Sunday, January 12, 2020

Apple : Seahawks vs Packers live stream: how to watch NFL Divisional Round 2020 playoffs football from anywhere

Apple : Seahawks vs Packers live stream: how to watch NFL Divisional Round 2020 playoffs football from anywhere


Seahawks vs Packers live stream: how to watch NFL Divisional Round 2020 playoffs football from anywhere

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 01:14 PM PST

The last game of NFL's 2020 Divisional Round round is here and today you’ll get to see the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers meet on the field at Lambeau Field. This is a playoffs game you won’t want to miss as a spot in the NFC championship game is on the line and the last time these two teams met was over a year ago. We’re here to make sure you catch every minute of today’s game - see how to get a Seahawks vs Packers live stream regardless of where in the world you are.

Seattle ended the regular season 12-5 and the team holds the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks are coming off of last week’s huge Wild Card weekend game where they defeated the Eagles 17-9. Can the Seahawks defeat the Packers on the road for a spot in the NFC championship?

Green Bay on the other hand is going into today’s game well rested after earning a first round bye in the playoffs from being the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Packers will be looking to avenge the 27-24 loss they suffered at the hands of the Seahawks when these two teams met last season. Will the Packers triumph over the Seahawks on the road to Super Bowl 2020?

Whether you’re a Seahawks fan in Seattle, a Packers fan in Green Bay or just want to tune in to see which team will advance to the NFC championship - we’ll show you how to get a Seahawks vs Packers live stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch the Seahawks vs Packers game online from outside your country (or in a blackout)

Watching this game from the US, UK, Canada or Australia? We'll tell you how to catch the NFL game further down in the article.

But if you're somewhere else in the world - or if a coverage blackout is stopping you from watching in the US - then there's still a way you can live stream the Seahawks vs Packers online (and you don't even have to slum it with a grainy, illegal feed you've found on Reddit). Instead you could use a VPN - or Virtual Private Network - to change the IP address to one in a different state or country which does have a stream. And it's not even hard to do.

How to watch the Seahawks vs Packers in the US

Can I watch with the NFL Game Pass?

Well it's a no and a yes. The NFL Game Pass in the US will only let you watch a replay of the game, but not the live action.

Interestingly, it's a different story with an International NFL Game Pass where all post season games are being shown absolutely live...shame you can't officially get access to that if you and your laptop's IP address is in the US.

Other ways cord cutters can stream NFL live online

Sling TV $40 per month - Sling TV splits its live NFL options across its $30 a month Blue plan and $30 a month Orange plan. By combining the two, you get a $10 dollar discount and access to Fox, NBC, ESPN and the NFL Network.  

Hulu with Live TV $40 per month - Hulu with Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN but does not come with NFL Network.

FuboTV $35 for the first month - FuboTV gives you the first month at a discounted rate but after that the price increases to $45 a month. The service includes CBS, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network but does not come with ESPN.

DirecTV Now $50 per month - DirecTV Now includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and for $5 extra you can add the NFL Network. However, with this service you can only watch football on local TV stations live.

YouTubeTV $40 per month - YouTubeTV gives you access to CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN but just like with Hulu with Live TV, there is no NFL Network.

How to stream Packers vs Seahawks live in the UK

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Get a NFL Divisional Round live stream in Canada for free

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Live stream Seahawks vs Packers in Australia for free

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How to watch Winter Love Island online: stream free from UK or abroad

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 12:54 PM PST

Guys we've got a text... it's officially time for Winter Love Island! So get ready to do some grafting and crack on because we guarantee you'll want to go all factor 50 for the return of the hit TV series!

Ready for all the shocking re-couplings and villa drama? Make sure you keep reading as we tell you how you can watch Winter Love Island online from anywhere in the world.

ITV seems to think that "winter can do one" and we agree - we're ready for our cocktail under the sun and so are the fresh batch of islanders. If you're curious as to who the singles are this year-  keep scrolling as we have the full list below.

