data Corporation (via CNBC) only 0.3% of the 46.9 million Xbox Ones sold worldwide (in the second quarter of 2019) were in Japan. It's a risky move.

"Japan is a very big console gaming market, but not a traditionally a very big market for Xbox," Gluckstein tells TechRadar. "It's very interesting to see how we play within that market particularly within preview."

"We're working with a tonne of partners to bring Project xCloud to every device"

Catherine Gluckstein - General Manager

Similarly, India is another area that Xbox hasn't shown its strength in. But, through xCloud, it's something the company wants to try to rectify,

"India is a huge gaming market, I think there are more people who play games in India than the population of the US, about 300 million," Gluckstein explains. "So a huge gaming market, but a market we've ever played in before. It's a really interesting place for us to go and learn."

But what exactly is it that Microsoft aims to learn from widening its net, particularly in these areas where Xbox has perhaps struggled to find a foothold previously?

"We're really looking at ramping up the number of players," Gluckstein tells us. "That's about testing concurrency, really testing out our platform and how well we're working as a streaming platform, but then also testing geographies. 

"We will be coming to Windows 10 PCs next year. But we're not going to stop there, we’re working with a tonne of partners to bring Project xCloud to every device. In 2020 we will enable anybody who owns games on Xbox to stream those games, and we'll also be bringing game streaming to Xbox Game Pass, which will allow you the freedom to discover and play your games anywhere and everywhere." 

By the playbook

While rolling the service out to all these regions may seem like quite a feat, especially given xCloud is still in preview, but Microsoft feels like its nailed down the formula - at least logistically - with the focus now falling on how players engage with the platform itself.

"We kind of have our playbook now, it's actually like if you're a retailer opening new stores," Gluckstein explains. "We kind of know the playbook that we need to go through so we know who we need to partner with, what particularly we're testing for, so in all those markets, we've got a very clear attribute that we're testing on and we really focused it around that. "

But it's not just new geographical areas xCloud is leaning into. Currently the service is only available on Android, well at least publicly. We caught sight of xCloud running on an Apple device at X019, and it seems plans to roll out on iOS are definitely within the crosshairs - although, we're not quite sure when.

"We do see the potential of reaching the 2.6 billion gamers around the world"

Catherine Gluckstein - General Manager

"We already have our app up and running," Gluckstein tells us. "It's a prototype right now, we're testing this internally within Microsoft, and obviously we're in discussions with a broad range of partners. And we, we certainly would like to bring it to the iOS ecosystem." 

Microsoft is really taking its time to feel out xCloud. With the power of the monolith company's servers at its disposal, the goals to bring the service to "every device", actually don't seem so far fetched. But don't expect to see a fully-fledged version of xCloud anytime soon.

"We really see this as a multi year journey," Gluckstein explains. "So what you want to be very careful with is how you prioritize and where you prioritize your time and investment, and really looking at where those early wins are. 

"Because we do see the potential of reaching the 2.6 billion gamers around the world, but then there are your first customers and they're the people that we're trying to prioritize against."

The streaming landscape

It's no secret that one of Project xCloud's biggest competitors will be Google Stadia, but it's not something that's rattled the team or its game plan moving forward - on the surface at least, Microsoft is pretty confident. 

"We're more focused on customers and what we can do for them than we are in looking over our shoulder," Choudhry tells us. "We really think the key ingredients are the three Cs: content, community and the cloud. We've got a phenomenal first party cloud in Azure, reaching 54 regions and 140 countries, and so that distribution reach is an incredible asset. We have the content library base, both first party and third party in the Game Pass subscription, and we've got the vibrant multiplayer community already. 

"I think that any company that wants to be successful in the streaming space, they're going to need significant investment history heritage and success across all three of those at the same time, and combine them in the right way. So I like our position."

Project xCloud will continue to stay in public preview until the foreseeable future, with Microsoft denying to comment on a release date or pricing. 

"It was a very conscious decision to bring Project X cloud to public preview," Choudhry says. "We've done something very similar with console, where we deploy new console updates to a set of consumers, we get their feedback and then we revel on it. For us, it's more important to get this correct than to get something out." 

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