Apple : Australian Open live stream: how to watch 2020 quarter-finals tennis online from anywhere |
- Australian Open live stream: how to watch 2020 quarter-finals tennis online from anywhere
- iOS 14 release date, features we want and rumors
- Surface Pro 8 rumors, specs and price: everything we want to see
- iOS 14 rumored to stay compatible with all iPhones running iOS 13
- Bizarre Apple patent hints at future iMac that docks your MacBook or iPad
- Today's best Amazon sales: fitness trackers, AirPods, Xbox One, PS4, laptop and 4K TV deals await
- The best PS4 Pro prices, deals, and bundles in January 2020
- US ramps up probe into Google's online advertising monopoly
- The best cheap PS4 bundles, deals and prices in January 2020
- The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundle deals and prices in January 2020
- Google to charge government agencies for user data
- The best cheap laptop deals and sales for January sales: prices from just £99
- Xbox Series X release date, specs, design and launch titles for the next Xbox
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| Australian Open live stream: how to watch 2020 quarter-finals tennis online from anywhere Posted: 27 Jan 2020 01:40 PM PST We were crossing our fingers that the 2020 Australian Open - the decade's very first tennis Grand Slam - would be a memorable one, and so far we've not been disappointed. From Coco Gauff's continued rise to super stardom and Serena's shock exit to a Nadal against Kyrgios grudge match, so far so good! And as we reach the business end of the tournament, we'll tell you how you can watch all the tennis action unfold from absolutely anywhere in the world with our handy Australian Open live stream guide below. The familiar names of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer head up the men's odds, while local heroine Ashleigh Barty is now the name in the frame to take the women's tournament (at the time of writing, at least!). The start of the 108th edition of the Aussie Open saw the aforementioned Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka defending their titles with the latter falling to the awesome Coco Gauff. Djokovic will be buoyed by recent success in Australia after he started in Serbia's win at the inaugural ATP Cup Down Under earlier this month. Will the old guard reign supreme once more in Melbourne? Tennis fans will be hoping the haze won't impact on what looks to be one of the best Australian Opens for some time. Find out how you can live stream Australian Open 2020 tennis action from wherever you are in the world below.
How to live stream Australian Open tennis for FREE Down UnderLive stream the Australian Open tennis 2020 from anywhere in the worldFor your watching options in Australia, the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, we have more details below - just scroll down the page. But if you try to watch your domestic coverage from somewhere outside your home country, you'll soon find a problem...geo-blocking. That's where the broadcaster prevents you from watching the feed overseas.
How to watch the Australian Open 2020: US live stream
How to live stream Australian Open tennis in the UK
The best ways to stream the Australian Open 2020 in Canada
The best way to stream the Australian Open in New ZealandWho has won the most Australian Opens?Novak Djokovic currently stands as the most successful men’s player at Melbourne having won the Aussie Open on seven occasions (2008, 2011–2013, 2015–2016, 2019) – that’s one more than Swiss rival Roger Federer. Serena Williams leads the pack for women’s titles during the Open era, having also been crowed champion on seven occasions (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2017). How much do the winners get at the 2020 Australian Open?There’s a record prize pot of AUD$71 million in prize money up for grabs in Melbourne this year. Both the Men’s and Women’s winners this year will each pocket a tidy AUD$4,120,000. What is the format of the Australian Open tennis?As with all Open tournaments, Men’s matches are the best-of-five sets, while Women’s and Doubles matches are best-of-three. Which city hosts the Australian Open tennis?The Australian Open is played at Melbourne Park, which is located in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct; the event moved to this site in 1988. How have the bushfires affected this year's Australian Open?Melbourne hasn't been as badly affected as Canberra or Sydney by the fires, however, thanks to changing winds air pollution shot up to "hazardous" levels in the week running up to the event. While the tournament is set to go ahead as scheduled, umpires have been told to stop play if air monitoring shows it is too dangerous to continue.
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| iOS 14 release date, features we want and rumors Posted: 27 Jan 2020 01:08 PM PST Even if the iOS 14 release date is still very far off given we're still enjoying the last big iPhone operating system update, iOS 13, the next one is coming later this year - and we’re very curious what iOS 14 features are headed our way. True, Apple hasn’t released anything remotely official that’s come out about iOS 14. But given what was left out this time around - and what new technology could be coming in the iPhone 12 - we can make some educated guesses about what’s coming in the next big iOS update. Some of these are obvious, like support for 5G should Apple finally decides to release a 5G iPhone that works with the next-gen phone networks. If there's somehow an Apple foldable, well, iOS 14 will have software to make that work, too. Other iOS 14 features take a little bit of speculative leaps to imagine which tweaks Apple might make in its continual improvements on its iPhone operating system. Update: The latest rumor suggests that iOS 14 will be compatible with every iPhone that can currently run iOS 13 - in other words, the iPhone 6S or iPhone SE and newer. iOS 14 release date and beta scheduleGiven last year’s big iOS updates came out on September 19, one day before this year's new iPhone line, we’re guessing that iOS 14 will launch in late September 2020. That will be just in time for the launch of the iPhone 12, which will be the first phones to get the next iOS. Assuming Apple follows prior years, it will likely unveil iOS 14 at its annual WWDC conference - WWDC 2020 will likely be in early May - and open the initial developer beta the same day. The first public beta will follow later in the month, and will accordingly get new betas after the developer versions. iOS 14 compatibilityWhile Apple didn’t leave any phones behind when it introduced iOS 12, the most recent jump to iOS 13 made up for it by stranding two generations of iPhone handsets – anything older than the iPhone 6S or iPhone SE. It’s unclear what kind of new features require Apple to raise the threshold for which iOS phones will be able to download the new version of iOS, so it’s all speculation whether a generation of older iPhones won’t be able to install iOS 14. We’ll almost surely know which iPhones won’t be able to upgrade when Apple launches the first iOS 14 betas. For now, our best guess is that the iPhone 7 will be the cut-off point, with the big question being: will iPhone SE get the iOS 14 update? All the hubbub of an iPhone SE 2 launching in March 2020 lead us to think it won’t, but another rumor suggests Apple is thinking of keeping support for the iPhone 6S and SE or newer. It's always possible that Apple changes its mind in the next few months, of course. iOS 14: rumors and predictionsiOS 14 could usher in the 5G iPhone eraThis might be the easiest feature to guess Apple will bring to the operating system in 2020. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen with other 5G phones, this feature can’t be retroactively applied to older iPhones - hooking up to 5G networks requires a particular type of modem and compatible processors. Only the newest phones with the latest top-tier chipsets and modems have been capable of harnessing 5G. iOS 14 could spill support for Apple AR glassesApple is planning to release AR glasses sometime in 2020 alongside a 5G iPhone, according to a Bloomberg report. These would initially serve as an iPhone accessory running through iOS to display text messages and map directions, though that could grow over time to run their own proprietary apps from a dedicated AR glasses store - and perhaps become a standalone successor to the iPhone itself. Before that happens, though, Apple’s AR glasses would need a killer app as its raison d’etre - or rather, reason for buying, as the lukewarm reception to Google Glasses and even Snapchat Spectacles 2 can tell us. Heck, even Amazon is couching its new Amazon Echo Frames behind an experimental product line to soften any hype. But given the years of experience developers have had with Apple’s ARKit, it wouldn’t be surprising if 2020 was the year we see Apple branch out to smart spectacles - and iOS 14 could support it. iOS 14 what we want to seeSmart compositionThese days, everyone’s doing business on their phones, including sending emails at all hours. So why can’t we insert links into text in iOS’ Mail client? Or in third-party mail clients like Gmail? This isn’t just a convenience issue - inserting links just looks more professional. When responding to clients or simply wanting to save space it would be great to give the impression that we’re responding from desks - and not filling our messages with eyesores like full links. Smarter spam calls filterWhile iOS 13 introduced the capability to detect and block spam phone calls, it isn’t too smart. Silence Unknown Callers, as it’s termed, does exactly that - completely blocking any number not from your contact list and sending it straight to voicemail. That’s a good start, but a bit of a strong measure that isn’t too useful for folks with incoming calls from new business contacts or Tinder dates. Instead, it would be great to see smarter alerts that indicate probable spam calls, as some carriers have started doing and some third-party App Store apps do – for a price. Then it would be nice to have different levels of filtering - light blocking for only the most obvious spam numbers all the way up to aggressive filtering of any call that even has a chance of being a scam. Foldables supportThis is a bit of a stretch since we haven’t heard anything about a foldable iPhone. Oh, Apple is almost surely experimenting with the tech deep in its R&D labs, but without a planned model in the works, it’s unlikely iOS 14 will go to the effort of supporting foldables. This is in stark contrast with Android, which introduced foldables support with Android 10 just in time for the Samsung Galaxy Fold public release. Apple is on its own timeline, and there’s no rush to add the capability in its operating system before they have a model on the way. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Surface Pro 8 rumors, specs and price: everything we want to see Posted: 27 Jan 2020 12:44 PM PST The Surface Pro 8 is more likely than not to make an appearance before the end of the year if the past is anything to go on. While we’re not exactly sure what to expect, Microsoft’s history with the series along with some intriguing patents give us a clue of what the Surface Pro 8 might look like. Microsoft may not have re-invented the wheel when they released the Surface series, but they came close. Since then, they’ve expanded product lines to cover just about every need from the casual user with the Surface to creative professionals with the Surface Studio. The Surface Pro series has been a mainstay of their Surface product lines since 2013, covering anyone who needed a decently powerful machine and wanted the Surface’s unique detachable system for a laptop to tablet transition with ease. Microsoft, never one to rest on its laurels, has been busy keeping the Pro series current by releasing a new model almost every year since its introduction. This past year, it not only released the Surface Pro 7, but also the ARM processor-equipped Surface Pro X. 2020 shouldn’t be any different. The Surface Pro 8 may still be a long way away, but we’re here to keep you updated on everything you need to know about the device before it hits the streets. Keep this page bookmarked, as we will update it as soon as any new information comes our way. Cut to the chase
Surface Pro 8 release dateThere have been no announcements or rumors regarding the release date for the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. Considering how recently the Pro 7 and Pro X were released, we may not know for some time. Typically, the Pro series has been refreshed once a year. And, while it hasn’t been consistent, more often than not, Surface devices are released in October. The big question regarding the Surface Pro 8 release date has to do with Microsoft’s other products that the computer world is expecting, namely the Surface Duo and the Surface Neo. It’s possible that Microsoft does what it did last year when they released the Pro 7 in October of 2019 and the Pro X the following month. It’s also possible that Microsoft will want to give their new dual-screen devices more room to catch on. At this point though, the safe bet on the Microsoft Pro 8 is a late 2020 release date.