Set in the bright and sunny South Africa, the Winter Love Island villa is twice the size of the villa in Mallorca and worth a whopping 5.3 million!

And there is one other change in this show apart from the location, Caroline Flack has had to step down (for reasons that have been well reported!). Don't worry, you won't be left host-less, as Laura Whitmore (actress and Iain Stirling's girlfriend) will be stepping in as her replacement.

So if you're ready to put your eggs all in one basket, we can guarantee this show is 100% your type on paper. If you're ready to see this year's singles find love make sure you keep scrolling! We'll tell you how to watch Winter Love Island online whether you're in the UK or mismatched a holiday.

How to watch Winter Love Island online for free in the UK: 

If you're going to be in the UK the whole time the show is on then watching it couldn't be easier. Simple gather your friends and families around the TV on Sunday, January 12 when it starts, and get ready to see some grafting. 9pm is the time to tune in to ITV2.

But if you would rather watch Love Island online you can easily catch it via the ITV website or watch it on your mobile devices via the ITV Hub app which you can download here for Android and here for your iPhone or iPad.

The other way to watch ITV online is to go via TVPlayer.com - we actually prefer this option as the stream tends to be better quality and more robust. It's also a faster site, more responsive and quicker to get up and running with. It's still free and legal, too.

How to watch Winter Love Island online from outside the country:

If you’re from the UK and have planned a holiday while the show is on we won't be jealous that you're in the sun whilst we face rain - we'll just tell you how you can still get your fix and avoid any annoying geo-blocking. By using a VPN, you can change your IP address to one in the UK which will allow you to stream the event using your ITV account. Keep reading and we’ll show you how.

Who are the Winter Love Island 2020 islanders?

  • Leanne Amaning, 22 from London
  • Siannise Fudge, 25 from Bristol
  • Eve Gale, 20 from London
  • Jess Gale, 20 from London
  • Shaugnha Phillips, 25 from London
  • Sophie Piper, 21 from Essex
  • Paige Turley, 22 from Scotland
  • Mike Boateng, 24 from Manchester
  • Connor Durman, 25 from Brighton
  • Callum Jones, 23 from Manchester
  • Nas Majeed, 23 from London
  • Ollie Williams, 23 from Cornwall

Who will be hosting Winter Love Island?

Even though Caroline Flack has been the familiar face for the past five years for this popular show, she has stepped down this year as she was charged for assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton. 

Laura Whitmore will be replacing Caroline as the host of this hit TV series. For those of you who haven't heard of her before, Whitmore is an Irish broadcaster and actress. 

Fans can rest assured that this will be the only big change occurring, you can still expect to see comedian Iain Stirling  cracking jokes and voicing over the series.

Who were the winners of Love Island 2019?

Amber Gill and Greg O'Shea, and although they have now parted ways - it's safe to say they were everyone's favourite couple for a while. Amber entered the villa on day one and although she had a bit of a tough time, she definitely rose above as she was crowned the winner - and Greg entered the villa on day 43.

What do the winners of Winter Love Island UK get?

Apart from finding their soul mates of course, they also get a whopping £50,000 which they can choose to split with their partner or keep to themselves. And of course, they get to be crowned as that year's winners inevitably going down into the Love Island hall of fame.

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Texans vs Chiefs live stream: how to watch NFL Divisional Round playoffs football from anywhere

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 11:56 AM PST

The NFL is heading to Kansas City where the Houston Texans will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of this year’s playoffs. This is a game you won’t want to miss as the Chiefs suffered a 31-24 defeat to the Texans in week 6 and the team will be out for revenge with a spot in the AFC Championship game on the line. We’re here to make sure you catch every minute of today’s game - see how to get a Texans vs Chiefs live stream regardless of where in the world you are.

Houston finished the regular season 10-6 at the top of the AFC South and the team holds the No. 4 seed in the postseason. The Chiefs were expecting to take on the Patriots in today’s game but a Titans upset last week means they’ll play the Texans instead. Last Sunday the Texans earned their fourth postseason victory in franchise history when they defeated the Bills 19-22 thanks an overtime field goal by place kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn. Can Houston make history and advance past the Divisional Round for the first time in Texans history?

