Apple : Tutanota secure email service blocked in Russia |
- Tutanota secure email service blocked in Russia
- Dreams PS4 is great if you're an artist, but it's even better if you're not
- How to watch 2020 Brit Awards: live stream online from the UK or abroad
- Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool live stream: how to watch Champions League 2020 football from anywhere
- Borussia Dortmund vs PSG live stream: how to watch Champions League 2020 football from anywhere
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake release date, trailers, news and features
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake could require over 100GB of free space to install
- The beautifully understated nav display on the 2020 Jaguar XE is second to none
- China cracks down on VPNs in bid to control coronavirus message
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| Tutanota secure email service blocked in Russia Posted: 18 Feb 2020 12:51 PM PST The German secure email provider Tutanota has revealed that it has now been blocked in Russia just one week after AT&T blocked mobile users from accessing the company's services in the US. Russia's decision to block the company's services appears to be part of the country's domestic policy aimed at preventing foreign-owned services which it cannot control or influence from operating within its borders. In a blog post on the company's site, Tutanota co-founder Matthias Pfau explained that blocking its services in Russia is a form of censorship, saying:
“We condemn the blocking of Tutanota. It is a form of censorship of Russian citizens who are now deprived of yet another secure communication channel online. At Tutanota we fight for our users’ right to privacy online, also, and particularly, in authoritarian countries such as Russia and Egypt.” Bypassing Russia's blockTutanota users in Russia should still be able to access the company's services by using a VPN according to the company's blog post. The latest block on Tutanota's services comes shortly after the company revealed that AT&T was preventing mobile users from accessing the secure email service. However, in an email to The Register, a spokesperson from the telecom explained that users were unable to access Tutanota's services on its network as the result of a bug and not from blocking on its end, saying: “We have resolved a communication problem between Tutanota’s internet provider and our network that affected some mobile customers’ ability to access the email site. There was never any blocking.” Tutanota is the latest email provider to be blocked by Russia after the country blocked access to ProtonMail last year. In addition to currently being blocked in Russia, Tutanota's services have also been blocked in Egypt since October of last year.
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| Dreams PS4 is great if you're an artist, but it's even better if you're not Posted: 18 Feb 2020 12:07 PM PST Since it was announced at E3 2015, my interest in Media Molecule's Dreams had waxed and waned. Described as a "sketchbook", among many other things, Dreams had always looked promising and somewhat surreal, the ultimate creative platform that seemed potentially too ambitious to succeed. As Dreams began to gather legs and move its way into alpha testing then beta testing, my interest turned from intrigue to awe. I, like many others, watched the various beautiful creations the community had crafted, from full English breakfasts to sanguine beach settings, and found myself somewhat intimidated by the platform. And that's what Dreams is essentially, it is not a game, it is a creative platform. And I am not a creative. I could never make the things these people were making, so why try? But here is the key to enjoying Dreams: you don't need to be a creative. You don't even need to be an artist. Dreams is much more than its creative mode, if you just take the time to explore. We're not all Picasso
It's hard to deny that Dreams' creative mode, or 'Dream Shaping', can take some getting used to. At first sight, it's extremely intimidating, and developer Media Molecule's tutorials are often reminiscent of that time you bought a 'how to draw' book in school and proceeded to just draw lots of circles. However, the beauty of Dreams is you don't actually have to create anything at all. You can simply enjoy the games, sculptures, music and art that (more talented) others in the community have created.
"It's a place that you can go to consume and just see things that people in the PlayStation community have made," creative director Mark Healey tells me at the Dreams launch event. "Or you go there and join in the fun and start making some stuff yourself. "I like to compare it to YouTube, that's the best analogy I can think of. A lot of people know what YouTube is and most people go there to watch things. And I think the same happens with Dreams, you go there and play stuff - that might be all you ever do - and that's more than enough." While I was initially a bit cynical about Healey's comments, the more I 'Dream Surfed' through the community's creations, the more I realized how right he was. I was able to jump in and out of an abundance of varying creations, sampling a taste of someone else's creativity before jumping into something totally different. One second you're watching animals sing Auld Lang Syne and the next you're smashing up an art gallery. Not everything is the Mona Lisa
Witchy Woods "You don't have to create. You can just go and lose yourself searching," Healey enthuses to me. "If you love playing games, you've got such a mad range of things already. "But the thing that really excites me about it already is, you know obviously some people are really going for epic, releasing their little teaser trailers and things, and some people just make these really silly and wacky things. Yeah, that's the stuff that really turns me on with this." And this is perhaps what I love about Dreams the most: not everything is perfectly polished. In fact, some of the most enjoyable games that I played were the shoddiest - in the best way. Take, for example, Witchy Woods. Witchy Woods is a short but memorable game that sees you playing as a Scottish man who needs to cross through a forest invested with witches to get his car, before heading back home again. But this isn't some polished, Blair Witch-style game. Instead imagine a poorly recorded (and hilarious) voice-over, some cone-bodied cartoon witches and a car that rams through a scene that looks like it's been drawn by a child. It was brilliantly rubbish and unlike anything we would likely get to experience otherwise. As Healey points out, these aren't the types of games we see being funded by studios, but they're nevertheless brilliantly fun. And, through Dreams, we get to experience them. Creative community
Full Beech Breakfast During my time with Dreams, I did not build one single thing. And I had a blast. Instead I consumed everything I could, from llama platform games to point-and-click adventures, to 3D artwork of mice, I was never at a loss for a game to try or a new piece of art to examine. And while I was still in awe of these creations, I felt like part of the community rather than an outsider. We can't all be Picasso, but art is nothing without people to consume it.
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| How to watch 2020 Brit Awards: live stream online from the UK or abroad Posted: 18 Feb 2020 11:54 AM PST It's finally time for the year's most awaited celebration of British and International music...the 2020 Brit Awards have arrived. And whether you're tuning in, hoping to see Bring Me The Horizon win best group or you're ready to see Billie Eilish perform on stage, keep reading to find out how to watch a Brit Awards live stream tonight from absolutely anywhere. Just as it was last year, the awards will be hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall. And in terms of performances, viewers this year are in for a real treat. Fans will see 2020 Brit nominees Stormzy, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Mabel and Lewis Capaldi join the Brits Rising Star winner Celeste for an unbeatable show. In terms of the awards themselves, the competition is tough - you'll see the likes of Charli XCX, FKA Twigs, Freya Ridings, Mabel and Mahlia competing for female solo artist. On the topic of nominees, the Brit Awards have recently been criticised by their lack of female nominations. Best British Group only has male nominations, similarly to Mastercard Album Of The Year and Best New British Artist only has one female nomination. If you want a full list of the nominees simply keep scrolling. Mismatched a holiday and not going to be in the UK for the awards? Don't panic, simply keep reading to find out how to live stream the Brit Awards from anywhere.