Surface Pro 8 priceIf Pro series’ history is anything to go by, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect in regards to price. The entry level price for a newly-released Surface Pro has generally started between $799 (about £610, AU$1170) and $999 (about £760, AU$1470) with a maxed-out machine usually peaking at $2299 (about £1760, AU$3370). No rumors have been circulating about price just yet, but it’s likely that the Surface Pro 8 will follow a similar pricing scheme. Unless there are huge design overhauls (think Apple’s Touch Bar), the entry models should come in between that $799-999 range with upgrades in RAM and storage making similar incremental price increases as previous models. Where we might see a more significant price increase are in the type covers. The cheapest type cover that works with the 7 goes for $129.99 (£99, AU$191) with the signature model going for $159.99 (£122, AU$235). While basic type covers for the Pro 8 with the same functionality as these will most likely go for similar prices, Microsoft does have some aces up its sleeve. There are two patents that have the computer world abuzz – the solar-powered type cover and the external speaker-equipped type cover. We don’t know if either concept will make it to production. However, if they do, expect to see a price hike for the new features.
Surface Pro 8 specsNew Surface Pro devices have typically taken incremental steps into the future every time there’s been a release. The Pro 7, for example, improved on the Pro 6 by replacing the 8th gen Intel chips with the just released 10th generation chips, upgrading the Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi 6 and including a USB-C port. Its storage, RAM and display – among other specifications – have not changed. So what can we expect moving forward then? While an 1824p 12.3-inch display doesn’t really need a higher resolution, and bigger storage and RAM options are probably not necessary for anyone looking at a Surface device (these aren’t really geared toward heavy gaming or video editing), we might see a newer chip in the Pro 8. That’s all dependent on whether Intel’s 11th-generation chips, codenamed “Tiger Lake,” are ready by the time the Pro 8 is. And the current speculation is late 2020 at the earliest for those chips. The inclusion of the USB-C was necessary to stay up-to-date with today’s peripherals, and we hope that Microsoft will take another step further and include a Thunderbolt 3 port in lieu of USB-C. We also hope to regain some of the battery life that the Pro 7 lost compared to the Pro 6. At the moment, there’s not much news on what to expect with respect to battery life so we’ll have to wait and see what Microsoft does.
Surface Pro 8 featuresIn keeping with its incremental refinements, the Microsoft Surface Pro has not changed much visually. It’s still a tablet with a detachable type cover that doubles as a physical keyboard. The bezels of the device have remained the same – in fact, all aspects of the display between the Pro 6 and 7 are identical. Will Microsoft keep with the times and go with more slender bezels? We don’t know, but we can only hope that there is at least some improvement there. In fact, we really don’t know much about what features will change on the device from previous generations. Will Microsoft co-opt the removable SSD they introduced with the Pro X for the Pro 8? It would be a welcome addition, though only time will tell. Where we do have an idea of Microsoft making design improvements are in the two patents that have been filed for their type covers. One of them may be a creative solution to extending the Pro’s battery life – a solar panel-equipped type cover. The patent describes a type cover loaded with four outward facing solar panels that might even be able to draw energy from artificial light sources. The other patent, which should be exciting for any previous Surface owner, is a type cover equipped with an external speaker. The type cover described in the patent could be used with either an open or closed configuration. And, when used in the kickstand position, it would face outward, away from the device, in an expandable enclosure using the kickstand as a resonance box. This would help amplify the sound without having to resort to a bigger or heavier speaker. If Microsoft is able to pull this off, it would be a massive improvement over the small speakers that Pro series users are currently limited to. Of course, these two patents may not make production by the time the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is released, so we won’t know if we’ll see solar-powered or speaker-equipped type covers until closer to launch. Rest assured, however, that we will update this article anytime new information concerning the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 comes our way leading up to the device’s release. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked so you’re up-to-date on all things Surface Pro 8.
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| iOS 14 rumored to stay compatible with all iPhones running iOS 13 Posted: 27 Jan 2020 10:30 AM PST The next version of the iPhone operating system, iOS 14, will probably launch alongside the iPhone 12 in late 2020 - and a new rumor suggests it will be compatible with all the phones that can run the current iOS 13, from the iPhone 6S/iPhone SE onward. The rumor states that the iPhone 6S and iPhone SE are favored to make it into the compatibility list, according to French site iPhoneSoft, which got the info from a source on the Apple Maps app team.
More interesting: the source asserted that next big iPad system update, iPadOS 14, will drop two older tablets from its lineup - the iPad Mini 4 and iPad Air 2, both of which were running A8-era chipsets (the A8 and A8X, respectively). So...what does this say about iOS 14/iPadOS 14?Apple generally bases its OS compatibility on chipset (and RAM), and tends to cut off older generations one chipset at a time. When it opts to do this isn’t entirely predictable, though the company is pretty conservative in its cutoffs, so it’s no surprise that Apple would choose to stretch out support for its older and still-prevalent devices. New iOS versions introduce new features, of course, but also security updates and compatibility with new Apple products. It’s less surprising that iPadOS 14 isn’t keeping on older devices given how it’s still forking away from the general iOS feature set in order to distinguish itself with distinct perks that benefit from the iPad’s greater screen real estate. Of course, Apple could change its mind in the months leading up to iOS 14’s release - iPhoneSoft says as much. Via 9to5Mac
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| Bizarre Apple patent hints at future iMac that docks your MacBook or iPad Posted: 27 Jan 2020 10:06 AM PST The Apple iMac has been stagnant for a number of years, to the point where it's seriously behind the curve when it comes to all-in-one PC design. But we've seen a patent that may change that. Going by this patent, spotted by Patently Apple, a future iMac may end up being a giant device comprising of curved glass, so that the keyboard, trackpads and displays are featured on the same body. It's a strange enough design, but trust us, things get weirder the further you dig into this thing.
Behind the curved glass behemoth will apparently be some kind of triangular stand, where all the computing components will be located. But there's more to this mysterious iMac than meets the eye. There are some images in the patent that suggest that the iMac's actual computing component will be removable, and you'll be able to just, like, shove your MacBook in there. And even if you don't have a MacBook, there's another image that makes it look like you can dock your iPad on top of the iMac. But, because it's behind the screen, we're not sure how useful this would actually be. We don't know when this radical new iMac will come out or if it will ever even exist, but it's always fun to try and figure out what Apple is planning to do in the future. This patent is so bizarre that even if it doesn't actually turn into anything, it makes us kind of excited for future Apple products anyway. Hold on a secondOk, so we need to dive in and over analyze this patent. Again, this is probably a design that will never be made into a commercial product, but that doesn't mean we can't fantasize what using this thing would be like, or what purpose it could genuinely serve. The iMac, as it exists today, is basically a space-saving wonder machine. Packed with desktop-class components, it's potentially much faster than a MacBook Pro, with a lovely display that folks can do some considerably heavy-duty computing tasks on – especially if you consider the iMac Pro. One of the best things about the iMac as it stands right now, however is its versatility. It's VESA-compatible, which means you can mount it on your own stand, or even on your wall, while the wireless peripherals let you interface with your computer however you want. But with this curved glass design, that specific versatility could completely vanish. Apple's descriptions within the patent are pretty vague, however, so it's nearly impossible to get a good idea of what it will actually be. Just going off the text within, it could either just be an iMac with the display and inputs built into the device, or a dock where everything, including the computing component, can be swapped out. The swappable computing component would add in versatility in another way, however. Now Apple doesn't exactly have the best reputation when it comes to modular products, but we can imagine folks that already have a MacBook could potentially be interested in buying a bare-bones version of this iMac that's just the display and the bottom section. The MacBook would just slot in through the back, likely plug in via Thunderbolt 3 ports – which are hinted at in the patent's drawings – granting access to the display and webcam. Just going off of Apple's history, however, we don't think it's actually likely that the device will be this flexible. Across its mainstream product lineups, Apple unfortunately doesn't leave much room for users to customize their experiences or repair their own products. We just love imagining a future where Apple's impeccable design could be coupled with true modularity, and this patent gives us a glimpse into that possible future – however unlikely it may be. Via Gizmodo
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| Today's best Amazon sales: fitness trackers, AirPods, Xbox One, PS4, laptop and 4K TV deals await Posted: 27 Jan 2020 09:48 AM PST We've found a massive range of cheap laptops, AirPods, 4K TV deals, fitness trackers and headphones on sale right now at Amazon. Plus, we've even found cheap robot vacuum cleaners and other smart home devices to net you your perfect 2020 home for less right now. These Xbox One and PS4 deals can save you a wad of cash on fantastic bundles, and we're seeing both Beats and Bose headphones entering the sales aisle right now. We're also seeing some fantastic fitness tracker deals in particular, with Garmin leading the charge against some late-addition Fitbit sales. Plus, Amazon's range of smart home products are still holding onto their holiday sales price tag right now. We've listed all our favorite Amazon sales right here for you to peruse, with our top picks sitting right at the top. Amazon Daily Deals: Today's Top Picks
Massive Fitbit and Garmin fitness tracker deals at Amazon
Beats and AirPods sales coming in hot
Cheap Samsung Galaxy tablets incoming
PS4, Xbox One, and PC gaming peripheral deals storm ahead
Cheap Echo speakers and displays
4K and smart TVs on sale
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| The best PS4 Pro prices, deals, and bundles in January 2020 Posted: 27 Jan 2020 09:34 AM PST We're seeing some fantastic PS4 Pro bundle deals about right now, with sales offering great prices on included games and accessories across the US and UK. You can find a range of excellent recent releases on offer with a brand new PS4 Pro for less than the console itself retails for as MSRP. The PS4 Pro can jumpstart your PlayStation experience if you've never picked up a DualShock before, or become the perfect 4K upgrade to give your collection of games one final push before the next console arrives. Plus, there are some fantastic-looking games out now to really make a PS4 Pro shine; Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Death Stranding, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and The Outer Worlds are all serious lookers and jaws are bound to drop further when The Last of Us Part 2 eventually sneaks onto our 4K TVs. You'll find the PS4 best deals going right here, and with the PS5 just around the corner, you can bet you'll be saving on games in the future as well. Looking to buy in Australia? You'll want to take a look at our AU page. So keep this page bookmarked to stay informed of the latest PS4 Pro bundles. If you're looking for more information on the PS4 Pro, take a look at our handy Q&A below the deals. If you'd prefer a standard PS4, then check out our PS4 bundles (USA) or PS4 deals (UK) pages. Don't forget to top up your subscription with one of our discounted PlayStation Plus deals too. What is the usual PS4 Pro Price?The PS4 Pro price sits at $399 MSRP in the US and £349 in the UK. That means if you spot a deal above these price points, it's likely not going to be worth your cash unless it's good some hefty goodies included. PS4 Pro bundle deals (USA)PS4 Pro bundles usually revolve around big name releases, so you can expect to see some deals and sales around those particular retail windows. However, there are usually plenty of PS4 Pro deals to be had if you know where to look, and lucky for you, we've developed an eye for cheap PS4 Pro prices. PS4 Pro bundle deals (UK)Need an extra controller on the cheap? Take a look at the best DualShock 4 deals. We also have a guide to the best PlayStation VR deals too.