Kansas City ended the regular season 12-4 and was able to sit out Wild Card weekend because the team got a first round bye in the playoffs after their 31-21 win over the Chargers in week 17 earned them the No.2 seed in the AFC playoffs. This means the Chiefs will go into today’s game well rested and unfortunately for the Texans, this is a much different team than they faced in week 6. Will the Chiefs defeat the Texans and continue on the road to Super Bowl 2020?

Whether you’re a Texans fan in Houston, a Chiefs fan in Kansas City or just want to tune in to see which team will play in next week’s AFC Championship - we’ll show you how to get a Texans vs Chiefs live stream regardless of where in the world you are so you don’t miss a single touchdown.

Watch the Texans vs Chiefs game online from outside your country (or in a blackout)

Watching this game from the US, UK, Canada or Australia? We'll tell you how to catch the NFL game further down in the article.

But if you're somewhere else in the world - or if a coverage blackout is stopping you from watching in the US - then there's still a way you can live stream the Texans vs Chiefs online (and you don't even have to slum it with a grainy, illegal feed you've found on Reddit). Instead you could use a VPN - or Virtual Private Network - to change the IP address to one in a different state or country which does have a stream. And it's not even hard to do.

How to watch the Texans vs Chiefs in the US

Can I watch with the NFL Game Pass?

Well it's a no and a yes. The NFL Game Pass in the US will only let you watch a replay of the game, but not the live action.

Interestingly, it's a different story with an International NFL Game Pass where all post season games are being shown absolutely live...shame you can't officially get access to that if you and your laptop's IP address is in the US.

Other ways cord cutters can stream NFL live online

Sling TV $40 per month - Sling TV splits its live NFL options across its $30 a month Blue plan and $30 a month Orange plan. By combining the two, you get a $10 dollar discount and access to Fox, NBC, ESPN and the NFL Network.  

Hulu with Live TV $40 per month - Hulu with Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN but does not come with NFL Network.

FuboTV $35 for the first month - FuboTV gives you the first month at a discounted rate but after that the price increases to $45 a month. The service includes CBS, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network but does not come with ESPN.

DirecTV Now $50 per month - DirecTV Now includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and for $5 extra you can add the NFL Network. However, with this service you can only watch football on local TV stations live.

YouTubeTV $40 per month - YouTubeTV gives you access to CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN but just like with Hulu with Live TV, there is no NFL Network.

How to stream Chiefs vs Texans live in the UK

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Get a NFL Divisional Round live stream in Canada for free

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Live stream Texans vs Chiefs in Australia for free

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How to watch Doctor Who online: stream season 12 free from the UK or abroad

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 08:50 AM PST

Daleks, time lords, the tardis - it's all back and bigger than ever as the latest season of Doctor Who comes time travelling to our TV screens. But of course, for any fans of the show, you will want to know what the best way to watch Doctor Who season 12 online.

With 10 episodes set to air in this latest season, Whovians are set to get a strong dose of action from the latest doctor - Jodie Whittaker. A few episodes in and we can tell you it's shaping up to be a seriously strong season.

We've already had both the Christmas special and New Year's special, both of which were two of the longest episodes in Doctor Who history so for anyone who is behind, now is the time to catch up and watch Doctor Who season 12 online.

Need even more reason to catch all of the action? Just a few episodes in and this series has been especially star-packed with guest appearances from the likes of Stephen Fry and Lenny Henry with plenty more scheduled across the rest of the episodes.

Ready to watch Doctor Who season 12 online? We've listed everything you'll need to know about catching the latest episodes below. There's even ways to watch if you're currently living abroad or happen to be on holiday as each episode airs.

How to watch Doctor Who online for free in the UK:

Watching Doctor Who for anyone in the UK will be a breeze. Simply head on over to BBC One every Sunday at 7pm to see all of the action live as it happens.