How to watch the Brit Awards 2020 online for free in the UK:Stream Brit Awards 2020 live if you're outside the countryIf you're out of the country but still want to watch the main Brits event live, don't worry, it's possible. You can get around any potential geo-blocks to watch via a dedicated TV streaming website as long as you appear to be in the UK. This is possible using a VPN and TVPlayer.com. It's incredibly easy to do, too - just follow these three simple steps: 2020 Brit Award nominees in full:Best Male Solo Artist: Dave, Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Michael Kiwanuka, Stormzy Female Solo Artist: Charli XCX, FKA Twigs, Freya Ridings, Mabel, Mahlia Best British Group: Bastille, Bring Me The Horizon, Coldplay, D-Block Europe, Foals Best New British Artist: Aitch, Dave, Lewis Capaldi, Mabel, Sam Fender Song of the year: AJ Tracey - 'Ladbroke Grove', Calvin Harris & Rag'n'Bone Mn - 'Giant', Dave feat Burna Boy - 'Location', Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber - 'I Don't Care', Lewis Capaldi - 'Someone you Loved', Mabel - 'Don't Call Me Up', Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - 'Nothing Breaks Like a Heart', Sam Smith & Normani - 'Dancing With A Stranger', Stormzy - 'Vossi Vop', Tom Walker - 'Just You and I' Mastercard Album Of The Year: Dave - 'Psychodrama', Harry Styles - 'Fine Line', Lewis Capaldi - 'Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent', Micheal Kiwanuka- 'Kiwanuka', Stormzy - 'Heavy Is The Head' International Male Solo Artist: Bruce Springteen, Burna Boy, Dermot Kennedy, Post Malone, Tyler the Creator International Female Solo Artist: Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, Lizzo
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| Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool live stream: how to watch Champions League 2020 football from anywhere Posted: 18 Feb 2020 11:54 AM PST While Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has this week been at pains to stress how tough this clash will be, there doesn't seem to be a better time for the Reds to be facing Atletico Madrid. And you can make sure you see it - no matter where in the world you are - by following our Atletico vs Liverpool live stream guide. Diego Someone's side go into the game with just one win from their past seven games - a wretched run that has seen them suffer a shock exit from in the Copa del Rey, losing to third-tier side Cultural Leonesa. Couple that with a horror injury list and a batch of new players struggling to settle and you seemingly have a team that seem ripe for the picking for Klopp's rampant Reds. Despite all this, Atletico have still managed to find themselves a respectable fourth in La Liga and remain an extremely tough nut to crack, having conceded just six goals at home in the league this season. With Atletico's attacking flair nullified by injuries to Joao Felix and Diego Costa, expect the home side to keep things tight at the back and rely upon their sturdy defence. Whether that will be enough against a formidable Liverpool attacking line-up that is likely to be bolstered by fit again Said Mane remains to be seen. It's a last 16 clash that looks likely to be the pick of this week's Champions League matches. Read on to find out how to watch, no matter where you are in the world, with TechRadar's guide to getting a Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool live stream.
Use a VPN to watch Champions League football when away from homeScroll down to find out your football viewing options for tonight's match in some of the major Champions League watching countries around the world. And if you're out of the country and are worried that you won't catch the game, don't sweat. With the option of using a VPN service, you can tune into this fixtures no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do.
How to stream Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool live in the UK
How to live stream Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool in the US
How to live stream tonight's Champions League match in Canada for FREE
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| Borussia Dortmund vs PSG live stream: how to watch Champions League 2020 football from anywhere Posted: 18 Feb 2020 11:51 AM PST This last 16, first leg Champions League clash looks nailed on to be something of a goal fest, with both Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain in free-scoring form. And the good news is that you can watch it from basically wherever you are, thanks to TechRadar's Borussia Dortmund vs PSG live stream guide. It's hard to think of a player that has hit the ground running when joining a new club in quite the same way as Erling Braut Haaland has since signing for Dortmund from Salzburg. With eight goals in his five Bundesliga matches for BVBit the young forward almost seems assured of getting his name on the score sheet this evening against a particularly leaky PSG defence. While the French side looked deadly going forward, they could only manage a draw against struggling Amiens at the weekend in an entertaining 4-4 draw which perfectly illustrated PSG's vulnerability at the back. Head coach Thomas Tuchel was once again without Neymar in that last game while fellow forward Kylian Mbappe was given a rest, but expect both players to feature in tonight. Dortmund's 4-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt means they've now scored an incredible 22 goals in their last five league matches, with the increasingly influential Jadon Sancho shining in particular and showing that their wealth of attacking flair means they should be able to absorb the loss of injured pair Marco Reus and Julian Brandt. Will it be goals galore at the Westfalenstadion? Read on to find out how to watch, no matter where you are in the world, with TechRadar's guide to getting a Borussia Dortmund vs PSG live stream.
Use a VPN to watch Champions League football when away from homeScroll down to find out your football viewing options for tonight's match in some of the major Champions League watching countries around the world. And if you're out of the country and are worried that you won't catch the game, don't sweat. With the option of using a VPN service, you can tune into this fixtures no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do.
How to stream Borussia Dortmund vs PSG live in the UK
How to live stream Borussia Dortmund vs PSG in the US
How to live stream tonight's Champions League match in Canada for FREE
How to live stream Borussia Dortmund vs PSG in Australia
How to watch Borussia Dortmund vs PSG in New Zealand
How to live stream tonight's UEFA Champions League match in India
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| Final Fantasy 7 Remake release date, trailers, news and features Posted: 18 Feb 2020 10:30 AM PST First released in 1997, Final Fantasy 7 immediately cemented its place as one of the best JRPG titles around and introduced millions of gamers around the world to the genre. Now, due to the success of Final Fantasy 7 over 20 years ago (and the pleads from die hard fans), Square Enix is releasing a remake. Unfortunately, those high expectations have been both a blessing and a curse for the game as the path to release hasn’t been smooth. But now, nearly five years after it was announced at E3 2015, we finally have a Final Fantasy 7 Remake release date: April 10, 2020. Although, even that hasn't been smooth-going, with Square Enix pushing the release date back from March 3, 2020. Despite the delay, we are firmly on the hype train for Final Fantasy 7 Remake. We've now seen the game a half-dozen times in trailers – and even got hands on time at Gamescom 2019 and E3 2019 – but it can be hard to keep track of everything that's going on with the long-awaited remake. So, we’ve gathered up everything that's been confirmed about Final Fantasy 7, what we've learned from our hands-on time and everything fans suspect right here for your perusal. [UPDATE: Final Fantasy 7 Remake could require over 100GB of free space to install. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
Final Fantasy 7 Remake release date