Cheap PlayStation Plus dealsIf you're buying a PS4 Pro, you'll probably need a cheap PlayStation Plus deal too. PlayStation Plus (aka PS Plus or PS+) allows you to play PS4 games online, along with access to the Instant Game Collection, a bunch of free games for your PS4 each month. The default price for a year is now £49.99. We've shopped around for you though and found a range of prices. So check out our guide of you want the best PlayStation Plus deals. What is the PS4 Pro?Essentially, the PS4 Pro is an upgrade of the PS4, rather than a 'next-gen' console. The keywords to take in from the PS4 Pro are 4K and HDR. The new machine will allow game developers to include 4K options in their games, so expect the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, Uncharted 4, Spider-Man, Days Gone, Horizon: Zero Dawn and more to look even better on a 4K TV. HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is the other buzzword to be excited about as the PS4 Pro will allow for extra detail to be seen on a range of games and also a wider range of colors not usually displayed by traditional HD TVs. Will my old PS4 games work on PS4 Pro?Absolutely. If you're planning on upgrading to a PS4 Pro from an older PS4, all of your games will still work. Not every title will be patched to take advantage of the new 4K/HDR capabilities, but the default upscaling (if you have a 4K TV) will more than likely see some improvement to the visuals and the improved console power may give the frame-rate a boost on some titles. What else can I watch in 4K/HDR on PS4 Pro?The PS4 Pro is compatible with 4K and HDR, and the content options for both are increasing all the time on services like YouTube and Netflix. Amazon Prime Video is yet to be updated for 4K content on a PS4 Pro though, so you'll need to check out the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K deals if you want to enjoy 4K Prime. Does the PS4 Pro support 4K Blu-rays?No. This was a surprise if we're honest, especially as both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles do. It's a bit of a gamble for Sony, but at the same time, 4K Blu-rays are very expensive for now and many consumers look to digital services to provide their 4K movies and TV content instead. Do I need a 4K TV to run a PS4 Pro?No, the PS4 Pro will still work on a regular 1080p TV, you won't get the benefits of upscaling or HDR though. You may see a slim amount of extra detail, or frame-rate boost, but we wouldn't expect a massive leap. If you are thinking of buying a 4K TV soon, then it's probably a good idea to splash out on the PS4 Pro instead of the regular or new PS4 Slim as it'll future proof you for a while. Be sure to look out for a TV that supports HDR too, in order to take full advantage of the PS4 Pro's capabilities.
Will PlayStation VR be better on the PS4 Pro?Yes, but only a little. The PlayStation VR frame-rate is better on PS4 Pro and the resolution gets a bit of a bump too. PlayStation VR will certainly work on the older PS4s too, you don't need a PS4 Pro to get involved there. Does the PS4 Pro have optical audio support?Yes! The optical audio output has been removed from the PS4 Slim though, which is a massive shame. PS4 Pro owners though will still be able to use optical connections for their soundbars and sound systems. What are the best games on PS4 Pro?We've dived through our back catalogue of PS4 games that have received a PS4 Pro update patch to see which ones look the best and have a noticeable difference. Take a look at our extensive feature - The best PS4 Pro games. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| US ramps up probe into Google's online advertising monopoly Posted: 27 Jan 2020 09:27 AM PST US state attorneys general are making preparations to meet with Justice Department attorneys next week in order to share information on their respective investigations into Alphabet's Google according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke with Reuters. The probes are centered around the search giant's monopolistic behavior which could harm consumers through the company's control of online advertising markets and search traffic. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the meeting and the publication said that it could lead to the Justice Department and state attorneys general eventually joining forces against Google.
Google probeAccording to The Wall Street Journal, Google's dominance in online search, possible anticompetitive behavior in Android and best division of labor as the probes move forward will likely be discussed at the meeting between the Justice Department and state attorneys general. As of yet, US federal and state authorities have not shared data about their concurrent investigations into the company. The journal also reported that at least seven attorneys general who are part of the investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have been invited to the meeting. Attorneys general from 48 US states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico formally launched an investigation into Google last year.
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| The best cheap PS4 bundles, deals and prices in January 2020 Posted: 27 Jan 2020 09:21 AM PST We're seeing continued low prices on PS4 bundle deals as we move even further away from those holiday sales this week. That makes it all the more impressive that we're still seeing relatively cheap PS4 Pro and Slim deals offering fantastic games and accessories for free as well. This may all be down to the looming release of the PS5, the 2020 console that looks set for a full reveal soon. Such a new console means these PS4 bundle deals are cheaper than we've ever seen them at this time of year, and while you're not saving as much as you would have over the holiday sales, there are still plenty of deals to be found. We're hunting for great PS4 prices all year, meaning we know how to separate a great bundle deal from a ripoff. Listed below are the week's best PS4 deals that can save you some serious cash if you pick up a bundle. If you're new to PlayStation, you're in for a great time. Some of the best PS4 games are super cheap nowadays, and with such a well-respected library of exclusives on offer, there's plenty of reason to pick up a cheap PS4 ahead of the next console's launch. We've been hunting down all the best PS4 deals and bundles still lurking around in January. That means you'll find the lowest prices right here and the highest quality bundles gathered in a handy list ready for your perusal. We've managed to find the last PS4 Pro bundle under £300 as well as a selection of great games shipping with a PS4 Slim this week. We also want you to play the games everyone's shouting about which is why we're going the extra mile to track down PS4 and PS4 Pro bundles with the likes of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, FIFA 20, Death Stranding and more. If you're worried about the upcoming PS5 overshadowing your new PS4 bundle, just remember that with the upcoming launch of the new console, PS4 game prices are going to plummet. That means you can get to everything in your backlog for far less cash over the next year. This page lists the best cheap PS4 prices in the UK, but we also have dedicated guides for US readers and our Australian ones too. Below you'll find a comparison chart that automatically pulls in the freshest and cheapest PS4 deals from UK retailers, followed by our hand-picked selection of the best PS4 bundles that offer the best value discounts on the additional software or accessories. After those deals you'll find we've also covered the same options for the PS4 Pro prices.
The PS4 Slim is... slimmer, quieter and smaller The PS4 Slim launched (with no games included) in September 2016 for around £259 (500GB) or £310 (1TB) and has now replaced the original fatter PS4. The new console is smaller, lighter, more power efficient and cheaper than the remaining stock of the older PlayStation 4 deals nowadays, so you're not paying more for the refined tech. We'd advise you check out the cheap PS4 bundles further down this page as many of them are cheaper than buying the console on its own or you can get a lot more for a spending a bit extra on top. You'll often find that the most attractive way to get a cheap PS4 is with a bundle with extra hardware or extra games. These are the best PS4 bundle prices currently available in the UK – we update these deals on a regular basis. Extra PS4 retailer links:Want to look through some more cheap PS4 deals? It's ok, you're only hurting our feelings a little. The links below will take you straight to the PS4 console deals section of the following websites, just in-case you fancy digging out a bargain of your own.
The PS4 that offers 4K HDR gaming and Netflix Essentially, the PS4 Pro is a 4K upgrade of the current PS4, rather than a 'next-gen' console. The keywords to take in from the PS4 Pro are 4K and HDR. The new machine allows game developers to include 4K resolution and High Dynamic Range options in their games, so expect the like of Death Stranding, Red Dead Redemption 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, God of War, Uncharted 4, Horizon: Zero Dawn and more to look even better on a HDR-enabled 4K TV. You'll also be able to stream 4K content from Netflix and YouTube. Want to get the right TV? Then check out our cheap 4K TV sales and deals page. We've seen big discounts as Sony fights off the latest Xbox One X deals too. If you're buying a PS4, you'll probably need a cheap PlayStation Plus deal too. PlayStation Plus (aka PS Plus or PS+) allows you to play PS4 games online, along with access to the Instant Game Collection, a bunch of free games for PS4, PS3 and Vita each month. The default price for a year is £50. We can do better than that though, so check out our selection of the best PlayStation Plus deals. If you've got your eye on a few PS4 bundles, but don't know if they represent good value for money, you can always find out how much the included game is separately. Most PS4 bundles retail for the same price as the console by itself or less - £249 for a PS4 Slim and £349 for a PS4 Pro, so if you see one on sale above that price point, make sure you're saving cash by comparing the value of the extra goodies included. That said, even at the £249 price point, there are some PS4 bundles that are better than others. If you're in full-on savings mode, you'll want to find the bundle that offers the most expensive game included at that price point. There are some about offering cheaper games at the standard mark that represent less value than a recent release. In that situation, you may be better off picking up the PS4 bundle with the most recent or most expensive game bundled in and simply grabbing the cheaper game separately. Need an extra cheap PS4 controller? Don't forget to check our Best DualShock 4 deals. Or maybe a cheap PlayStation VR deal? If you're still torn, maybe you'd prefer one of our Xbox One deals? This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundle deals and prices in January 2020 Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:53 AM PST With stock returning to UK retailers, Nintendo Switch bundles are starting to spring back to life for 2020. We're seeing the first bundle deals of the year appearing in both the US and UK right now, which means if you've been trying to find the family-favorite console for less over the last few weeks your frustration is over. The US is still sitting tight on accessory bundles in particular, with memory cards included in the price of a Switch bundle and discounted controllers aplenty. Meanwhile, the UK is seeing some excellent Nintendo Switch deals offering top quality games like Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening for less right now. Most of the best offers nowadays are bundling the latest version of the console with critically-acclaimed titles, cash-saving memory cards, accessory packs, and memberships. We're here to help find the best ones for you - the bundles that represent the highest value for money. The new version of the console has an improved battery (more on that below) and there's now another option with the release of the Nintendo Switch Lite. This cheaper model doesn't come with a dock or removable controllers and can only be played in handheld mode but offers a considerable chunk off the price tag. We'll show you where to get your Nintendo Switch Lite orders below too. The updated version of the original Nintendo Switch is now being rolled out with an improved battery. That's the only change, but prices are generally the same as the older model. The old version model number was HAC-001 and the box featured a lifestyle image with a hand grabbing the console. While the new model number is HAC-001(-01) and the box has an all-red background and no hand. We're listing all of the best Nintendo Switch sales right here and we're always on the lookout for the best bundles with extra games, controllers and other accessories so we can share them with you while they're hot. Scroll past the bundles on this page and we'll show you prices on extra Joy-Con and Pro controllers and Nintendo Switch memory cards too. If you want to play online multiplayer and get other benefits like free games you'll want to pick up a Nintendo Switch Online subscription deal. If you're looking for another dose of Nintendo's handheld happiness then maybe you want to consider a cheap 3DS deal. We also have a dedicated page of Nintendo Switch prices for our Australian readers.
The Nintendo Switch Lite was recently released at just $199.99/£199.99. That's $100/£80 less than the original Switch console. If you want to play games on the TV as well, you should go for the standard Nintendo Switch instead as the Lite is only playable in handheld mode. The Nintendo Switch Lite comes in multiple colour options. You can pick one up now in turquoise, gray and yellow. There will also be a special edition Zacian & Zamazenta Edition released on November 8 to celebrate the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield. It doesn't come with the game, but doesn't cost anything extra either. If you want to learn more about the console and see prices for every individual color and bundle, check out our Nintendo Switch Lite prices and deals guide. The latest cheap Nintendo Switch dealsWant to know where to buy a Nintendo Switch? Check out our comparison charts and the latest bundle highlights with extra games and accessories below for the best deals. On its own, the MSRP/RRP Nintendo Switch price is $299 in the USA and £279 in the UK, so you don't want to pay more than that unless you're getting some extras. We've highlighted our picks of the best and cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles below. Just be aware that many game bundles at quieter times of the year don't really offer much of a discount over buying the items separately. We'll steer you clear of console bundles that actively charge you more than the regular combined MSRP (not cool, guys!).
