Apple : T-Mobile falls victim to another cyberattack |
- T-Mobile falls victim to another cyberattack
- Dell laptop deal: the XPS 13 laptop gets a massive $400 price cut
- This Ryzen 9 3900X deal makes it almost as cheap as a Ryzen 7
- Best Buy 3-day sale: deals on the iPhone, TVs, laptops, Beats headphones and more
- US government tightens vetting for .gov domain registration
- Disney Plus UK's amazing launch line-up is revealed, from Star Wars to The Simpsons
- PS5 release date, specs, news and rumors for Sony’s PlayStation 5
- Millions of VPN users at risk of hacking - here's what you need to know
- Google Home smart speakers lose John Legend's voice, because the world is cruel
- The best March Madness TV sales: 4K TV deals from Samsung, LG, Sony and more
- Noise Cancelling: the best new tech podcast around?
- The Leica S3 is one very expensive camera, with a Hasselblad-beating price tag
- Super cheap Apple Watch deals are seeing luxury wearables up to $250 off
- England vs Wales live stream: how to watch Six Nations 2020 rugby online from anywhere
- Virgin Media data breach 'links customers to porn'
- Best gaming mouse 2020: the best gaming mice we've tested
- Best email providers of 2020: Free, Paid and business services
- Best Windows tablets 2020: all of the top Windows tablets reviewed
- Samsung Galaxy S20 series are now on sale, packing a big cameras, screens and 5G
- The best gaming monitor 2020: the 10 best gaming screens of the year
| T-Mobile falls victim to another cyberattack Posted: 06 Mar 2020 01:45 PM PST The US telecom T-Mobile has revealed that it fell victim to a security breach that impacted its customers as well as its employees. The company provided more details on what occurred in a notification to its customers, saying: “Our Cybersecurity team recently identified and shut down a malicious attack against our email vendor that led to unauthorized access to certain T-Mobile employee email accounts, some of which contained account information for T-Mobile customers and employees. An investigation was immediately commenced, with assistance from leading cybersecurity forensics experts, to determine what happened and what information was affected. We immediately reported this matter to federal law enforcement and are actively cooperating in their investigation.”
T-Mobile is currently sending out SMS notifications to all impacted users, though customers who had just their account data and those who had their financial data exposed are receiving different notifications. Exposed dataThe hackers behind the security breach may have accessed data on T-Mobile employees and some of its customers. According to the company, names, addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, rate plans and features and billing information may have been obtained by hackers. However, the Social Security numbers, financial account information and government identification numbers of some users were exposed while for others, this data was not exposed. T-Mobile has not yet said how many users were impacted by the security breach but it has recommended that customers change the personal identification number for their T-Mobile accounts. This is the second time the US telecom has disclosed a security breach in the past six months. Back in November of last year, T-Mobile disclosed a similar security breach in which a malicious actor was able to obtain the personal data of over a million of its customers.
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| Dell laptop deal: the XPS 13 laptop gets a massive $400 price cut Posted: 06 Mar 2020 01:23 PM PST Dell's semi-annual sale is happening right now and includes massive savings on best-selling laptops and electronics. Dell's top laptop deal is the XPS 13 that's on sale for $799.99. That's a massive $400 discount and a fantastic price for the powerful laptop. See more laptop sales with the best cheap laptop deals: prices start at just $129 today. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| This Ryzen 9 3900X deal makes it almost as cheap as a Ryzen 7 Posted: 06 Mar 2020 01:01 PM PST There's no doubt that AMD is going strong with some of the best processors on the market. And right now, there's a hefty discount that cuts 16% off the Ryzen 9 3900X. That might seem like a small percentage, but given the processor's $499 starting price, the discount saves you close to $100. The Ryzen 9 3900X a perfect little monster, scoring top marks in our review thanks to its masterful performance levels, PCIe 4.0 supports, and its ability to knock out Intel at the price. It's 3.8GHz base clock and 4.6GHz boost even bring single-core performance a long way forward. This processor features 12 cores and 24 threads, making it an absolute beast when it comes to performance in creative workloads. It comes in well the below the price of a similar 12-core chip from Intel, like the $1,189 Intel Core i9-9920X. To take the most advantage of the Ryzen 9 3900X, you'll want to pair it with a new X570 motherboard. These motherboards will be able to offer support for the latest PCIe 4.0 