Image credit: Square Enix Final Fantasy Remake is due for release on April 10, 2020 - after Square Enix announced its initial release date of March 3, 2020 had been pushed back. It's unclear if this release date is for all of the episodes (remember, FF7R is an episodic game with more than two Blu-rays worth of content) or if that's just the release date of episode one. The latter seems likely as development on episode 2 is still underway. The Final Fantasy 7 remake has had something of a troubled development, which makes it less surprising that the game's release date has been delayed. The game has been in the works since 2014 but, for a few years, there were few significant official updates since the E3 2015 reveal. During that time, development of the game moved from external developer CyberConnect2 to Square Enix’s in-house team. The good news is that this new release date should be set in stone and PS4 players will get to play then. Fans using other platforms could potentially see a release in 2021, which is when the game's period of exclusivity on PS4 apparently ends. We're also expecting Final Fantasy 7 Remake to be a cross-generation release, likely releasing on both PS5 and Xbox Series X, alongside current generation consoles. Final Fantasy 7 Remake trailersThe first trailer for the game was released upon the remake's announcement at E3 2015. The trailer is largely cinematic and you can watch it for yourself below: A further trailer (this time featuring gameplay) was revealed at PSX in 2015: There's also the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trailer that was revealed during a Sony State of Play event last year. In it, we got a great look at what the action-heavy combat would look like (think Kingdom Hearts and you'll be on the right track) and one of the series most well-remembered protagonists, Aerith. Check it out below: The most important trailer we have is the one that was unveiled at a Final Fantasy 7 concert held in Los Angeles, where the game's director, Tetsuya Nomura, unveiled Remake's initial March 3, 2020 release date. It's only a minute long but it's important. Another Final Fantasy 7 Remake trailer was released as part of Tokyo Game Show 2019 and showcased a first look at characters, summons, mini-games and more. Check it out below: The most recent trailer for Final Fantasy 7 appeared at The Game Awards 2019. The trailer shows snippets of combat and flashes of some of the game's iconic characters. It's a minute and a half you don't want to miss. We know, there's lots of trailers for Final Fantasy 7 Remake, but the latest is pretty great. Not only do we get to hear the theme but we also get a much better look at the cast of characters in all their revamped glory. Final Fantasy 7 Remake news and rumors100GB install An art cover for the physical edition of the game was leaked on Twitter (via TweakTown), showing the game's install size as being 100GB. Square Enix has already confirmed the game will be spread over two Blu-ray discs, so that's about 50GB per disc. Check out the art cover below: Exclusive on PS4 until April 2021 Release date delay In a statement, Final Fantasy 7 Remake producer, Yoshinori Kitase, explained that the delay was to allow the developer more time to polish the highly-anticipated remake. “In order to ensure we deliver a game that is in-line with our vision, and the quality that our fans who have been waiting for deserve, we have decided to move the release date to April 10, 2020. "We are making this tough decision in order to give ourselves a few extra weeks to apply final polish to the game and to deliver you with the best possible experience. I, on behalf of the whole team, want to apologize to everyone, as I know this means waiting for the game just a little bit longer." Demo leak Even more significant than this is that files relating to the wider game have been found in the demo's code and now details of the game and changes that have been made from the original are leaking out. A rip of the game's soundtrack is even floating around out there. It's something of a disastrous start to the new year for the Square Enix team which had, before now, managed to keep much of Final Fantasy 7's specifics under wraps. Those hoping not to be spoiled before the game's release ought to be vigilant when searching online while those who just can't resist will find the leaked demo on YouTube. Timed exclusivity This isn't an outright confirmation that the game will be coming to other platforms but it does suggest it's a possibility. After all, Microsoft is adding a raft of the Final Fantasy games to its Game Pass service in 2020 which could be a precursor. Work is underway on part 2 At the very least, we do now know that development on part 2 is well underway. In a recent Square Enix blog, Tetsuya Nomura said "We’ve already begun working on the next one as well, but I’m confident that playing through this title will expand your expectations just like the world that extends beyond Midgar." From what Nomura has said with regards to the "density and volume" of part 1's Midgar, we may need a little space between releases to get through it all anyway. Pre-orders available If you would rather pick up the 1st Class Edition, you'll get all the Deluxe Edition content, the Carbuncle Summon Materia DLC, as well as a Play Arts Kai Cloud Strife and Hardy Daytona box set. Those who pre-order any version of the game will also receive the Chocobo Chick Summon Materia DLC at launch. Those who pre-order any digital edition from the PlayStation Store will also receive the Cloud & Sephiroth Dynamic Theme for the PS4. Mini-games Those Xbox One rumors However, Square Enix confirmed in a statement to IGN that Final Fantasy 7 will only release on PS4 on March 3, 2020 (we know know the release date is April 10) and that there are “no plans for other platforms”. Whether this means there are no plans for other platforms just on March 3 or whether there are no plans for other platforms for good is unconfirmed but so far it seems like the game will be a PS4 exclusive. Microsoft has deemed the Facebook video which was quickly removed an “internal mistake”. Preview Midgar Cast change
Image credit: Square Enix Deeper into story and characters Tactical Mode FF7 Remake is based around core values E3 2019 news - two discs and new ATB system So what's worth pointing out here is that the sedentary turn-based combat you may remember from the original has been replaced with a FF15-style approach that allows you to control the characters and move them around the battlefield. You'll still have some familiar options in combat - like Limit Breaks - but expect combat to be a bit more engaging this time around. During E3 2019 we also learned that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is not only episodic, but actually requires two Blu-ray discs to hold all the content. The first disc, released on March 3, 2020, will actually only take place in Midgar - that futuristic city you've seen so much of in the trailers. Nomura admits an announcement was premature "I am well aware of the fact that we announced it too early," Nomura told Italian gaming mag Multiplayer (translated by Kingdom Hearts Insider) . "But even in the industry, word was beginning to spread that we were working on the game, so we just decided not to keep it more secret and officially reveal it."
Image credit: Square Enix It’s a reconstruction, not a shot-for-shot remake Considering it’s so beloved there’s a lot of pressure on Square Enix to not stray too far from the original source material but according to director Tetsuya Nomura it won’t be a completely direct recreation. In an interview with Wired, Nomura said “We're not intending for this to become a one-to-one remake, or just the original Final Fantasy VII with better graphics.” Nomura has said that he wants the remake to "apply to the current era" and "the current generation of players." He added the caveat that he doesn't "want to change it so much that it's unrecognizable" but it has to be offering something "fresh and new." To accommodate modern consoles and gamers, changes will naturally have to be made to the game both in terms of gameplay, mechanics and perhaps even to some elements of the story. For starters, early trailers show a game more akin to Final Fantasy XV mechanically, with fixed viewpoints and static backdrops swapped out for full-3D terrain, and a turn-based battle system removed in favour of a real-time action-orientated one.
Image credit: Square Enix It’s episodic The reasoning behind the decision, according to series producer Yoshinori Kitase is that “a proper HD remake” just wouldn’t fit into one instalment and maintain the “same feeling of density of the original.” “We've seen everyone's comments and reactions to the news that Final Fantasy 7 remake will be a multi-part series and many have speculated correctly as to the reason why we have made this decision,” he said, “If we were to try to fit everything from the original into one remake instalment, we would have to cut various parts and create a condensed version of Final Fantasy 7. We knew none of you would have wanted that. “I hope that by explaining a little more about our design decisions that you can appreciate the size of this project and what we have planned for this remake. Going beyond the scale and depth of the world, narrative and gameplay from the original to deliver something that feels familiar yet new. As I said before, we like delivering surprises.” Each episode will apparently be its “own unique experience” but as yet we don’t know how many episodes there will be or how they’ll be structured in relation to the original story.