The UK scene for discounted Nintendo Switch deals is usually quite competitive thanks to the large number of retailers trying to get your business. Thankfully, the Nintendo Switch is back in stock at a number of UK retailers, so we're starting to see the first bundles of 2020 appearing before our very eyes. You'll save cash with some excellent bundle deals this week, offering games from Super Smash Bros. to Mario Kart 8.
As with any new console we imagine you're wanting to know a bit more about the console before you put any money down. So in addition to finding the best Nintendo Switch bundle deals, we're going to help bring in answers to the burning questions.
What are the Joy-Con controllers?The Joy-Con controller is actually a pair of controllers that attach to the sides the the Nintendo Switch when not in use or when playing in tablet form away from the TV. When playing the Nintendo Switch on the TV, you can remove them and play with one in each hand. The left hand gets a controller with an analogue stick and d-pad, the right hand handles the one with a second analogue and the usual A, B, X and Y face buttons. Or you and a friend can use one each in multiplayer games with the d-pad doubling up as impromptu face buttons. You get a pair with the console, but you might want to buy more to allow extra players to get involved in games like Mario Kart 8, FIFA 19 and many more. Or maybe you just fancy some different colors for your own use.
What's the Joy-Con Grip controller?The Joy-Con Grip is an additional accessory that joins the two Joy-Con controllers together, forming something something a bit more solid for you to hold thanks to the extended handles and plastic block between the two sides. The square dimension form-factor may remind older gamers of the Dreamcast controller, while everyone else will mainly be thinking how it resembles an odd-looking dog face. Nintendo is providing one in the box with the Nintendo Switch, so you won't have to buy one separately. This won't charge your controller though and doesn't have a battery pack.
You won't actually need a Nintendo Switch Pro controller to play any games, so don't feel pressured in to buying one. The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is a more traditional-style pad and launched alongside the Nintendo Switch. Prices aren't cheap though, starting around $69.99/£64.99. There's no sign of a Nintendo Switch Premium Edition console with one included either. Do I need to buy extra controllers for multiplayer on Nintendo Switch?Possibly not! Remember how the Joy-Con controller splits in two? Turn them sideways and you get two basic controllers, each with their own analogue stick and face buttons - the d-pad acts as face functions on the left controller. We've seen 2K's NBA series, Snipper Clips, FIFA 19, and Mario Kart being used this way for local multiplayer in both docked and tablet modes. So you get multiplayer functionality straight out of the box with no additional purchase required. However, if you want to play four-player games, then you're going to need to invest in an extra pair of Joy-Con controllers or some Pro controllers. We'd buy the Joy-Cons as a pair (see our comparison chart above) as you'll save a bit of cash over buying them separately. Better yet, if your friends own a Switch, ask them to bring their controllers to the party! Super Mario Odyssey dealsThis has been one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch so far and an absolute must for Mario and platforming fans. Like Zelda below though, this being a first-party Nintendo title, it's taking forever to go down in price. It's slowly happening though, so we've rounded up the cheapest Super Mario Odyssey prices for you below. If you're not getting this game in a bundle, we'd strongly advise picking it up separately as soon as possible. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild dealsThe reviews have heaped huge praise upon this eagerly awaited launch title, making it an essential purchase for any Nintendo Switch buyer. As with any new console, the prices of the big games can be more expensive than usual. We've shopped around for you though and have found the best prices for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch. Take a look below. With only 32GB of internal storage, you'll be wanting to pick up a cheap memory card or two for your new Nintendo Switch for any digital purchases or the inevitable game-fixing patches. Don't fret though, they're actually surprisingly cheap, with even 64GB ones coming in at under £20/$25. What memory cards does the Nintendo Switch need? Those will be Micro SD cards also known as, depending on their size, as MicroSDHC (up to 32GB) or MicroSDXC (up to a huge 2TB soon). Nintendo also has their own branded cards, but you'll be paying more just for a label. So for now, we'd take a look at this range of cheap MicroSDXC Nintendo Switch-friendly cards. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google to charge government agencies for user data Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:25 AM PST Law enforcement and government agencies will now have to pay out in order to obtain user data from Google. The company has decided to begin levying charges starting this month for offering the information like emails, location history, and other key details such as user search history. In what is considered to be a major change in how the data requests are being dealt with, Google will now charge $45 for a subpoena, $60 for a wire trap and $245 for a search warrant. The company has already sent a notice to the enforcement agencies informing them about the charges.
Google's move can be seen as a way to make some extra profit by charging these agencies, though privacy experts are welcoming this decision as it may force agencies to limit their surveillance requests. This will also help the company reduce the overly broad searches which seek huge amounts of user information. The company's recent Transparency Report suggests that there were less than 20,000 such requests in 2009 and last year Google got over 165,000 data requests from government agencies globally, out of which it complied by sharing some information at least for 60-80% cases. Though the company, as a policy, notifies the user via an email before sharing the data, unless prohibited by the law. Similarly, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter have also reported data requests from government agencies globally. While Google, Verizon, and Cox have sought reimbursement in the past, Facebook has never billed the agencies. Data sought in child safety investigations and life-threatening emergencies will not be charged, said a Google spokesperson. The NYTimes reported that enforcement agencies feel that there will be almost no impact of such a fee. With the constant increase in such requests, charging agencies for data is a bold step and it will have to be seen if Google or any other company will replicate this policy in other countries as well.
Via NYTimes This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best cheap laptop deals and sales for January sales: prices from just £99 Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:23 AM PST Cheap laptop deals are offering some fantastic specifications for even less cash this week as we're seeing superb machines receiving brand new price drops and discounts at the moment. That means everything from high-performance workhorses to smaller Chromebooks for everyday browsing and email is featured on this list, saving you cash whatever you're shopping for. From lightweight, portable web browsers, to full-on powerhouses of computing, we've got the best prices on laptop deals ranging from as low as £99 all the way through to the heavy hitters at £900. We tend to cap out our search at £1,000 unless we see a particularly fantastic deal, so you don't have to worry about wading through high prices to find your laptop deal. In general, an everyday laptop used for basic web browsing, entertainment, and email won't cost you more than £300, but once you push past £400 you'll open yourself up to machines that can run higher performance programs with far better specs to support them. We've split our deals by price, so if you know exactly what you want to spend, you'll find a wealth of models and brands available to fit your budget. If you're not sure what you can get for your cash, we'd recommend browsing through a few of the laptop sales on this week below. We've also combed each listing for those vital stats to give you the numbers straight up. Compare the models and laptop deals we've found from across the web to find the one that suits your needs perfectly - we'll also give you a bit of background info about each laptop we highlight. For you Apple fans, you might be interested in our MacBook prices and deals page too. If you're from the States or Down Under, be sure to check out our selection of the top laptop deals in the US or Australia. Cheap laptop sales and deal highlights
We'll continue adding the best cheap laptop deals in the latest sales as we find them. Up next, you'll find the latest prices on some of the most popular laptops around along with a list of retailers who often have a great selection of laptop sales if nothing else takes your fancy here.
The cheapest laptop deals on these popular picks
On release, the Chromebook Flip reached new heights for the Windows-free laptops as it came rocking a proper Intel Core processor along with a HD screen. Most models nowadays come with 64GB of storage instead of the 32GB which is plenty for running apps and storing regular documents and a fair few media files - you can always use a USB drive for more space. For most users, the newer PixelBook is what we'd call 'overkill', not to mention considerably more expensive, so we'd recommend this model if you just need something for work, browsing the net and so on. The Chrome OS works beautifully in this 2-in-1 laptop's tablet mode too.
A sturdy choice for a study laptop for school/college/uni. The HP Pavilion 15 has plenty of power for the average student's needs while keeping the costs sensible. There are plenty of configurations available too. Some favour speedy SSDs, while others go for larger regular hard drives, so it all depends on what you're going to need more really. Faster loading or more space for storing media files and downloads.
The Asus Transformer Mini series is one of the most reliable brands of 2-in-1 tablet/laptop hybrids on the market. This upgrade includes a fingerprint sensor and double the RAM at 4GB for speedier performance compared to the older models. For your money, this is one of the most impressive two-in-one transformer models out there. Available in orange/white as seen above, or in a traditional grey steel colour.
Ready to stretch that budget a bit (ok, maybe a lot) further? Then be sure to check out our selection of the very best laptops money can buy as we've used our dedicated price comparison technology to find the cheapest prices for them too. You can always come back to this page if they seem a bit overpowered (and over-expensive) for what you need. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Xbox Series X release date, specs, design and launch titles for the next Xbox Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:20 AM PST Xbox Series X is the next-generation Xbox, releasing in late 2020. Previously known by its codename 'Xbox Project Scarlett', the Xbox Series X was officially revealed at The Game Awards 2019 with a trailer that showed off the next Xbox in all its glory. We now know when the next Xbox will release, its official name, a few of the specs on offer, and what it's going to look like. Xbox Series X will be a bit of a departure both design-wise and name-wise from its predecessors, sporting a blockier style that's similar to that of a small gaming PC - with an upright tower design. And, more importantly, the specs Microsoft has revealed so far suggest its going to be an absolute powerhouse. But Xbox Series X will not be the only next-generation hardware on offer from Microsoft. The company has confirmed that the family of consoles will be called 'Xbox' and that 'Series X' is just one of the consoles within that family. Sony's PS5 may be launching in the same late 2020 window as the Series X, but Microsoft looks like it's going to put up one heck of a fight in the next-generation console wars with the Series X boasting twice the power of the Xbox One X. Plus, Series X can take center stage at E3 2020 now that Sony has confirmed it won't be attending. So what exactly has Microsoft got to offer? Let's break down everything we know about the Xbox Series X. [UPDATE: The PS5 is already beating Xbox Series X when it comes to developer interest. Read on to find out more]
Expect to see the Xbox Series X console launch in the 'holiday' window of 2020. That's between October and December of this year, and just in time for Christmas. We're thinking a November release is most likely, as that's when Microsoft has previously launched its consoles. It's exactly the same sort of launch period we're expecting Sony to have for its PS5, too. Santa's going to be a busy guy this year. Keep in mind that rumors pointed to there being two new Xbox consoles on the way, codenamed Anaconda and Lockhart, the former being high end and the latter being a cheaper, streaming-focused solution. While the former, Anaconda, appears to be the Xbox Series X, Microsoft hasn't spilled anything about the latter, Lockhart, console. Whether Lockhart will also launch within this window is still to be confirmed - as is the console itself (read on below for further details).