Rather watch episodes from your laptop, tablet, mobile or other device? Luckily, that's still possible. Simply head to either the BBC iPlayer app or the TVPlayer service. Both are completely free to use and will give full access to each episode as they air.

Stream Doctor Who from anywhere else in the world for free:

Away on holiday or currently living abroad while this latest season airs? Sadly, this will mean the Doctor Who episodes are geo-blocked for you. Luckily there's an easy solution to remedy this.

All you have to do is appear like you're back in the UK thanks to the use of a VPN. A VPN is a tool that alters your IP address to make it look like you're somewhere else - perfect for trying to stream TV.

Our vote for the best VPN service goes to ExpressVPN but how do you install one and how can that be used to watch Doctor Who season 12 online? Read on to answer all of these questions.

How to watch Doctor Who in the US

Watch old episodes of Doctor Who online

New to the Doctor Who franchise? There's a lot to catch up on but luckily, no matter where you are, it's easy to watch all of the Doctor Who episodes:

Watch all the series of 'new' Doctor Who from the UK

Doctor Who has a very long history and unfortunately there is no easy way to watch every episode ever. However, BBC has stepped on up in heroic fashion to offer you everything since the show returned in 2005. That means you can catch up a wealth of content over on BBC iPlayer.

The show was also free to watch on the Amazon Prime subscription for a while but will now cost you per episode if you look to go that way. Looking for a full session of binge-watching? Britbox will be the way to go, with all the classic Doctor Who dating from its first ever episodes in the 60s. However, Britbox will require a VPN to circumvent its geo-restriction if you're abroad – scroll up for all the info on that.

Watch previous Doctor Who seasons online in the US

Doctor Who fans Stateside can also revisit old episodes of the programme via the Britbox service mentioned above.

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Apple replacing faulty iPhone XS and iPhone XR Smart Battery Cases for free

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 07:30 AM PST

Apple has introduced another replacement program, this time for the official line of Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR – the three handsets launched in 2018.

It appears some of these cases aren't charging up iPhones properly, or aren't charging up properly themselves – so if yours hasn't been working as it should, then it's worth checking if you have a device that's eligible for a replacement.

Cases manufactured between January 2019 and October 2019 are the ones affected, according to Apple, covering all the colors available (black, white, pink) for the three iPhones we've already mentioned.

If Apple finds that you do have a defective Smart Battery Case, it'll swap it for one that works free of charge. It also promises to dispose of the dud devices in an environmentally friendly way.

Case closed

"Apple has determined that some Smart Battery Cases made for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR may experience charging issues," says Apple on the support page for the replacement program.

Apple goes on to say that a case that "will not charge or charges intermittently when plugged into power", or that "does not charge the iPhone or charges it intermittently" may need replacing. There's no safety issue with the cases, however.

If you think you have one of the dud units, you need to take it to an Apple Store or an officially authorized Apple repair shop. You've got two years to get around to doing this from the date of sale, though presumably you'll want a working battery case sooner rather than later.

The latest Smart Battery Case that launched at the start of 2019 hasn't had the smoothest of rides – it went off sale for a period, though it wasn't clear exactly why. Apple continues to sell the cases, presumably now fully working, as well as versions for the new iPhones.

Via Engadget

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Vodafone's free speed upgrade remains the best fibre broadband deal around right now

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 05:00 AM PST

While most broadband providers might offer you a freebie here, a small price cut there, Vodafone has pulled somewhat of a strange promotion out, offering you its fastest fibre package...for the same price as its regular one.

Of course we're not complaining! That now means speeds averaging 63Mb for just £23 a month when you sign up for Vodafone's Superfast Fibre 2 package or in other words, a pretty unbeatable offer on your internet.

And the news only gets better for existing Vodafone customers. If you have a phone contract with the company, you can reduce the price further, only having to pay £21 a month.

We've listed everything you need to know about this deal below. Or head to the bottom of this article or to our fibre broadband deals guide to see the competition.

Vodafone's cheap fibre broadband deal in full: 

What other broadband deals are there right now?