Image credit: Square Enix No more turn-based battles In an interview with Famitsu, Nomura said that battles in the remake will be “action-based” rather than command-based. Nomura didn’t go into much more detail with regards to the game’s combat system but it’s widely expected that we’re going to see a formula more similar to Kingdom Hearts and FFXV. This would mean a more active and seamless style of battling involving party members whom the player will be able to switch between. Though the loss of turn-based combat will be mourned, a move towards a system like Kingdom Hearts will be more accessible to new players. A PS5 release? For Sony, it'd be a system seller right out of the gates for the new console generation, and for the developers you'd imagine it'd offer more processing grunt and a little longer in terms of the development window. This is speculation at this point, but as the sun sets on the PS4, and titles like Final Fantasy 7's remake being no closer to even having a release date, it starts to seem like the looming next generation machines may be now what they're being aimed at. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Final Fantasy 7 Remake could require over 100GB of free space to install Posted: 18 Feb 2020 10:22 AM PST There's only a few months to wait until Final Fantasy 7 Remake officially releases, but you may want to start making space on your PS4 now because, according to a new leak, the game's install will take up over 100GB of storage. An art cover for the physical edition of the game was leaked on Twitter (via TweakTown), showing the game's install size as being 100GB. Square Enix has already confirmed the game will be spread over two Blu-ray discs, so that's about 50GB per disc. Check out the art cover below: That's a huge amount of space required for one game, making it one of the biggest games (in terms of storage) to hit the PS4 - with Red Dead Redemption 2 just slightly bigger at 104GB. To put it in perspective, Uncharted 4 was 64GB and Kojima's Death Stranding was 48GB, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was a colossal 175GB. Not hugely surprising
While 100GB is a huge amount of storage, and certainly a tall order for some folks still rocking subpar connection speeds, we're not overly surprised considering how detailed Final Fantasy 7 Remake appears to be - and how big the world itself is likely to be. Plus, it's likely the game is being developed with the PS5 in mind, so we better get used to games of this size. At least there's the option to install one disc at a time, for those who may not want to go on a game deleting spree, but remember that this is only the first episode of Final Fantasy 7 Remake - there's even more to come. And somehow we doubt they're going to get any smaller... This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The beautifully understated nav display on the 2020 Jaguar XE is second to none Posted: 18 Feb 2020 10:00 AM PST With apologies to Audi and several other automakers, the best car nav display in any car is in the 2020 Jaguar XE. I was blown away by the crisp and clear directional aid, which shows up in the dashboard view above the steering wheel. The lines are clear, the colors subdued, and the fact that it's so functional – helping you arrive at your destination – is a major bonus. Driving cars these days is an exercise in interface overindulgence. Because car companies can provide tiny little icons everywhere and use a wide palette of colors, they do. I’ve often felt as though I was driving in a car with every widget enabled. On the XE, it’s more streamlined.
The Connected Navigation Pro feature shows a navigation map with easy to identify grays and blacks, green for grass and blue for lakes. I’ve tested the Audi A4 and other cars many times, and they use Google Earth. It’s nice, but can be a little disorienting and too detailed. I drove the XE all over town and watched the display in front of me, using the voice-controlled feature to suggest destinations. I liked how functional it was. If you need to get to a library or a restaurant, the car provides visual and auditory guidance. Many cars use extra frills, but they do not really help when you are late for a meeting or really hungry.
The display is also functional for many other reasons. With just a few taps, I was able to configure the display to show me the speed indicator and the map (off to the left). I could see two dials, one showing the speed and one showing my RPMs. I was able to completely disable all of the files and nav and only see the collision avoidance features. That last setting is almost sanguine. You only see the hood of the car and then indicators of problems. I like to keep things simple at times, especially when I am driving for many hours on a highway. I don’t even need to see my speed – I have set it using the adaptive cruise control function, and the car can adapt to traffic levels automatically. Plus, you can see the speed in the virtual Heads-Up Display (HUD) that appears above the hood. Cut the clutterBack to the nav screen, though. Here’s the most important factor when driving these days. I like to reduce clutter. The main display between the seats on the dash can show points of interest, the nearest gas stations (Jaguar uses the word petrol), and even subtleties like the speed limit. That’s all fine – maybe a passenger is with you who can inspect those details. There's a time and a place for more interface options in cars. However, they can also be distracting. The XE display above the steering wheel is trim enough that I didn’t find myself glancing at it to find objects near me. The focus is on the destination only.
In future cars, we will see much more of this. Adaptable interfaces will know when we are tired or have been driving for a long time, and they will turn off extra interface features. You just need to drive (or let the car drive), and you may not even need any media functions. Honestly, the goal is to help you reach your destination at that point. I never drove tired or hungry, but I could see how the subtle blacks and grays allow you to focus and remove distractions. I wish more cars would follow suit. I can enable every navigational aid under the sun in the XE. I just preferred having most of them turned off. It helped me do what I love most: just drive.
On The Road is TechRadar's regular look at the futuristic tech in today's hottest cars. John Brandon, a journalist who's been writing about cars for 12 years, puts a new car and its cutting-edge tech through the paces every week. One goal: To find out which new technologies will lead us to fully self-driving cars. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| China cracks down on VPNs in bid to control coronavirus message Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:54 AM PST China has made it increasingly difficult for its citizens to access the global internet using VPN services as the country's government looks to exert more control over the narrative surrounding the coronavirus epidemic. In recent weeks, the most popular VPN services in China have faced an onslaught of government attacks which has made it more difficult for some users to access Google, Twitter and other censored sites as well as most foreign newspapers, according to a new report from the Financial Times. With a VPN, users in China can access the internet without the restrictions normally imposed on them by the country's Great Firewall. However, the Chinese government often restricts VPN usage during the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre as well as during other politically sensitive periods by blocking the servers needed to connect to a VPN.
Many popular VPN providers have faced increased restrictions recently and ExpressVPN even commented on the matter on its website, saying: “We are aware of a new escalation in blocks in China, and our team is working around the clock to address the impact on connectivity.” Controlling the flow of informationAs the coronavirus rapidly spread across China, the country's government officials tried to cover up the crisis but when their efforts backfired, citizens began to call for freedom of speech. Many Chinese citizens have become increasingly suspicious of government cover-ups and some have even begun to seek out information on the outbreak from alternative news sources. For instance, daily traffic to GreatFire's FreeBrowser.org, which allows Chinese users to view uncensored foreign news articles, has almost doubled since the city of Wuhan was quarantined in late January. Co-founder of GreatFire, Charlie Smith explained to the Financial Times why Chinese users have shunned domestic news in favor of international news, saying: “Despite the wide availability of domestic news about the coronavirus, Chinese people are still looking to overseas, uncensored platforms, for more information. This is a very strong sign that most Chinese people do not trust the authorities to tell them the truth about the virus.” Until China can get a handle on the spread of the coronavirus within its borders, expect the Chinese government's crackdown on VPN services to continue.
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| Xbox Series X release date, specs, design and launch titles for the next Xbox Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:47 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. So far we know when the next Xbox will release, its official name, a few of the specs on offer, as well as what it's going to look like. It seems 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. More importantly, the specs Microsoft has revealed so far suggest the new Xbox 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 next-generation 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-gen console wars, with the Series X apparently 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: Microsoft is working on a "deep portfolio" of games for E3 2020. 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. However, there have been rumors that the coronavirus may cause the Xbox Series X's release date to be delayed. But we don't think that's likely. While the Series X's release date is still a good few months away, we do know that Microsoft has plenty planned leading up to release - and the company will be shaking things up a bit with how it reveals information. In an interview with Gamertag Radio (via VGC), Xbox boss, Phil Spencer, explained that Microsoft will be taking "a different approach" to releasing more information on the Series X. According to Spencer, in the lead up to Xbox Series X's release, Microsoft will continue to approach information reveals "in a different way” to its previous consoles and we may even see more "bold" moves like the console's Game Awards reveal. While our focus may be on the Xbox Series X's release date, it's worth remembering 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 - but we doubt it. Read on below for further details on Project Lockhart.
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. There were also concerns that a US trade tariff on Chinese imports of electronics would hike up the price of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, however the tariff has now been halted, meaning we shouldn't have to deal with next-gen consoles being even more expensive.
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. Not only will games look better, they could be bigger. In an interview with PCGamesN, Samsung revealed that it's talking with Microsoft and pushing the gaming behemoth to adopt ultrawide support for the Xbox Series X.
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. But don't expect the Xbox Series X to launch with VR support as, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, Microsoft is waiting until VR on Xbox becomes a "no brainer". However, right now, the company doesn't see the feature as "so important" on its next-gen hardware.
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. There's also a mystery port of some sort (but we'll come back to that). 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 skepticism.