Microsoft won't be pinned down on a price point quite yet – unsurprisingly, given what a sore spot the price of the Xbox One was for fans. At launch, the original Xbox One cost a whopping $499 / £429 / AU$599, which was quickly reduced when Microsoft realized people weren't forking out. Microsoft has at the very least promised that it's learned from this pricing mistake, with Phil Spencer stating that this time "we will not be out of position on power or price.” That doesn't mean that the console will be cheap, mind you, it just means the price point will be better aligned with the console's power and the price points of the competition. After all, Jason Ronald, director of the Xbox platform, gave only a vague reassurance when speaking to Windows Central, saying that Microsoft knew "what reasonable price points are for a console and kind of what customers expect about that". Price will at least in part be determined by the cost of the components going into the console: Xbox Scarlett is going to be a lot more powerful than either the Xbox One S or Xbox One X, and that will likely mean we're looking at an even higher price tag.
Xbox Project Scarlett components. (Image credit: Microsoft) We now know what Xbox Series X looks like and what it's packing under the hood, and it's shaping up to be an absolute beast of a console. The next Xbox's gaming PC design is pretty apt, considering the next-gen console's internal hardware is comparable to one. "I think the area that we really want to focus on next generation is frame rate and playability of the games," Spencer explained in an interview with Gamespot. "Ensuring that the games load incredibly fast, ensuring that the game is running at the highest frame rate possible." Microsoft is aiming to get Xbox Series X games to run at 60 FPS in 4K, calling the challenge a "design goal". "This generation, we've really focused on 4K visuals and how we bring both movies through 4K Blu-ray and video streaming," Spencer explained. "And with Xbox One X allowing games to run at 4K visuals, we will make really strong visual enhancements next generation." Despite 4K being the aim, Microsoft has said the Xbox Series X has 8K capability. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer even changed his Twitter profile photo to what appears to be a picture of the next-gen Xbox Series X's processor. It says 'Project Scarlett' on there, and it's marked with '8K' (pictured below) suggesting Microsoft plans on doing more than simply talking the talk when it comes to 8K.
An SSD will come as standard in Series X, as with the PS5, which will give it the option of using its storage system as virtual RAM, as well as lifting load time performance by a factor of 40x. That'll let developers stream in far more detailed worlds around a player. In terms of 'standard' RAM, the console will use GDDR6. While GDDR6 is usually used as memory for graphics cards, the Series X could use it as super-fast system RAM instead. In addition, benchmark results have appeared online for an AMD ‘Flute’ system-on-a-chip (SoC), leading some to speculate that this could be the hardware that will power Xbox Series X. The benchmark results were spotted by a Twitter user, and while we’re not sure what the purpose of the chip is, we know that Microsoft is working with AMD to produce a custom SoC that combines a processor and graphics card for the next Xbox – in the same way that Sony is working with AMD on its custom Gonzalo SoC for the PlayStation 5. If these benchmark results are real, and the AMD Flute SoC is indeed going to power the Xbox Series X console, then it gives us an idea of the console's specifications and potential power level – something Microsoft has been rather cagey about so far. According to the benchmark results, the AMD Flute SoC will come with eight Zen 2 cores, 16 threads and SMT capability. Interestingly, the base clock speed of the Flute SoC is just 1.6GHz, which is pretty low these days, with a maximum boost of 3.2GHz. This suggests that the Flute SoC will be a low-power part for use in compact systems – such as a games console, and is similar to AMD’s Jaguar SoC which powered the Xbox One. While on paper the Flute SoC’s processor doesn’t sound too impressive – especially when compared to modern desktop PCs’ CPUs – it looks like the Flute CPU will be at least two times faster than previous-generation Jaguar SoCs, and will be a big upgrade over the dated 28nm Jaguar SoCs found in the original Xbox One and PS4. The Flute SoC is also expected to be 7nm, which will also bring power benefits. As a system-on-a-chip, the AMD Flute looks like it comes with a graphics processing unit (GPU) as well, though clues about the graphics capabilities are harder to find. Apparently, it will be based on ‘NAVI 10LITE’ – which has been mentioned before when unreleased AMD Navi GPUs showed up in a Linux driver. It’s possible that this is a ‘Lite’ version of the Navi 10 GPU, which will have reduced or limited specs compared to the full version, including lower CU (compute unit) counts. Having a lower CU count means the GPU will be less power-hungry, again suggesting that the AMD Flute SoC, if it does exist, is designed for a device where power efficiency is important – such as a games console. Finally, the benchmark results also suggest the engineering sample uses 16GB of memory – though the type of memory is not mentioned. It could mean that the Flute SoC shares 16GB of GDDR6 memory between the CPU and GPU, in a similar way to how the Xbox One X shares GDDR5 memory. So, does this mean we have a better idea of what the Xbox Series X's specs will be? Well, there’s some compelling evidence, but remember that this is from a leaked benchmark, and we’re not sure if the AMD Flute SoC is going to be used in Series X – if the SoC even exits. It’s also worth noting that this AMD Flute is apparently an engineering sample, which means this may not be its final specifications – and that could change if (and it’s a very big if) it ends up in the next Xbox when the console launches late 2020. If you're less bothered about the specs and more concerned about whether you can still play physical games on the next Xbox, then you'll be pleased to know that Xbox Series X has a physical disc drive. Microsoft has also confirmed that all your current Xbox One accessories will work with Xbox Series X, including existing controllers and headsets. But we'd doubt that also includes the ill-fated Kinect motion tracker. That means that the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 that launched in November 2019 will be forward compatible with Series X, but Microsoft is also launching a next-generation wireless controller to accompany the new console.
Xbox Series X has a completely different design to its predecessors. For a start, the next-gen console has an upright tower design - similar to that of a gaming PC. However, Microsoft has confirmed Series X can sit horizontally or vertically. From what we seen in the Series X reveal trailer, the console is black with slightly indented cooling vent on the top (with what seems to be a green light inside). The Xbox logo sits small on the top left hand corner of the console and there's still a disc drive - which is placed vertically on the left hand side also. Windows Central estimates the console is 31cm x 16cm x 16cm, making it a tall cuboid. The Xbox One measurs 30cm x 24cm x 6cm, making the Series X considerably larger (volume wise) than its predecessor. Unfortunately we haven't officially seen the back of the console yet so really we're taking the Series X on 'face value'. But, thanks to leaked photos that surfaced online, we may have some idea of the next-gen console's ports. Shared on forum site Neogaf, the photos seem to show a prototype of the next Xbox console, which will likely have been shared with devs working on titles for the Xbox Series X. The image below shows off the rear vents of the console, as well as ports for USB, HDMI, S/PDIF, power, and Ethernet. While, the second leaked image shows a single USB port on the front of the console. Will this be the console's final design? It's unlikely and, like any leaked information, we're treating these images with suitable speculation.
This wouldn't be the first time we thought we got a look at the Series X's ports. At AMD's CES 2020 showcase, the company offered what appeared to be our first legitimate look at the upcoming Xbox Series X's rear-mounted ports, showing off dual USB Type-C and HDMI ports (indicating either HDMI passthrough or a dedicated HDMI port for audio out), along with USB 3.0, Ethernet and SPDIF digital audio ports. However, all of this tantalizing Xbox Series X connectivity information has now been officially retracted, with an AMD representative confirming to Stevivor that the "imagery used during the AMD CES press conference was not sourced from Microsoft and does not accurately reflect the design or features of the upcoming console.” Oh well. Guess we'll have to wait a bit longer for an official look.
Microsoft is releasing a next generation controller to accompany its next generation console. The new Xbox Wireless Controller will apparently be more accessible to everyone, as Microsoft has made an effort to refine the size and shape. This shouldn't be too surprising to anyone that's been following the tech giant, as it's been making waves for accessibility in gaming for a while now with products like the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Along with enhanced accessibility, we'll also be getting a dedicated share button (finally) that will let you share screenshots and videos with your friends. However, apart from these details, we don't know exactly what other new features the new Xbox Wireless Controller will boast quite yet.
During the Xbox Series X's official reveal, Phil Spencer said Series X games will be "more lifelike, immersive and surprising" and that the Xbox Series X will "lead us into the future of gaming". He also stated that 15 Xbox Game Studios are building a huge next-generation library that includes Hellblade II: Senua's Saga. Halo Infinite has been confirmed to be an Xbox Series X launch title, bringing back the Master Chief for the franchises' first outing since 2015. It will have been five years at that point since a new mainline Halo game, so fans will be chomping at the bit for fresh Halo action. Not a Halo fan? Don't worry, Xbox Series X will be capable of three generations of backwards compatibility. Microsoft has stated that Xbox Series X will support backwards compatibility from launch, with the company stating it wants the"thousands of games that run on Xbox One" to eventually become playable on Xbox Series X. In addition, Microsoft will avoid siloing by taking a cross-generation approach to its first-party games. Talking to Stevivor, Phil Spencer said Microsoft wants to create a console that utilizes Xbox Play Anywhere so you can move seamlessly between devices: "Our goal for our first-party games is that your entitlements will be cross-generation and your Achievements will move effectively with your save game because that’s where they stand.” Speaking of first-party games, Microsoft has been promising that it's investing in first-party studios in order to make a more competitive offering. As far as third-parties are concerned, we already have confirmation from Ubisoft that its upcoming titles Watch Dogs: Legion, Gods and Monsters and Rainbow Six Quarantine will be coming to Microsoft's console after delays were announced during a financial call, while EA has said that Battlefield 6 will be coming to Xbox Series X. It's likely that Bethesda will be coming to Xbox Series X with its next Elder Scrolls game too. There's plenty to look forward to and now that next generation announcements are coming in, we'll be holding our breath waiting for updates from other publishers.
However it seems, at least for now, that game developers are more interested in creating games for the PS5 than Series X. That's according to GDC's State of the Game Industry 2020 survey, which surveyed 4,000 game developers on a variety of industry topics ahead of GDC 2020 in March. And, of course, the next-gen consoles were top of the agenda. When asked which platform they planned to launch their next project on, 23% of those surveyed said the PlayStation 5, while 17% said the Xbox Series X and 19% said the Nintendo Switch . When it comes to the platform devs are most intrigued by, the PS5 once again leads the pack when it comes to consoles, with 38%, but the Switch only just behind on 37%. Again, the Xbox Series X is seriously lagging behind, piquing the interest of just 25% of devs. The survey also revealed that 10% of developers are currently working on a game for the next-gen consoles. While there's more interest in the PS5 now, Microsoft could potentially shift the scale as it reveals more details on Series X. Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass is also gathering more and more steam, bringing players (and devs) back to the Xbox platform. We're also hoping that, by the time Series X launches, Microsoft's game-streaming service Project xCloud may be out of public testing and we should hopefully be able to enjoy Series X games on-the-go. For those who aren't quite sold on upgrading to Series X quite yet, but still want to check out the best upcoming games, Microsoft has stated that there won't be Xbox Series X exclusive games for at least a year and, for the foreseeable future, new games are planned to work across the Xbox family of devices. That means you'll still be able to play them on Xbox One. In an interview with MCV, head of Xbox Game Studios, Matt Booty, has said that as “content comes out over the next year, two years, all of our games, sort of like PC, will play up and down that family of devices.” The plan is that “if someone invests in Xbox between now and [Series X] that they feel that they made a good investment and that we’re committed to them with content.” It makes sense considering Microsoft's aim to slowly transition players to the next-generation.