While Vodafone has the world of fibre locked down, there are some even cheaper prices if you're willing to drop your speeds. And its sternest competition no doubt comes from TalkTalk at the moment and its £40 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card promotion.

Currently, the Post Office has the cheapest broadband offer, coming in at just £15.90 a month. Obviously at that price, your speeds are far lower, only getting you an average of 11Mb.

But if you do really want fibre but want it from another name, BT could be a good option right now. With speeds averaging 50Mb at a price of just £28.99, this is one of the best prices you can pay for BT right now. BT will even throw in a £70 BT reward card on top - just watch the 24 month contract length.

Read more:

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Google tests biometric support for its autofill feature on Android

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 03:30 AM PST

You may well already use Google's autofill feature, which remembers your passwords, addresses, credit cards, and other details, then puts them into forms for you on Android and inside Chrome. Now it looks as though the tool is getting a security boost.

As spotted by XDA Developers, Android code that's not yet been enabled suggests biometric authentication will soon be added to the autofill feature, so you'll need a fingerprint or a face unlock to use it.

At the moment, anyone who gets access to your Android phone or Chrome web browser can use the details held by autofill – they can log into sites, fill out forms with your information, and so on.

That's why having some form of lock screen security is so important on a smartphone – because as far as autofill and most of your apps are concerned, once you get past that stage, you are who you say you are.

Safety first

This extra biometric security layer, if indeed it does become official, will bring Google's autofill more into line with third-party password managers: most of these apps require a fingerprint or face unlock before they'll release your details.

Based on the early code it looks as though biometrics will be able to be used for both payment info and login credentials, with toggle switches for each. The settings can be found under Languages & input in the System menu in Android settings.

Presumably if the feature does roll out, it'll support the latest Face Unlock technology that Google has implemented on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, both of which let you skip the lock screen using facial recognition.

This code isn't proof that the autofill security upgrade is on the way, but it certainly makes sense for Google to implement it. We might hear more about it – and about Android 11 – at the Google IO developer conference in May.

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VR and AR to boost UAE's GDP by 1% and add $4.1b to economy by 2030

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 01:41 AM PST

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are expected to contribute $4.1b to the UAE economy, a 1% boost to GDP by 2030, and will also have a significant impact on employment in the country.

According to a report by PwC Middle East, the majority of the contribution to the UAE economy will come from AR ($2.8b) with VR providing $1.3b.

Moreover, the technologies will benefit all industries, most notably in the healthcare and retail sectors in the UAE and will create more than 40,000 jobs in the country.

Last year, the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention announced plans to introduce VR rehabilitation in physiotherapy for stroke patients, patients suffering from balance disorder and children with development disorders, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's syndrome.

Dubai Water and Electricity (Dewa) and Dubai Customs are integrating these technologies to transform their customer and employee experiences while Dewa’s engineers and technicians are using smart helmets and goggles to remain in quick contact with one another to conduct repairs.

Ali Al Hosseini, Chief Digital Officer at PwC Middle East, said that the Middle East is at a crossroads today as it undergoes a once-in-a-lifetime transformation and choosing the path of early technology adoption will have tremendous implications for business, society and the region’s economy as a whole.

“No place exemplifies this drive for innovation and openness to change better than the UAE. As AR and VR technology finally comes of age, we expect both to help boost the UAE’s economy in a significant way - the technologies will improve how organisations in the country operate, make for a seamless transition to more effective processes, and most important of all - educate people more effectively and generate incredible user experiences,” he said.

Healthcare sector to be biggest contributor

Globally, AR and VR are expected to contribute $1.5tr to the global economy by 2030 and provide a significant increase on the current contribution to global GDP of $46.4 billion. 

Out of the two technologies, AR will continue to provide the biggest benefits to global GDP through to 2030, accounting for $1tr of the $1.5tr overall.

Finland ($7.b), Germany ($103.b) and the UK ($69.3b) are forecast to see the biggest increases in percentage terms of GDP by 2030 with contributions of 2.64%, 2.46%, and 2.44% respectively.