While these images have been circling for a while now, we still weren't entirely sure what that mystery port was - until now. Thurrott claims that sources "familiar with the company's plans" have identified the port as being for storage expansion. Microsoft hasn't confirmed it this is the case, but we wouldn't be surprised if it was seeing as external storage was supported with the Xbox One - but whether we see it included in the final Series X product is still uncertain. 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. Phil Spencer has also teased on Twitter that Microsoft is working on a "deep portfolio" of Xbox Game Studios titles for E3 2020. 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 Xbox Series X and PS5 after delays were announced during a financial call - there's also rumors that a new Assassin's Creed and Far Cry will be coming to the platforms. We also know Gollum and Outriders will release on the platform. It's likely that we'll see the likes of Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 coming to Xbox Series X too. In addition, not only has EA has said that Battlefield 6 will be coming to Xbox Series X, but the company has sung the praises of the incoming next-generation machines during an investor call. "The power of the new consoles is gonna be substantially greater than existing consoles," said EA CFO Blake Jorgensen. "We can do a lot more [with PS5 and Xbox Series X]. Things we’re doing will blow people’s minds." 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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| The Apple Watch 4 gets a $100 price cut at Best Buy Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:47 AM PST Best Buy's Apple Event sale is happening right now and includes price cuts on best-selling devices like the Apple Watch. For a limited time, you can get the Apple Watch Series 4 with cellular on sale for $379. That's a $100 price cut and the best price we've found for the 44mm smartwatch. Best Buy also has the Apple Watch Series 3 on sale for only $199. Apple Watch deals:Discover more Apple watch sales with the best cheap Apple Watch prices and deals on every model still stocked by retailers. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best cheap laptop deals in February 2020: prices start at just $62 Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:35 AM PST There are some seriously powerful cheap laptop deals on offer this week. That's partly due to the recent Presidents' Day sales cleaning up the competition with some fantastic laptop deals, but with 10th generation processors popping up in more and more cheap laptops, we're seeing bigger power come to lower price tags right now. Our star deal this week is a $519 HP Pavilion with such a 10th generation i7 processor as well as a 256GB SSD and 12GB RAM. That's a leftover from Presidents' Day, so if you're after that super-powerful spec at an amazing price tag, you'll want to jump on this particular laptop deal fast. We've spotted a load of laptop sales across a wide range of specs and form factors this week, meaning there's a saving for you out there whether you're after cheap everyday browsing or more power-intensive computing. We've been laptop deal hunting for a while now, so we'll only show you the configurations that are worth their sales prices. From huge names like Dell, Asus, Acer, and Lenovo to lesser-known brands, we've got something for everyone. Not only have we found the best laptop deals out there, but we're also here to save you from the arduous task of comparing laptop specs. We've gathered all the information you need to know about each model and laid it out for your perusal. Check out the processors, storage solutions, and memory configurations on offer to help make an informed decision. If you're a gamer, you'd be better suited to check out our selection of gaming laptop deals, as the models on this page are not usually built with gaming in mind. We've also rounded up a fine collection of cheap laptops on sale in the UK too. More top cheap laptop dealsWhere to find the best laptop deals in the US:We've compared prices on some of our favourite cheap laptops and run through the details on why we recommend them further down this page. But if you'd like to browse the latest laptop deals directly from your favorite retailers we've included a list of the most-recommended stores directly below. The best cheap laptops of 2019
Here we have one of the few budget laptops with a processor nearly equivalent to a MacBook Pro from a couple of years back, that is if you opt for the Intel Core i5 configuration. The best part? Among the best Acer laptops right now, it's roughly half the cost of its Apple-branded rival. Now given that it sells at a range of different prices, the Acer Swift 3 can be an obtuse purchase, but lucky for you, the midrange model will get you by just fine. There are often plenty of cheap laptop deals on Acer products so you'll always be in a good position to grab a discount. Read the full review: Acer Swift 3
This convertible laptop has always been about function over form. For one minuscule transaction, you’re getting a tablet equipped with an included keyboard and even a fingerprint scanner for more secure logins. Along with reliable performance and a magnesium-alloy chassis, it’s built to last – not to mention, one of the best Asus laptops you can buy when you're on the budget. As cheap laptops go, Asus is one of the most trusted brands out there so as long as you're getting the specs you need you can't go wrong. Read the full review: Asus Transformer Mini T102HA
While it may be outclassed by the Pixelbook and the Samsung Chromebook in terms of sheer power, the Acer Chromebook 15 can still pack a wallop while providing battery life that is frankly out of this world. It’s rare that a cheap laptop can truly provide all-day battery, but in our independent battery tests, Acer’s Chromebook lasted an astonishing 17 hours – on top of providing enough power to get your work done online. If you’re looking for a 15-inch Chromebook that will give you the most bang for your buck, look no further. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15
If you're looking for a Lenovo laptop, the Lenovo Yoga Book, and the Windows 10 version of it in particular, is the sort of futuristic fodder you would find in an episode of Black Mirror. It has a keyboard that doubles as a Wacom touch panel and, best of all, it’s cheap as hell. Now, of course, that comes with the caveat of a weak Intel Atom processor, but the rest of the Lenovo Yoga Book should go down in the history books. Lenovo laptop deals are often worth a look, even if you're just browsing, as they offer a decent range of prices and specs. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book
With its slick lines and a slim silhouette, the Acer Chromebook 14 makes for a subtle, snazzy laptop. Although its display isn't the most attractive we've seen, it’s still acceptable for full HD. On top of that, the keyboard and trackpad adhere to the principle of ‘it just works.’ The battery life is satisfactory as well despite falling a bit south of Acer's 12-hour claim in real-world use. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 14
How much are good laptop deals?In a budget of between $50 and $200, you'll be taking a look at the excellent range of Chromebooks on sale right now. Typically running Chrome OS, these budget laptop deals will see you through everyday web browsing, emails, and some light streaming for eye wateringly low prices. You'll be picking up anything from a 16GB SSD to a 64GB hard drive, but you'll also be looking to utilize the cloud for more storage. If you're punting a bit higher than $200, you'll be opening yourself up to more RAM, moving from 4GB to 8GB in most models, meaning your cheap laptop will be able to open programs faster, generally retrieving information and multi-task in a more streamlined manner. You'll also be picking up far more storage for your cash, with prices this week including either a 128GB or 256GB SSD. This SSD further streamlines your storage, acting as a lightning-fast drive to keep everything you need instantly attainable. Once you search for a laptop deal above $400, you may well start to find 16GB of RAM on offer as well as a few models with a 512GB SSD. Along with improved processors, that means exceedingly fast storage potential, keeping your cheap laptop zippy however many programs you have open. Laptops above this price range are also better suited to media editing than cheaper models. Not quite what you're looking for? Maybe our other laptop articles will have what you need:
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| PS5 release date, specs, news and rumors for Sony’s PlayStation 5 Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:33 AM PST PS5 (or PlayStation 5) 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 - the official PS5 website is now live, further fueling rumors that Sony is planning a PS5 reveal event in the near future, 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. However, 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 reveal event could still take place in February. 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. However, there have been rumors that the coronavirus will delay the release date. But we don't think that's likely. We're expecting to find out the PlayStation 5's release date when the next-gen console is officially revealed. Hopefully we won't be waiting long, as a launch event seems imminent. Read on to find out why.