In an interview with TechRadar, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty said that the launch of Xbox Series X certainly won't mean the end of the rest of the Xbox family and that they'll be able to live alongside one another, maybe even in the same house: "Perhaps we feel confident about our content pipeline so that we feel like we don't have to save everything up for [Series X]. But then I will also say that, really for any device these days, when you launch a new device you are not eliminating all of the devices in that family. "When [Series X] launches there will still be the Xbox One S out there, there will still be Xbox One X, and we really need to approach that family of devices, the same way we approach PC - content scales to meet the device. I think that's going to be the case for anybody. We will absolutely lean in on the power of [Series X], we think is going to be the best way to play and it will be the best thing you can put in your living room, but we also want to understand that there will be a family of Xbox devices out there."
The Xbox Series X will not be the only console in Microsoft's next generation lineup. While we were all pretty excited when Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox (formerly known as Xbox Project Scarlett) at the Game Awards 2019, it appears that the upcoming console's name isn't quite what we thought - and it will belong to a family. While we assumed that the next generation console is called 'Xbox Series X', Microsoft has clarified that, in fact, the family of consoles will be called 'Xbox' and that 'Series X' is just one of the consoles within the family. We know, it's a bit confusing. Speaking to Business Insider after the reveal, a Microsoft representative tried to clear up any potential confusion. "The name we're carrying forward to the next generation is simply Xbox," the representative told Business Insider. "And at The Game Awards you saw that name come to life through the Xbox Series X." "Similar to what fans have seen with previous generations, the name 'Xbox Series X' allows room for additional consoles in the future," the representative continued. This clarification from Microsoft serves to further fuel rumors that another next generation Xbox console is on the way. Rumors have circulated for some time about a lower-cost next-gen Xbox console that would sit just below the high-end Xbox Series X. The most solid information on this (so far) had come from a report by Kotaku’s Jason Schreier, who claims there is indeed a lower-specced console in the works from Microsoft that will still play all the next-gen games. Project Lockhart will be disc-less console - a trait that it will carry forward from the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition - but Kotaku's sources believe it will be substantially more powerful than Microsoft’s current disc-less box, and will come with both a solid-state hard drive and a faster CPU than any current game console. The report goes on to say that Microsoft told developers to shoot for a 1440p resolution and 60 frames-per-second frame rate with Project Lockhart and 4K/60 with Project Scarlett, and those same developers have likened the performance of the lower-end console to the PS4 Pro. It seems Project Lockhart will primarily see use as a digital gateway for both Microsoft’s game-streaming service, Project xCloud, and its Xbox Game Pass service. From what we know, it will sit below Series X and be a less powerful - but more affordable - option.
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| Deck out your home cinema for less, with up to $85 off on Amazon Fire TV devices Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:17 AM PST Amazon is having a huge sale on its Fire TV range, with savings of up to $85 to be had on the brand's streaming devices – ideal if you're looking to upgrade your home cinema setup. (Not in the US? Scroll down for the best Amazon Fire TV prices in your region.) First up is the Amazon Fire TV Stick. This second-gen dongle plugs into the HDMI port at the back of your TV, bringing with it apps including Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, Spotify and Prime Video. Reduced from $40 to $25, the Fire TV Stick comes with an Alexa-powered voice remote, allowing you search for your favorite shows and streaming platforms with your voice alone. Also reduced is the Fire TV Stick 4K, which is (you guessed it) capable of 4K HDR playback, and boasts a number of new specs and features, including the ability to combine with Echo speakers wirelessly to create a home cinema system. Today's best Amazon Fire TV Stick dealsAmazon has also cut the price of the 2019 Fire TV Cube from $119.99 to $99.99. While that's not a huge discount, the upgraded Cube is, by far, our favorite Amazon streaming device, thanks to Dolby Vision support, 4K playback, and voice control. Last but not least, is the Amazon Fire TV Recast. This OTA DVR (over-the-air digital video recorder) works alongside other Fire TV devices, allowing you to record live TV to watch later. Usually $230, the price has been cut to $145 – that's a saving of $85, and the biggest discount of the lot. As with all these deals, it's not the cheapest price we've ever seen, but it's still a good discount. More Amazon Fire TV dealsNot in the US? Check out the best Amazon Fire TV prices in your region below: Via Engadget This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best website builder for musicians in 2020 Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:12 AM PST A host of different services will now let you put a website online, quickly and easily, no coding skills required – but if you're looking for something to show off your talents as a musician then you need a more specific set of features. Primarily, a way of uploading and sharing your tunes in a simple and secure way, even if it's just snippets of songs rather than whole tracks or indeed albums. If you're a musician for hire then it can be useful to have some kind of booking system in place as well, or at least a contact form. On top of that, there are all the extras you might be interested in, like support for your own domain name or gallery pages to show just how many people came to your last gig. Here are our picks for the best website builder for musicians to create a presence online.
Bandzoogle You won't find too many website builder services aimed specifically at musicians, but Bandzoogle gleefully jumps in to provide a bespoke service specifically for bands and artists. While it lacks some of the polish of the big names, because it focuses on the musician niche in particular, it has everything you should need. That includes, of course, the ability to upload your own tracks and let visitors stream them from your website. You can get tracks organized into entire albums if you really want to go to town, or just share (or even sell) single tracks. And then, as well as that, you've got simple ways to post gig dates, blog updates, and so on. Whether you need to build a contact form or a video diary, Bandzoogle makes it easy, no coding required – you can really make a site that's as simple or as complex as you like, and the end result is something that looks like you hired a specialist. You've got over 100 themes to choose from (there is even one for crowdfunding), they're all straightforward to edit and tweak, and connecting up social accounts (including the likes of SoundCloud and Bandcamp) only takes a few clicks as well. As an added bonus, you can sell fan subscription, merchandise and tickets right through Bandzoogle as well.
Wix Check out any list of website builders for any purpose and Wix is likely to feature on it, but not only does this service earn that high reputation, it also has some useful tools for musicians – not least the ability to upload your own tracks so visitors to your website can listen to them without any extra software or browser extensions. Platforms that you're probably already using, like Bandsintown and Songkick, can plug directly into your Wix site: you can set up integrations like these in just a few clicks. What's more, you can add on an e-commerce portal to your site, for the purposes of shifting albums, T-shirts, or whatever else you need to sell. Wix has a very solid selection of templates, with more than 500 to choose from, and if you delve into the music section you'll see there are options for solo artists, bands, DJs, producers, or anyone else connected to the industry. Have a click around these templates to see the kind of sites it's possible to create. After that you've got all the features Wix has become known for: a site editor that's a breeze to use whether or not you know what CSS stands for, custom domain name support, easy blogging and simple social media support, and a free tier that lets you work out whether Wix is for you before you part with any cash.
Music Glue Music Glue is a little different to the other website builder services we've featured here: it focuses first and foremost on the merchandise and ticketing aspects of the music business, and indeed powers the online stores for some of the biggest names in the industry. Its pricing system is unusual too, taking a 10% cut of whatever you sell rather than a flat fee. That does at least mean you won't be out of pocket if your online marketplace doesn't attract much attention to begin with. There are no additional fees for payment processing, and customers can rock up with debit or credit cards, or PayPal. Music Glue is less impressive on the website building side, although you do get the basics – a choice of themes for the site attached to your online shop, the option to bring over your own custom domain name, tools for tweaking the code and layout of your site, and so on. It's possible to plug in social media accounts and even set up a mailing list. If your priority is the mechanics of selling music and tickets to your audience, then Music Glue is a good bet, and has some very famous clients on its books, as we mentioned. If you don't really have anything to sell right now and want to spend more time fiddling with a site design and layout, then maybe look elsewhere.
Difymusic French site builder Difymusic isn't the most well-known service out there, and doesn't have the same breadth of tools and features as some of the big names – but where it really comes into its own is in getting your music online quickly and easily. If you'd rather just get your stuff up quickly with a few pictures and links, rather than spend ages choosing a theme and editing HTML, Difymusic could be for you. It relies on plug-ins – like Spotify or SoundCloud for getting your music up, for example – but it supports an awful lot of them, so you're bound to find something that works. If you want to sell merch and tickets, then you can pay to add that on your main site, with a one-time €9.99 setup fee (about £9 or $12) and then 5% commission based on sales, but the basics are free. Connect up your Facebook page and your YouTube channel and you're good to go in just a few minutes. Admittedly the choice of templates and editing options aren't very strong, but the designs you can play around with are decent enough, and certainly won't put anyone off your music. Difymusic lets you get started quickly, and scale up as required.
Tumblr Tumblr isn't a website builder in the conventional sense – it's more of a half blogging, half social media platform – but if you take a longer look at what Tumblr has to offer, it's actual very appealing for musicians. For one thing, it's completely free to use, plus it already attracts a busy community of creatives. You can post up to one 10MB MP3 file every day, as well as links, text posts, videos, photos and more. Those MP3s appear as streamable files for visitors to your site – they can listen to the tunes in their browser, no plug-ins or extra software required, so it's a great way of showcasing your talents without paying anything. If Tumblr was simply a blogging platform and that was it, we probably wouldn't recommend the service, but it also supports pages alongside your blog (for a gallery or a contact form), custom domain names (so you can pay extra for whatever URL name you like), and posting from mobile apps too. On top of all that there are a host of themes to choose from, some of which cost money, but many are free, and a lot of them would suit a musician's portfolio. If the theme isn't exactly to your liking, you can tweak it with the integrated options or your own CSS, and switching between themes whenever you like is simple, too.
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| PS5 release date, specs, news and rumors for Sony’s PlayStation 5 Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:06 AM PST PS5 is the next-generation PlayStation, releasing in late 2020, after a long and incredible decade that saw Sony emerge as the clear winner in the home console wars in the eyes of many (sorry Xbox). So what do we know about the PS5 so far? The hysteria started in early 2019, when Mark Cerny, the chief architect on Sony's next console, confirmed that the company was working on the successor to the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro. We wouldn't get the official name or release date until much later, but Cerny did shed some light on the next-gen console's capabilities, revealing that it would retain a disc drive, and would have something to do with Sony's game streaming ambitions; other than that there was little else to go on. Since then, Sony has been feeding us juicy tidbits such as an official PS5 release window, logo, name and a few key details about features. According to Sony, the PS5 still has big surprises to come – but it won't be revealing them at E3 2020, as the company has confirmed it won't be attending this year, again. That's not to say we won't see the PS5 anytime soon – there are rumors that Sony is planning a PS5 reveal event in February, although this hasn't been confirmed. In addition, we've had some surprising leaks, in the form of a Sony-registered patent that seems to show off the PS5's general shape, button inputs, and cooling vents – this was confirmed to be the PS5 dev kit in a leaked photo, and we expect the end product design will be different for the PlayStation 5's official launch later in the year. Sony can only keep the finer details of the next-generation PlayStation a secret for so much longer – especially with Microsoft having officially unveiled the Xbox Series X. But between the rumored specs, likely next-gen titles, and official features we are aware of, there's plenty to keep us busy for now. Here's everything we know about the PS5 so far – and what we hope will be revealed the closer we get to launch. [UPDATE: The PS5 is already beating Xbox Series X when it comes to developer interest. Read on to find out more]
God of War (Image Credit: SIE) Sony has officially confirmed that the PS5 will release "in time for Holiday 2020" in the US, so likely some time between October and December 2020. A leak has suggested that the release date will be November 20, 2020 but that's yet to be confirmed – but it's in the right window, and it would leave time before Christmas to get those orders in. This would put the PlayStation 5 in direct competition with Microsoft's Xbox Series X (formerly Xbox Project Scarlett), which is releasing during the same period. Game on.