The healthcare sector will provide a boost of $350.9b to global GDP while the use of VR and AR in the retail and consumer sector will provide a $204b boost and product and service development will provide a $359.4 billion boost to global GDP by 2030.

“AR and VR are transforming the world we live in and we have only seen a fraction of what is possible. These technologies can deliver experiences unlike any other and will make businesses thrive with the right adoption,” Richard Boxshall, Senior Economist at PwC Middle East, said.

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Xiaomi Mi Band 5: what we want to see

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 01:00 AM PST

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is the expected successor to the Mi Band 4, a cheap fitness tracker from mid-2019 that impressed us with a range of features you definitely can't guarantee are available on other trackers with a low price tag.

Xiaomi is now working on a follow-up, and that'll hopefully be launched some time in 2020 with improvements on its predecessor. 

The Mi Band 5 could be one of the best affordable fitness trackers of the year, so it's an event exercise fans should await with baited breath.

We've heard a few leaks and rumors about the device, but much of it is a mystery so we've also come up with a wish list of the top features we hope to see in the Xiaomi Mi Band 5.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? A budget fitness tracker
  • When is it out? Likely mid-2020
  • How much will it cost? Around $39.99 / £34.99 / AU$59

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 release date and price

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4

While we know Xiaomi is working on the Mi Band 5, we don't have an exact release date. On an earnings call Wang Huang, founder of Huami (an element of Xiaomi's business that produces the Mi Band products) said "potentially toward the [indecipherable] of next year [2020], we may launch Mi Band 5". 

It seems the two options available for thie indecipherable section are 'towards the middle of next year' or 'towards the end of next year' – either way, early 2020 seems ruled out. 

Since the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 was launched in June 2019, we could see the newer device come out around the same time in 2020.

In terms of price, we don't have any clue as to how much it'll cost, but we can use the Mi Band 4's $39.99 / £34.99 / AU$59 initial price as reference. With the device's closest competition the Honor Band 5 undercutting that price slightly, we could see the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 come out with a lower cost, but if the features justify it the Mi Band 5 price could be a little higher.

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 news and rumors

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4

There hasn't been a huge amount of leaked information about the Xiaomi Mi Band 5, but since each new iteration of the series is only a mild improvement over the last, there's not that much that is likely to change.

One report suggests that the Mi Band 5 has two big changes over the Mi Band 4.

The first of these is that the screen should see an improvement, with it growing to 1.2 inches. That's bigger than the 0.95-inch display of its predecessor. It's also said to have been designed to be more visible in sunlight, which could mean it uses a different screen tech or has filters placed over the display.

Secondly, the Mi Band 5 will apparently have NFC worldwide, something Mi Bands have only shipped with in China before. 

Near-Field Communication (NFC) is mainly used for contactless payment, which would let you use your Mi Band 5 to pay for things without you needing your phone.

So far, that's all we know about the fitness tracker, but we'll update this page when we find out more.

What we want to see

Here are a few features we'd like to see make their way into the Xiaomi Mi Band 5.

1. Onboard GPS

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4

One of the main features missing from previous Xiaomi Mi Bands is onboard GPS. If you want to track your runs on an existing Mi Band, you need to connect to your phone at all times. That isn't great if you want to run without your phone.

We'd like to see the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 come with onboard GPS, so all you need when you're working out is the fitness tracker. Not everyone likes carrying their phone around, but currently leaving it behind sacrifices running data.

2. A variety of straps

Xiaomi Mi Band 3

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 with its various straps

There's a big market in wearable straps, as people like to choose different colors or materials that suit them well, but the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 (unlike the Mi Band 3) didn't have a selection to choose from. 

We'd like to see the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 launch with a few different straps and loops to choose from, in different colors, so you can swap around your band when you're working out, or choose colors to match your outfit.

Sure, you can use the Mi Band 3 straps with newer devices, but we'd still like to see some new variety available directly from Xiaomi.