Death Stranding Sony hasn't officially confirmed a PS5 price yet and, according to the company, that's because it hasn't actually decided how much the next-gen console will cost. In a quarterly earnings call (via Spiel Times), Sony's chief financial officer Hiroki Totoki revealed the company still hasn't nailed down the PS5 price. "What is not very clear or visible is because we are competing in the space, so it’s very difficult to discuss anything about the price at this point of time, and depending upon the price level, we may have to determine the promotion that we are going to deploy and how much costs we are prepared to pay," Totoki explained. “First, we must absolutely control the labour cost, the personnel cost, it must be controlled, and the initial ramp up, how much can we prepare initially, we will work on the production and the sales and we will have to prepare the right volume as we launch this," Totoki continued. “It’s a balancing act it’s very difficult to say anything concrete at this point of time," Totoki said. But we do know that Sony is aiming for "the best balance so that we will be profitable in the life, during the life of this product." While Sony may not have a price nailed down, there have been rumors about how much the PS5 could cost. One such rumor 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.
However, a report in Bloomberg suggests that the rising costs of DRAM and NAND flash memory parts – crucial for the smooth functioning of the console’s onboard processor, and also in high demand for new smartphone releases – makes balancing the books for the PS5 retail price difficult, and that Sony may even be putting off its pricing decision to figure out what cost to put on consumers. The report states that manufacturing costs are expected to hit $450 per console unit – around £350 / AU$670. That makes it highly likely the RRP will start above that, not lower than £470, and probably closer to the $499 price tag that the Xbox One (and Xbox One X) first launched with. Microsoft’s plans for the Xbox Series X are key here, as Sony could well decide to sell the hardware at a slight loss to stay competitive with the other console. The PS4 benefited from a lower cost than the Xbox One, and Sony likely won’t be keen to reverse that for this generation. 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. There were also concerns that a US trade tariff on Chinese imports of electronics would hike up the price of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, however the tariff has now been halted, meaning we shouldn't have to deal with next-gen consoles being even more 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, with Ubisoft's CEO revealing the next-gen console can play "almost all" PS4 games. 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 - with a new Assassin's Creed and Far Cry also rumored to be coming to the platforms. In addition, not only has EA has said that Battlefield 6 will be coming to Xbox Series X, but the company has sung the praises of the incoming next-generation machines during an investor call. "The power of the new consoles is gonna be substantially greater than existing consoles," said EA CFO Blake Jorgensen. "We can do a lot more [with PS5 and Xbox Series X]. Things we’re doing will blow people’s minds." While this is a good start, we're expecting plenty more third-party games to be announced in the coming months. 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" was scheduled for February 12, and would see the PlayStation 5 revealed in all its glory. But that date has now passed and no PS5 reveal took place. There have been other leaks which also suggested specific dates in February for a PS5 reveal, but these dates have also passed. A February reveal is looking less and less likely. We're now in February and have heard nothing of an event from Sony. But perhaps that's because the reveal event is actually in March? One PS5 leak claims that Sony's next-gen console will be revealed at a PlayStation Meeting in March, with pre-orders opening as early as March. That's according to Twitter user @PSErebus, who previously correctly leaked the Last of Us Part 2's initial release date; however, as always, we're treating the claim with a suitable dose of skepticism.
However there's still a slim possibility we will see the PS5 revealed in February as Sony has suggested the PlayStation 5 will follow the release schedule of the PS4 - which was revealed at a PlayStation Meeting on February 20, 2013 before being released in November of the same year. In an earnings call (via GamesRadar), Sony's senior executive vice president, Hiroki Totoki, suggested the PS5 reveal schedule will be similar to that of its predecessors. "It's very difficult to really discuss this timing-wise,"Totoki said. "But as of today, we will provide the guidance at a time period which is comparable to the past. So we will not change the time schedule." 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. Regardless of exactly when the reveal is, it looks like a PS5 launch event is imminent, especially given that Sony has now launched the official PS5 website which allows fans to sign up for updates on the next-gen console.
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". While a PlayStation 5 Pro is likely onthe cards, we don't think it'll release at the same time as the regular PS5. In our opinion, it's more likely that Sony will wait around three years (2023) before giving the console an upgrade - usually this happens mid-cycle and the PS5 lifecycle is estimated to be around six to seven years.
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| The best Xbox One X prices, bundles and deals in February 2020: where to buy the 4K Xbox Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:20 AM PST Xbox One X bundles are heating up across the US and UK right now, with some fantastic low prices hitting store shelves over the last few hours. We've already been hit with discounts over the last few weeks, but the latest Xbox One X deals offer even more cash off big-title bundles. This is a fantastic time to grab a cheap Xbox One X bundle, with prices crashing further than we've seen them dare to over the last few weeks and some even dropping below their Black Friday positions. The US is seeing Xbox One X prices as low as $339 this week - an excellent saving despite the fact that many retailers have returned to the standard $499 price tag. The UK, however, is seeing some fantastic price drops, with most Xbox bundles sitting well under £300. In fact, the cheapest Xbox One X deal you'll find this week comes in at just £289. We're seeing some fantastic Xbox One X bundles offering top titles included, all far below the usual retail price of the 4K console. That means now's a fantastic time to save on a console upgrade, or if you've simply been sitting on a cheap Xbox One X purchase for too long. With games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Gears 5 (and the rest), and Forza Horizon 4 included in the latest wave of Xbox One X bundles, there's no reason to hold out any longer. Plus, with all the fuss about the next generation looming over the horizon, you can bet games will start falling in price pretty soon. We're collecting all the best Xbox One X deals and sales right here. Gamers looking for the most powerful console ever made have been keen to pick up Xbox One X deals since release but there was a high cost to pay in the early days. Until recently, prices have been high at most stores if you weren't sure where to look. That's where we come in as our dedicated team of Deal Hunters cut through the chaff to bring you only the very best Xbox One X deals every day, and we've got some excellent ones for you today. If you're after information on the latest Australian deals, head over to our Australian page. The best Xbox One X pricesUS Xbox One X bundles are really stepping things up now after seriously slow start at launch. There's never been a better time to buy actually as you're getting genuine discounts and free content for the first time in ages.