Death Stranding Sony hasn't officially confirmed a PS5 price yet, but there have been rumors. One leak has suggested that the console will cost $499 in North America when it launches. Naturally this should be taken with a pinch of salt, but it would be welcome news if the console did launch at this price, as it's only $100 more than the launch price of the PS4 and PS4 Pro. There's also been a less believable rumor claiming the PS5 will cost up to £900 in the UK, which would be around $1,200, but Sony quickly debunked that. We can expect that the console's price will be in line with the technology it uses, but Sony will also have to be aware of its competition. It's unlikely, with the Xbox Series X, that Microsoft will repeat the mistake it made by launching the Xbox One at a prohibitively high price point, so Sony will have to ensure that it doesn't make a similar mistake by making the PS5 too expensive.
Ghost of Tsushima (Image Credit: SuckerPunch)
So what is the PS5 packing under the hood? We don't know a huge amount about the PlayStation 5's specs, but here's what we do know. That AMD one-two punch of CPU and GPU unlocks the powers of ray tracing, an advanced lighting technique that can bring next-level immersion to gaming visuals. It's Hollywood tech that's used in big-budget CGI spectacles, putting into context the levels of visual fidelity you can expect from the PS5. Ray tracing is enabled by GPU hardware rather than software level, Mark Cerny told Wired. “There is ray tracing acceleration in the GPU hardware,” he explained. Sony has confirmed that the PS5 will support 8K gaming, and we think AMD SmartShift could be the secret sauce that makes this possible. With 8K TV support comes far more detailed textures, and much larger-scale ones at that. The news of a bespoke SSD drive will be heartening then – just because the games will be getting more complex, that doesn't mean they'll be slower to load. It's estimated that the new SSD is 19 times faster than traditional SSD storage methods (but given the speed difference between the SSD and the optical drive, installation of games will be mandatory). Not only that, but by harnessing the power of the SSD, developers could potentially reduce the install sizes of games because, as Cerny told Wired, “there is no need to duplicate data to compensate for slow seek times that optical drives and HDDs have”. The PS5 will benefit from simplified data management due to its SSD, and this will allow players to have more control over installing and removing games, for example by allowing players to install (or remove) only certain parts of a game – so instead of installing the full game, you could choose to just install the single-player mode and then do multiplayer later, or vice versa.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (Image Credit: Naughty Dog) Physical games for the PS5 will use 100GB optical disks, inserted into an optical drive that doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player, and the next-generation hardware will boast a completely revamped UI. Speaking about the new UI to Wired, Cerny said: "Even though it will be fairly fast to boot games, we don't want the player to have to boot the game, see what's up, boot the game, see what's up. "Multiplayer game servers will provide the console with the set of joinable activities in real time. Single-player games will provide information like what missions you could do and what rewards you might receive for completing them – and all of those choices will be visible in the UI. As a player you just jump right into whatever you like." Audio will reach a new "gold standard" on PS5 too, according to Cerny, thanks to a new audio engine that will deliver immersive sound – particularly if you're using headphones. While the details remain unclear, expect something resembling the experience of a Dolby Atmos setup. Sony's PS5 next-generation console will also offer improved cloud gaming performance, and "dramatically improved graphics rendering" power. That's the word straight from the company itself, as it showed off a sneak peak during a corporate strategy presentation.
Marvel's Spider-Man (Insomniac Games) In a statement sent out following the presentation, Sony said the "two keywords for the future direction of PlayStation are 'immersive' and 'seamless'", with the 'immersive' experience "created by dramatically increased graphics rendering speeds, achieved through the employment of further improved computational power and a customized ultra-fast, broadband SSD". The company also reinforced the importance of its cloud-gaming plans with Playstation Now, and somewhat surprisingly doubled down on its underused Remote Play feature, saying the "evolution" of this would in the future "provide a seamless game experience anytime, anywhere". Remote Play is already available as part of the PS4 package, enabling you to stream a game direct from the console to a computer, smartphone, tablet or PS Vita handheld console. But Sony says that going forward it will be "leveraging the latest computing, streaming, cloud, and 5G technologies" to allow it, and the performance of PlayStation Now, to improve. If that's not enough, Sony has confirmed the PS5's "incredibly powerful" backwards compatibility will let you play online with PS4 players. There have also been rumors that the PS5 could be backwards compatible with the PS3, PS2, and original PlayStation, meaning its games library could stretch right back to the glory days of the mid 90s.
We've seen several leaked images of the PS5 dev kit, with each showing the same console design, along with the above render based on one of those images, courtesy of Let's Go Digital). What does the render above show us? There are a number of buttons: on/standby, reset, eject (for the double-layer 100GB-reading Blu-ray drive), system initialization and network initialization, all on the front-left. There are also a number of status lights, numbered '0' to '7', which likely relate to CPU cores engaged, but which could also be status lights for controllers connected. To the right are six USB ports (one USB 2.0 and five likely USB 3.0 ports – the final port being obscured by a cable). A small circle above could well be a camera built into the console, according to earlier patent filings. Interestingly, rubber feet appear to be on the top side of the console, suggesting that devs are being encouraged to either flip the console for stress testing and convenience, or to stack them when working on demanding games. However, these images should only really be used to speculate on what the final design of the consumer console will be, rather than considering it wholly indicative on the machine to come. If we look at older PlayStation dev kits, the final product rarely resembles the dev kit. Dev kits are specially designed to be robust, and to support a console working under extreme load so as to allow the developers to push their creations to the maximum without frying the hardware they're working on. They're also designed to help developers find any flaws in the final PS5 consumer hardware design. With Sony still several months away from the launch of the PlayStation 5, there's plenty of time for its team to create something a little less alien-looking.
While we may not know exactly what the PS5 will look like, Sony did reveal the PS5's official logo at CES 2020. It's essentially just the PlayStation 4 logo with a '5' replacing the '4'. But Sony PlayStation president, Jim Ryan, did tease during Sony's CES keynote that “there’s plenty to share about the PS5 in the months ahead. And we look forward to sharing more details, including the content that will showcase the platform and the future of gaming”.
The PS5 will come with a new controller, according to Sony. The PS5 controller (we don't know the official name yet) will include haptic feedback to replace the DualShock 4's rumble technology, designed to improve the controller's feedback and therefore player immersion. The PS5 controller will also feature adaptive triggers, which Sony says have "been incorporated into the trigger buttons (L2/R2)". These adaptive triggers will allow developers to program the resistance of the triggers to simulate actions more accurately. In an interview with Business Insider Japan (translated by Gematsu), SIE CEO Jim Ryan said: “3D audio and the haptic feedback support of the controller are also things that, when you try them, you will be surprised at how big a change they are. Even just playing the racing game Gran Turismo Sport with a PlayStation 5 controller is a completely different experience. While it runs well with the previous controller, there is no going back after you experience the detailed road surface via haptic control and play using the adaptive triggers." If that's not enough for you, a patent suggests new back buttons are coming to the PS5 DualShock controller – perhaps along similar lines to the Back Button Attachment that Sony just launched for existing DualShock 4 gamepads. But what will it look like? According to a Sony patent for a new controller, published by the Japanese patent office (via VGC), the PS5 controller could look very similar to the DualShock 4 – with some key differences. For a start, the potential PS5 controller seems to have a slightly chunkier design, built-in microphone, larger triggers, no light bar and smaller sticks. It also seems the DualShock 4's micro USB port has been replaced by a smaller USB-C port, which is placed on the top rather than the bottom of the controller. The lack of a light bar does make us question how the PS5 would track the controller when it comes to PSVR and PS Camera games. Usually this is done via the PS Camera, so we're hoping the console will have a different means of tracking the controller, otherwise compatibility will suffer. Unless, of course, Sony is gearing up to move solely onto PSVR 2 – although this doesn't seem likely, as Sony has promised that the PS5 will be backwards compatible with PSVR. It also looks like the stereo headset jack and extension port at the bottom of the headset have been replaced by two larger circular ports. We think these will still be for plugging in headsets, but the two jacks could be headphone and microphone slots respectively, to expand compatibility with headsets. There's also a rectangular design that seems to wrap around the headset, which is potentially for compatibility with a charging dock – but again, this is all speculation on our part. Be wary of controller 'leaks' like these, though, as the rumor mill can work at a feverish pace when there's not much solid to go on. Sony has also patented a controller feature that would enable voice commands, meaning we could see more smart integration come to the PlayStation platform – which ties in with chatter around an AI voice assistant called PlayStation Assist. This would apparently offer "gaming assistance", such as pointing out health packs on a map or reminding you what your objective is, similar to what Google has said its Stadia controller will do.
The entire PS4 library, including PSVR games, will be supported by the PS5; that much is known. But we're now hearing more about confirmed – and rumored – PS5 games. At this point, any first-party PS4 game in the pipeline – from Ghost of Tsushima to The Last of Us 2, would be prime candidates for PS5 cross-gen upgrades. We've also heard enough chatter around a Horizon Zero Dawn sequel and new God of War game to assume we'll be seeing both land on the PS5 console. But what about third-party titles? We've had confirmation that Gearbox's new IP Godfall is coming exclusively to PS5, as is a new title from Bluepoint Studios. In addition, Ubisoft has confirmed that Watch Dogs: Legion, Rainbow Six Quarantine, and Gods and Monsters are all coming to Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, Electronic Arts has confirmed that Battlefield 6 is on the way, and that it's coming to next-generation consoles – which probably means PS5. But we're expecting plenty more third-part games to be announced. According to a survey by GDC, when it comes to developer interest it seems the PS5 is already beating Xbox Series X – and the Nintendo Switch. That's according to GDC's State of the Game Industry 2020 survey, which surveyed 4,000 game developers on a variety of industry topics ahead of GDC 2020 in March. And, of course, the next-gen consoles were top of the agenda. When asked which platform they planned to launch their next project on, 23% of those surveyed said the PlayStation 5, while 17% said the Xbox Series X and 19% said the Nintendo Switch . When it comes to the platform devs are most intrigued by, the PS5 once again leads the pack when it comes to consoles, with 38%, but the Switch only just behind on 37%. Again, the Xbox Series X is seriously lagging behind, piquing the interest of just 25% of devs. The survey also revealed that 10% of developers are currently working on a game for the next-gen consoles. However, while we know of a few third-party games in the pipeline for the PS5, there's still no confirmation on what the PS5's launch titles will be, but we're expecting first-party games to take the lead. In addition, Sony has confirmed that the PS5 will prioritize AAA games over indie games in an effort to focus on "serious gamers".