3. App multi-tasking

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

Sometimes when you're working out you want to access the timer or stopwatches on your fitness tracker, so you can time a particular lap or length, and we hope the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 actually lets us do so.

On the Mi Band 4, you couldn't access other apps while you were tracking a workout, which limited the use cases for the device. If the Mi Band 5 wants to be the best gym companion it can be, we'd like to see app multi-tasking.

4. Automatic fitness trackings

Fitbit Versa 2

Fitbit Versa 2, with automatic fitness tracking

One of the reasons Fitbit devices are champion fitness trackers is because many of them can auto-sense when you start working out, and automatically start recording. We can't recall how many times we've forgotten to start the workout mode, only to find our Fitbit initiated it for us.

Something similar would be great on the Xiaomi Mi Band 5, so if it sensed elevated heart rate and rapid movement it'd recognize that we'd started exercising. It's not a vital mode, but it's particularly useful for forgetful people.

5. Improved sleep tracking

Honor Band 5, which had sleep feedback

We're going to defer to Fitbit for features again, simply because they're market leaders right now. A great perk to using a Fitbit is that it can provide detailed sleep tracking information, including what kind of sleep you had at certain times (REM, for example), and this can be super useful to helping you get a better nights sleep.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 had sleep tracking that measured times, but it perhaps wasn't as detailed as it could have been. Since the Honor Band 5, a close competitor, comes with sleep feedback to help improve your nights, the Mi Band 5 would really benefit from improved sleep tracking.

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DMCC records 5.4% growth in new company registrations in 2019

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 12:31 AM PST

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), world’s fastest-growing free zone, has witnessed a 5.4% year-on-year growth in new company registrations in 2019 to 1,969 and is now home to over 17,000 companies.

DMCC, a government entity established for major multinationals and start-ups in 2002, finished 2019 with the strongest fourth-quarter registrations in four years.

A total of 559 companies signed-up to the free zone in the fourth quarter, a 20% increase on the same period in 2018. This follows the registration of 202 new member companies in October 2019, the highest figure in a single month for two years.

 “DMCC is a global hub for trade and an interconnected business district in the heart of Dubai. We added 2,000 companies from a variety of backgrounds and sectors in 2019. The strong 2019 performance is the result of us listening to our member companies, constantly enhancing our services and broadening our engagement with business communities around the world,” Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said in a statement.

The new member companies include start-ups, SMEs and multinational firms from a variety of sectors, adding to the diverse business ecosystem DMCC has built within its Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) community. Over 100,000 people live, work and thrive in JLT, where everyday lives are transformed by DMCC's smart district solutions.

Bin Sulayem said that DMCC continues to attract foreign direct investment to Dubai from key international markets including China and India.

“We look forward to welcoming more companies in 2020 and in turn increase our contribution to Dubai’s GDP and the wider national economic diversification strategy,” he said.

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The Mobile Industry Decade In Review: 2015 - 2019

Posted: 12 Jan 2020 12:00 AM PST

Ten years is a long time in technology, especially in a sector as innovative and fast paced as mobile. Here we take a trip down memory lane to review the changes that happened in the UK mobile industry during the 2010s.

2015: Expanding horizons

The major story of the year was the proposed £10.25 billion merger between O2 and Three, a deal which would have created the UK’s largest mobile operator and reduced the number of networks in the UK from four to three. Both regulator Ofcom and the European Commission (EC) said they would look at how the transaction would affect the market. 

Six years on from the last major consolidation of the market, EE said the merger between Orange and T-Mobile was finally complete, with the brands disappearing from the high street. As smartphone growth slowed, manufacturers were looking towards wearables such as smartwatches for new sources of revenue. 

The release of the Apple Watch helped stimulate the fledgling market. Apple also continued its expansion into services, launching Apple Music as a rival to Spotify.

  • Notable handsets: iPhone 6S, Samsung Galaxy S6, OnePlus 2

2016: The great recall

Three and O2’s merger was blocked by the EC, which expressed fears that competition in the UK market would be negatively impacted if approval was granted. Ronan Dunne stepped down as O2 CEO to be replaced by CFO Mark Evans, while EE CEO Olaf Swantee stepped down in favour of Marc Allera, who would become head of BT’s Consumer business. 