If you're after more games for your Xbox One X, then why not check out our Xbox Game Pass deals page. There's also plenty of savings to be had on online play as well with our top picks of the best Xbox Live Gold sales. What is the Xbox One X price?The Xbox One X MSRP is $499 in the US and the UK RRP currently sits at £449. So sure, it looks like UK gamers are paying considerable more as the direct currency conversion would have it at £390. On the plus side, retailers are starting to cut prices and we're seeing games bundled in too. So you should never pay those costs for the console alone today. Why should I buy an Xbox One X?Just to be clear, this is not what you'd call a 'next-gen' console. Instead it's a more powerful version over the current Xbox One lineup. To simplify things, it's akin to Sony's PS4 Pro. Both consoles are aimed at gamers with a 4K HDR TV who want the best graphical performance possible on their favored console. There will be modest performance boosts on non-4K TVs too, but you're kind of missing the point without a 4K HDR TV. The Xbox One X will play all Xbox One games and there are no games released exclusively for the Xbox One X, so there's certainly no reason to throw away your older Xbox One. The Xbox One X is the most powerful console ever made though, even outshining some of the specs of the PS4 Pro. But given the huge asking price, you'd hope as much. The Xbox One X is making bold claims about true native 4K gaming though and if you have a 4K TV with High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, the Xbox One X is ready to seriously impress with the likes of Forza Motorsport 7, Metro: Exodus and Anthem acting as true jaw-droppers in the graphics department. Where can I buy an Xbox One X?Most of the usual big name retailers are stocking the Xbox One X. Prices are much better than they were at launch now too. Keep an eye on the highlighted Xbox One X bundles above and our comparison chart, which we'll keep up to date on the latest prices for the Xbox One X on its own. So feel free to bookmark us and check in again soon to see if we've found the deal that's right for you. What if I don't care about 4K or want to save money?The standard Xbox One S is a fantastic games console and you'll easily be able to get one with a few games for around $220/£200 or less. There are cheap deals all year round on our Xbox One deals and PS4 prices, deals and bundles pages. Only kidding. I want 4K HDR in my face right now.4K TVs with HDR are nowhere near as expensive as you'd think. The prices have come down much faster than the original HD TVs, so you can get a decent model for a low price. Hell we've seen some nice ones for less than the price of the Xbox One X itself (what a ridiculous world we live in). For the best of the best, take a look at our best TV article. We've also rounded up the best cheap 4K TV deals too in the UK, and also a collection of US TV deals. How big is the hard drive in the Xbox One X?For now, the only option available is the 1TB option, that's 1000GB of storage. There are no official plans for larger versions.. With some 4K-friendly update patches to games coming in at over 100GB, we certainly wouldn't hold out for a cheaper 500GB Xbox One X, as it'd be a bit pointless to be honest. We think gamers are going to fill up the 1TB Xbox One pretty soon. Thankfully the Xbox One X is compatible with external hard drives using USB 3.0. So if you need some extra storage, check out our list of the best external hard drives. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The recent PS5 specs 'leak' is nonsense - here's why Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:12 AM PST A recent PS5 'leak' has apparently revealed the specs of the newest PlayStation 5 dev kit - but we don't believe it for a second. An anonymous 4Chan user, who claims to work as a game tester at a third party studio, posted a list of specs that they claim are for the PS5's second, and most recent, dev kit. But we're not convinced. Here are the specs that the poster claims the new PS5 dev kit has:
As well, as the Xbox Series X apparent specs:
We don't think so...
4Chan is infamous for being unreliable. But, regardless of that, the specs themselves are pretty much nonsense and very unlikely. For a start, 18GB GDDR6 would essentially be a pro pro graphics card. While the PS5 is going to be a powerhouse, we don't think it's going to be (or needs to be) that powerful. This is arguably more than any home console would need - even next gen. In addition, the VRAM is much more than the PS5 would need. If there’s a split between video memory and system memory, like this leak seems to imply, 4GB is not a lot and it would be an odd system to implement. That brings us on to the AMD Zen 2 at 3.6GHz, which would basically be a Ryzen 7 3700X. This would require a lot of power and, in console form, is likely to get very hot - which goes against Sony's aim for a more eco-friendly console. Usually this could be combated in a gaming PC with a water cooling system but that's almost definitely not going to be a feature with the PS5. However, while most of these specs seem pretty unbelievable, the SSD specs are on par with what we would expect from the PS5 - very fast. This would make sense considering Sony's aim to essentially do-away with loading times. There are also cores for ray-tracing and 3D audio, which are confirmed PS5 features. These specs also line up with rumors that the Xbox Series X is more powerful than the PS5, although the PS5 will apparently beat it out when it comes to GPU. Regardless of how many aspects line up, it's likely a lot of these specs are educated guesses based on information Sony has previously released - and other rumors. Unsurprisingly, given how powerful the leak claims the next-gen consoles are and the source, we're not convinced these are the real PS5 or Xbox Series X specs.
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| Etisalat Group’s 2019 profit increases despite tough market conditions Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:11 AM PST Etisalat Group’s 2019 net profit after royalty increased by 1% to AED 8.7b compared to AED 8.6b a year ago despite tough market conditions. The Abu Dhabi-listed telecom operator’s group revenue fell by 0.38% to AED 52.2b this year compared to AED 52.4b a year ago due to currency fluctuations and decrease in mobile revenues from UAE operations. The pre-paid mobile market is under pressure for the last few quarters due to weak consumer confidence and telecom operators have been focusing on post-paid mobile market to increase the average revenue per user and keep their revenues and profits from decreasing. According to research firm International Data Corporation, telecom services are feeling the impact of weak consumer confidence and a slowdown in mobile data services. Even in 2020, the spending in the telecom sector is expected to grow the slowest at 1.01%. Sukhdev Singh, executive director at research and consulting services provider Kantar, told TechRadar Middle East, that most businesses in the UAE are facing headwinds for the last two to three years, impacting the overall economy in many ways, including the usage of telecom services. However, he said that Etisalat has managed to broadly retain its bottom-line despite shrinking revenues. “As we get closer to the Expo 2020, which kicks off in the fourth quarter of 2020, economic activities are expected to pick up and help telcos ahead of other sectors,” he said. Etisalat’s aggregate subscriber base reached 149 million, representing a 6% year-on-year increase. The company has proposed a dividend payout of 40 fils per share for the second half of 2019, representing a total dividend payout of 80 fils for the full year and a dividend payout ratio of 80%.
Saleh Abdullah Al Abdooli, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Group, said that 5G is a game-changer with Etisalat taking the lead in the launch of the network which will amplify the use of futuristic services, target new opportunities and implement 5G use cases across verticals. “This has also set the roadmap for services based on emerging technologies such as IoT, cloud, big data, AI, robotics, autonomous, AR/VR, becoming a trusted partner that supports transformation in a digitally disrupted and fully connected world,” he said. Even though local telcos are taking a lead in offering 5G networks, Singh said that the 5G pickup is not likely to break the ceiling anytime soon, given the limited handsets in the affordable range. “Furthermore, the excellent 4G network in the UAE leaves a little need to have anything faster except for its novelty factor. IoT and M2M adoption are likely to help the 5G adoption more than the consumer demand in the initial phase,” he said. The operator’s fourth-quarter profit remained steady at AED 2b despite revenues increasing by 2.3% to AED 13.3b compared to AED 13b a year ago. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google Stadia soon available on non-Pixel phones, Samsung Galaxy S20 tops list Posted: 18 Feb 2020 09:02 AM PST After months of waiting, Google Stadia is finally rolling out to smartphones that aren't Google Pixel handsets, so if you own one of 18 select models of handset, gaming on the go just got that much easier. Most of these new compatible handsets are Samsung phones, with all Galaxy S phones since the Galaxy S8 series and all Note devices since the Galaxy Note 8 included. The newest Galaxy S20 devices, including the massive Galaxy S20 Ultra, are included too.
Four non-Samsung phones are included too: the Razer Phone and Razer Phone 2, and the Asus ROG Phone and ROG Phone 2. These are all dedicated gaming phones, so they've got screens and antennae which could work well for games streaming. If you own one of these phones, and are also a Google Stadia gamer, you'll be able to start gaming on the device from February 20. We're not sure when more phones will get included in the scheme, but we'd hope 'soon'. Which of these phones is best for Google Stadia?If you're looking for a new smartphone and want one that you can play Google Stadia on, there are a few phones on the list worth looking at. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, with a March 6 or March 13 release date depending on where you live in the world, has a massive 6.9-inch WQHD+ display, so if you can cover its huge asking price, it'll give you a great viewing experience. It's also set to be a 5G phone, so playing games on it while out and about will be very plausible. If you don't want to break the bank though, the Samsung Galaxy S10 series got a massive price cut when the Galaxy S20 series was announced, so they're all pretty affordable. The Galaxy S10 Plus or S10 5G have 6.4-inch and 6.7-inch displays respectively, so they're pretty big, and are both high-quality too. Both phones won't set you back too much, and are great to use for non-gaming purposes too. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 range could have one of its biggest flaws fixed before release Posted: 18 Feb 2020 08:55 AM PST The Samsung Galaxy S20 range includes three impressive flagships, with the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra recently having been rated as having the best screen on any phone. That’s in part because of the 120Hz refresh rate offered by it, along with the S20 and Galaxy S20 Plus, but it’s a mode that also has a limitation – at least for now. You see, at launch the Samsung Galaxy S20 phones would only support a 120Hz refresh rate at FHD+ resolution. For the full QHD+ resolution you were limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. Having to choose between clarity and smoothness seems odd in a flagship, but by the time the devices are released you might not have to, as according to @UniverseIce (a leaker with a good track record) Samsung is working on a software update that will allow the 120Hz refresh rate to be paired with the full resolution of the screen.