With Microsoft having officially revealed the Xbox Series X, we're waiting with bated breath for Sony to unveil the PlayStation 5. While the company isn't giving much away about when that'll be, there are several rumors which suggest a PS5 reveal event will take place in February. Rumors of a February reveal were ignited last year, when a 'leaked marketing email' from Sony found its way to 4Chan. The email claimed that a "PlayStation Meeting 2020" is scheduled for February 12, and will see the PlayStation 5 revealed in all its glory. While Sony never confirmed these rumors, there have been other leaks which also suggest February for a PS5 reveal, even if the exact dates aren't the same. One of these other leaks came via 4Chan, which supposedly spilled a bunch of information on the PS5 reveal event. The leak, which was reposted on Reddit, claims the PS5 will be unveiled on February 5, 2020 at a PlayStation Meeting event for the media – much like the initial email leak suggested. According to the leaker, the event will see Sony revealing the console's design and specs, several PS5 exclusives, and a renewed focus on PlayStation Now, alongside the console's price and various other features. Again, it's worth noting that Sony has not confirmed any of this. However, PlayStation fans on Reddit believe that Sony's next-gen console will be revealed on February 29, at New York City's Sony Hall. As there's a private event booked for that date and because they believe Sony will host the reveal event in a Sony-branded venue. But we're not quite convinced by this theory. While we should treat all these leaks with caution, all signs are pointing to a February reveal. Even former Sony designer David Scott Jaffe seems to think a reveal is imminent, tweeting that he believes the reveal is "less than [four] weeks away" and calling the event "the worst kept secret in games right now".
A rumor has cropped up suggesting that Sony will double down by launching the PlayStation 5 Pro at the same time as its base-model PS5. As spotted by Wccftech, noted Japanese games journalist Zenji Nishikawa made the claim in a video on his YouTube channel, and while that kind of thing wouldn't normally be considered a rock-solid lead, Nishikawa has been proven correct in the past with his predictions about the PS4 Pro and Switch Lite. According to Nishikawa, the PS5 Pro will cost around $100-$150 more than the basic PS5 console. The report states that Sony is taking this approach because it has "acknowledged the interest in a high-end model and wants to give players what they want right from the beginning of the generation".
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| Pentagon blocks further clamp down on Huawei Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:05 AM PST Huawei has found an unexpected ally in its ongoing battle in the United States in the form of the Pentagon. Both the Pentagon and US Department of Defense have objected to restrictions placed on the Chinese technology giant which have restricted access to American-made hardware. The Pentagon feels that these news blocks would mean that the American companies could be deprived of the money by selling components to Huawei. This money can be used for R&D and other much needed technological enhancements.
RestrictedThe United States Department of Commerce has put the proposal on hold and President Trump’s administration now plans to discuss the same in a high-level meeting to discuss this week. The current regulations state that high-tech products and components shipped to China from other countries with 25% or less US-made components may not need a license. This limit was being brought down to 10% making it virtually impossible for Huawei to source US-made components. The US Department of Commerce had recently proposed added restrictions on American exports to the company and even aimed at including products like consumer electronics and non-sensitive chips to the scope of existing restrictions. This would’ve made it harder for Huawei to buy components from American companies. Huawei has been accused of spying due to alleged close links with the Chinese government and has been put under a trade blacklist since May 2019. Huawei, though, has denied these allegations and maintained its innocence The sanctions placed by the United States and other countries on Huawei have resulted in a trade war-like scenario with China. The company has been barred from selling 5G equipment to the US and its allies despite claiming to be far ahead in terms of 5G research and implementation. The trade war has also resulted in Huawei being barred from using Google’s Android operating system Android on its phones.
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| 50GB data for £15/pm SIM only deal tops BT, Sky, Vodafone and Virgin for value Posted: 27 Jan 2020 08:00 AM PST Anyone currently on the lookout for a brand new SIM only deal is pretty spoilt for choice right now. Even with the likes of EE, Three, Virgin and BT throwing their hat into the ring for your attention, one lesser-known brand is standing tall above all of them. Smarty Mobile, a Three owned brand, has been offering up two SIM only deals that have hit the perfect balance between cost and data for a while now. The cheaper of the two gets you 30GB for £10 a month with the more expensive going for 50GB for £15. On top of that pretty excellent value, Smarty operates on 1-month rolling contracts meaning you can stay for 1 month, 8 months, 1 year, 45 years...you get the idea. We've listed both of these Smarty plans below as well as picking out its biggest competition.
Smarty's cheap SIM only deals:Why go for Smarty Mobile?It's a brand you may never have heard of and yet, it's a name that's giving the big retailers some serious competition - let us tell you why. With an excellent mix of cheap SIM only deals and big data bargains, Smarty covers most of the market's needs. And, with its 1-month rolling contracts, you can stay for as long as you like, making this the perfect stop over option. One final benefit? Smarty allows you to tether your devices to your phone meaning you can use up that 50GB of data across any laptop, tablet or even console you got over Christmas.
What other SIM only deals are out there?50GB still not enough data for you or just like the comfort that an unlimited data tariff provides? Then Three's unlimited plan for £18 a month is still looking like the obvious place to go. And if it's the fastest possible 4G speeds you require, then you'll be buoyed to hear that EE has just improved its best SIMO offers and now gives 60GB of monthly data for £20. And, if you're really on a budget, you can go even cheaper with the UK's cheapest SIMO from iD. That will bring your bills all the way down to just £5 per month. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Xbox Game Pass vs PlayStation Now: which is the best game subscription service? Posted: 27 Jan 2020 07:49 AM PST PS Now vs Xbox Game Pass: which game subscription service will get your hard-earned dollars? We're juggling all sorts of subscription services nowadays: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and Spotify are all competing for your cash, but this is increasingly becoming the case for games, too. It's worth remembering that neither platform properly equates to a Netflix-style model but, with the popularity of Xbox Game Pass and the gains PlayStation Now is making in mind, both are a more viable means of consuming videogames than ever before. If you can't justify owning both, it's worth knowing the differences between Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now. So we'll be going into what each service is, how much it costs, and the strength of their respective game libraries.
Xbox Game Pass vs PS Now overview
Both Game Pass and PS Now are game subscription services that, in exchange for a flat monthly fee, give you access to a library to hundreds of games. However, you only own these games as long as your subscription is active. But there are differences: PS Now allows you to stream the 500+ games in its library, as well as the choice to download them to your PC or PS4 hard drive. Following Sony's acquisition of cloud gaming company Gaikai in 2012 for $380 million, PS Now members can play titles on a remote server, if their internet speeds are strong enough. Sony recommends at least 5 mbps, but 10+ will be better for interruption-free gameplay, and that can go higher for the most graphically intensive experiences. However, while this saves on hard drive space, irritating mid-game disconnections are a possibility. In any case, an Ethernet connection is always preferable to wi-fi for the best quality stream. However, PS Now is available on PS4 and PC, making the platform the only way mouse and keyboard loyalists can play Sony exclusives like Bloodborne, The Last of Us, and Uncharted. Game Pass only has the capacity for members to download games to their PC or Xbox One, which requires HDD or SDD drive space, and the time to download them. That said, Microsoft's Fast Start functionality uses machine learning to download the essential parts of a game first. While Game Pass is not a streaming service - Microsoft has that covered with Project xCloud - there's no limit on your number of game downloads and you have access to them offline for up to 30 days. While Xbox 360 games are included, the service can only be used on an Xbox One - and it's on PC, but it's still in beta and with a smaller library. PS Now vs Xbox Game Pass price
PlayStation Now can be purchased for longer time periods at increasingly better value - however the service currently isn't available in Australia. One month of PS Now costs $9.99 / £8.99 - recently cut from $19.99 to match the price of a month of Game Pass in the US - and three months is $24.99 / £22.99, and a year is $59.99 / £49.99. 12 months of PS Now bought at once works out at just under $5 a month. There's also a 7-day free trial that can be cancelled at any time, so it's worth quitting for a month if you find yourself with less time to play. Microsoft's service, however, comes with a two-week free trial, and often with Xbox Game Pass deals such as $1 for the first month. Should you need it, here's how to cancel Xbox Game Pass, which you can also do at any time. Xbox Game Pass costs $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$10.95 per month on console, with access to the PC beta at the time of writing costing just $1 / £1 / AU$1 for the first three months – and subsequently $4.99 / £3.99 / AU$4.98 per month or $14.99 / £11.99 / AU$14.95 per quarter. Then there's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is more expensive at $14.99 / £10.99 / AU$15.95 a month, but with it you get Game Pass, Xbox Live Gold, and Game Pass for PC. Bought separately this works out as $30 (£23) - ideal for owners of both a PC and Xbox One. Xbox Game Pass vs PS Now games
Xbox Game Pass rocketed in popularity in 2019 with some serious triple-A scalps. Highly anticipated games like The Outer Worlds launched day one on the platform, along with Microsoft first-party exclusives like Gears 5. Expect upcoming exclusives like Halo: Infinite to also arrive on launch. There are usually around 200 Game Pass titles available at once - and a smaller 150-strong collection on Game Pass for PC - with games coming and going every month. Keep an eye on your console's Game Pass tab to see which games are leaving. You can also buy and keep Game Pass games for a 20% reduction and a 10% discount for associated DLC. There are more games on PS Now, but it's arguably quantity over quality. New titles from the PS2, PS3, and PS4 generations are added to its 650+ game library each month and they include heavy hitters like Red Dead Redemption 2 as well as Sony exclusives The Last of Us and Horizon: Zero Dawn. But unlike Game Pass, they tend not to appear on day one. That said, it's a great way of replaying older games without booting up an older console. Xbox Game Pass vs PS Now verdictGoing into 2020, Xbox Game Pass is the stronger service, but PS Now is steadily narrowing the gap. The key factor that swings in favour of Microsoft's platform is the quality of its library, and how quickly they arrive. Of course that depends on the company with the exclusives you prefer. But PS Now is quickly improving. Sony has expanded its library with stronger titles, cut the price, and introduced downloads to complement its streaming options. However, as internet speeds improve, streaming is only going to become more viable. Either way, Sony and Microsoft will surely be investing heavily in both their subscription offerings. The green team will aim to capitalise on their recent success and Sony will likely start launching their games on PS Now at launch, if they hope to catch up. With Google and even Amazon looking to claim their own slice of the video game pie, the winner of the subscription battleground may well decide the next-gen console war.
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| New games 2020: the biggest games coming to console and PC Posted: 27 Jan 2020 07:44 AM PST It's a brand new year which means we have a heap of new games to look forward to. But it's not just any new year, 2020 is a biggie and will see us making the transition to next-generation consoles and new streaming services. That means that most games that are due to release this year are fair game to be cross-generation titles - even if we don't know it yet. Xbox Series X and the PS5 may not be releasing until the end of 2020, but there are plenty of fantastic games releasing in the run-up. It can be hard to keep track of which games are releasing when, and for what platform, so we've put together this handy guide to all the games releasing in 2020 - and when we can expect them. January
February
March
April
May
June
September
TBC new games 2020
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