Both the BlackBerry and Nokia brands were given a new lease of life through licensing agreements with TCL and HMD Global respectively, while Windows 10 finally came to smartphones – albeit with limited exposure. 

However Samsung was caught out by one of the biggest industry disasters in recent history after reports emerged of exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 units. The device was recalled and never re-released.

  • Notable handsets: Samsung Galaxy Note 7, Google Pixel, HTC 10

2017: Slowing growth

Sky started the year by throwing its hat into the mobile ring by launching Sky Mobile, its own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), using O2’s infrastructure as its host network. Three launched its own no-frills MVNO in the form of SMARTY, while Vodafone launched a youth-focused MVNO called Voxi. 

In July, additional fees for roaming were abolished across the entire European Union (EU), allowing UK consumers to use their phones freely while on holiday or on business. How long these freedoms will last depends on Brexit. 

As smartphone market growth slowed and even contracted, manufacturers looked to increase the Average Selling Price (ASP) to increase revenues. The result was the most expensive iPhone ever – the iPhone X. Microsoft’s response was to halt feature development for Windows 10 Mobile.

  • Notable handsets: iPhone X, BlackBerry KEYOne, Google Pixel 2

2018: Getting ready for 5G

Mobile operators continued their journey towards 5G with backend enhancements and through the acquisition of new spectrum. The Ofcom auction of 5G airwaves generated £1.4 billion for the treasury, a sum that won’t affect operators ability to invest in new infrastructure. 

TalkTalk withdrew from the MVNO market following a shift in strategy at the company, while the retail sector was altered by the acquisition of Mobile Phones Direct by AO. The year ended with a major outage at O2 caused by a software issue with Ericsson’s 5G networking equipment.

  • Notable handsets: Samsung Galaxy S9, Google Pixel 3, iPhone XR

2019: Political technology

2019 was the year the UK became a 5G nation. EE launched the UK’s first commercial service in May, with Vodafone following suit later that summer and Three offering 5G broadband. O2 joined the party in October. 

The distribution sector was shaken up by the acquisition of Data Select by Westcoast, while Gavin Patterson made way at BT for Philip Jansen. Vendors placed faith in the 5G market to revive mobile sales, while others looked at innovative new form factors such as foldable devices. 

However 2019 was also the year that politics and technology collided, with Huawei barred from dealing with US supplies due to national security fears. The Chinese company denies any allegation of wrongdoing, but Washington is urging its allies to follow its lead. What impact this will have on the rollout of 5G and on the device market in the 2020s is still unclear.

  • Notable handsets: iPhone 11, Samsung Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy Note 10

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Meet the Frankenstein of SSD: A solid state drive that mixes SLC and QLC

Posted: 11 Jan 2020 10:00 PM PST

Enmotus hit the headlines two years ago when its partnership with AMD introduced free software that combined the speed of an SSD with the capacity of a hard drive into a single fast and easy-to-manage platform.

Now, in partnership with storage specialist and controller manufacturer Phison, the company has announced the MiDrive - a new category of drives that combines high endurance SLC and high capacity QLC on a single physical board.

Sophisticated

Intel also tried to do something vaguely similar more than a decade ago with the Robson technology and more recently with 3D Xpoint/Optane memory that can be found into laptops and desktops alike.

Enmotus says that it uses its sophisticated MIA (Machine Intelligent Algorithms) to manage QLC’s inherent limitations, mostly around endurance, which can be problematic as SSD do wear out. 

Five-layer flash or PLC is expected to have even worse endurance while at the same time closing the price per TB gap with hard disk drives.

The SLC part, in this case, is not used as a cache but as primary storage.

Enmotus hasn’t disclosed when these SSDs will hit the market and if yes, how much they will cost. We know that they carry a five-year warranty and will be available in a 1TB capacity (P200HEQM) as an NVMe storage device.

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