Having said that, they claim that the leaked screenshot above shows this, which we're not convinced that it does. Yes there's a mode that says 'always' use 120Hz, but it doesn't seem clear that this would necessarily be selectable when using a QHD+ resolution. Regardless, one new thing that is clear from the screenshot is a ‘Dynamic’ mode, which will automatically switch between 60Hz and 120Hz to get the best balance of display quality and battery life, similar to certain devices like the iPad Pro which already does this. It’s not clear from the screenshot when the refresh rate would switch, but elsewhere SamMobile claims to have learned that the refresh rate would drop to 60Hz whenever the battery temperature goes above 42°C, when the battery level drops below 5%, or when certain apps are launched, such as Google Maps or the camera. That said, the site seems to be saying that this already happens, even if you select the 120Hz mode. So if both sources are right then Samsung is seemingly splitting this out into a more clearly labeled mode, and alternatively allowing users to select 120Hz all the time – regardless of battery or resolution. Assuming this software update really is on the way we’d expect it will land fairly soon, but don’t be surprised if using 120Hz paired with QHD+ has a noticeable impact on battery life, so you might still have a decision to make.
Via GSMArena This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The cheapest Xbox One bundle deals and sale prices in February 2020 Posted: 18 Feb 2020 08:48 AM PST Xbox One bundles have dropped even further in price this week, with some coming in well under £200 for the first time since Black Friday. This is a fantastic time to be shopping for cheap Xbox One deals, with plenty of the latest games included in cheap bundles. Coming in cheapest this week is this fantastic Forza Horizon 4 bundle with the Lego Champions DLC included for just £189, or you can pick up a brand new console with a massive collection of Gears of War games including the latest Gears 5 for just £204. For a few pennies more you'll find Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Xbox One bundles available for as low as £209. The cheapest console you can pick up today is the Xbox One S All Digital edition, currently sitting at £179. This console only offers digital games, and with the full Xbox One S (disk drive and all) only £186 this week, you might want to think twice before jumping on the cheaper option. So if you've decided it's finally time to shop for some sweet Xbox One deals, you're in luck. Most of these Xbox One bundles include the 1TB consoles now, which are much more accommodating for your library of games and their large install sizes than the 500GB models, which seem to have been discontinued. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Gears 5, FIFA 20 and more are all aboard the Xbox One deals train today. Finding the best Xbox One bundles and dealsRetailers are stocking some cheap Xbox One deals as standalone purchases, but the best value is to be found with bundles offering extra games. Xbox One bundles often cost less than the prices of the standalone consoles too nowadays, so be sure to check out our hand-picked list of the best Xbox One deals below. Or maybe you're looking for a 4K upgrade? Then you'll want to take a look at the latest Xbox One X bundles. Looking to buy in the US or Australia? You'll want to head on over to our US page or AU page.
As the name suggests, this version of the Xbox One does not come with a disc drive. So you will not be able to play physical games or blu-rays on this version. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition costs £199 in the UK and comes with codes for Forza Horizon 3, Minecraft and Sea of Thieves, or Minecraft, Sea of Thieves and Fortnite DLC depending on which version you pick up. To be honest, we're not entirely convinced at that price point as you can get the regular version for a similar price and with newer games. Actually, we regularly see standard Xbox One S bundles on this page go for even less, so be sure to check out the offers further down the page before jumping on this. That said, we're seeing prices closer to £159 for this Xbox bundle now, so it does represent a cheap way to get into the Microsoft ecosystem and start reaping the rewards of Game Pass for less.
The slimmed-down design of the Xbox One S looks much better than the original chunky box and the power brick is now a thing of the past. The main draw though is 4K visual support meaning you'll be able to watch specialised Blu-Ray and Netflix content in 4K on your new 4K TV. As we turn the corner towards Series X, we'll be seeing better and better Xbox One bundles as retailers start to shift their stock ahead of the new console. That, and the fact that games are about to get real cheap for this system, means it's not too late to bag yourself a brand new Xbox One S deal in 2020. More Xbox One dealsStill not found your ideal Xbox One deal in our highlights of the best offers out there? Why not check out more Xbox One bundles directly from the retailers from our list below?
When to find good Xbox One salesThe best Xbox One sales usually happen around key release dates and shopping periods. That means you'll find new Xbox One bundles with the launch of first party exclusive games and hot timed-exclusives as well. That may all go out the window, however, with the upcoming launch of the Xbox Series X. With the new console due out within the year, Microsoft and retailers alike are going to be keen to shift as much stock of the older consoles as usual. That's good for shoppers for two reasons; a) it means you'll pick up Xbox One sales far cheaper, and b) the games you'll be playing on your new console will be reduced in price even more. The Xbox One X is capable of displaying games in glorious HDR 4K and is the most powerful console ever made. Sadly, it has the price-tag to match too as it's way more expensive than the Xbox One S. The comparison chart below is mainly full of prices for the new console on its own. However, we're starting to see better offers appear online where you can get discounted and free games included too. For more details, head on over to our extensive Xbox One X bundles page for the best value deals. If you're looking to play your Xbox games online or take advantage of the free Games with Gold initiative, you'll want to check out our cheap Xbox Live Gold deals page where we've found prices considerably cheaper than the default price. If you're looking to play more games on your Xbox One S but don't want to splash on full purchases, you should also check out our best Xbox Game Pass deals. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Voxi's cheap SIM only deals with unlimited social media come to an end tomorrow Posted: 18 Feb 2020 08:43 AM PST Need a new SIM plan? Spend longer than you would care to admit scrolling through Instagram and watching food videos on Facebook? There is an ideal offer for you right now but you're going to have to act fast. Until February 19 (tomorrow), Voxi is offering a boost in data on its two cheapest SIM only deals. That means either 2GB for free or 5GB for free depending on which package you choose. Considering Voxi was already offering some pretty cheap overall prices on its SIM plans, this extra jump up in data really helps seal the deal. And like we mentioned above, Voxi will be ideal for anyone with a love of social media. Facebook, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Messenger and even Pinterest - none of these apps will use up your data on a Voxi contract. Along with the social media benefits, all Voxi contracts are 1-month rolling so you can leave at any time. You can find out more about Voxi's limited time offers below and we've also included some offers from the brand Smarty. Also offering 1-month rolling contracts with some pretty great pricing, it is equally worth your consideration.
Voxi SIM only deals: heavy in data and social mediaSmarty's competing SIM only deals:Smarty Mobile is in many ways very similar to Voxi. They both offer 1-month rolling contracts, they're both affordable but Smarty has that little bit extra data to take the win for non-social media addicts. For £10 a month, Smarty will get you 30GB of data. That's quite a boost on the above from Voxi and allows you to tether. Jump up to £15 a month and you'll see your data climb up to 50GB.
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