standard, which doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0. This enables things like exceedingly fast storage from new PCIe SSDs or powerful cards like Gigabyte's Aorus Gen4 AIC. If you're into high-end cooling solutions, you may even be able to push the Ryzen 9 3900X loads further than its factory settings. Back in December, overclockers set world records on this chip using liquid nitrogen to keep it cool. Given that the Ryzen 9 3900X has seen inflated prices and limited availability, it's great to see it available at a price below retail. Of course, this deal may just ensure stock is once again limited. Don't need that much power? This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best Buy 3-day sale: deals on the iPhone, TVs, laptops, Beats headphones and more Posted: 06 Mar 2020 12:18 PM PST Best Buy's 3-day sale starts today, and the retailer is discounting a number of best-selling tech items, which include deals on TVs, phones, laptops, headphones, and more. You can score incredible deals from top brands like Apple, Samsung, Dell, and Amazon. Best Buy deals:Shop more Apple deals with our roundup of refurbished iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch deals and the best iPhone 11 and 11 Pro deals. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| US government tightens vetting for .gov domain registration Posted: 06 Mar 2020 11:59 AM PST Registering a .gov domain is about to get a lot more difficult as the US government will soon start requiring notarized signatures as part of the registration process beginning on March 10th. The reason behind this is to prevent wire and mail fraud that could lead to .gov domains, which are usually considered secure as they're registered by government agencies, from being registered by unauthorized organizations or individuals. The US General Services Administration (GSA) oversees the DotGov program that operates the .gov top-level domain (TLD) and makes these domains available to government organizations in the US.
In an update on its website, DotGov explains why it will soon require notarized signatures to register a .gov domain, which reads: “Effective on March 10, 2020, the DotGov Program will begin requiring notarized signatures on all authorization letters when submitting a request for a new .gov domain. This is a necessary security enhancement to prevent mail and wire fraud through signature forgery in obtaining a .gov domain. This step will help maintain the integrity of .gov and ensure that .gov domains continue to be issued only to official U.S. government organizations.” Registering .gov domainsIn order to request a .gov domain, government organizations have to prepare and send an authorization letter as well as fill out an online form after receiving their .gov registrar account. The authorization letter must use official letterhead stationary and it also has to include a signature from an organization's authorizing authority according to the DotGov program. Beginning on March 10th though, this letter will need to come with a notarized signature to prevent organizations or individuals from registering a .gov domain without the proper authorization. The change to how .gov domains are registered comes after independent security researcher Brian Krebs revealed in November of last year that almost anyone can register a .gov domain by using fake information on the authorization letter. However, if someone is caught doing so, they could be indicted for wire or mail fraud. The .gov domain was first created in 1985 and for the past 35 years, users have associated it with legitimate government websites, which is why DotGov's new requirements make a lot of sense in helping to keep .gov sites secure.
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| Disney Plus UK's amazing launch line-up is revealed, from Star Wars to The Simpsons Posted: 06 Mar 2020 10:48 AM PST Disney has revealed the full list of movies and shows in the Disney Plus UK launch line-up (sign up here for £10 off) – and there's a lot for Disney fans to be excited about. With 30 seasons of The Simpsons to stream, 500 films and 350 shows, this is a significant offering for £5.99 a month – Marvel and Star Wars fans in particular won't be disappointed when the service finally lands on March 24. You'll get every Star Wars movie on day one, minus The Rise of Skywalker, which will come later. Almost every Marvel movie has made the cut as well – minus Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk, which are both tied up in rights situations. A surprising number of X-Men movies have joined the line-up, too, with the entire original trilogy, The Wolverine and Days of Future Past. Pixar fans have a lot to look forward to, as well, with every Toy Story movie and old favourites like Up and Wall-E, among lesser pictures like Cars. In terms of Disney movie classics, too, you're looking at a deep, expansive archive – if you've got kids, it should keep them happy. On the Fox front, Avatar has made the cut, along with the three Home Alone movies and other family-friendly oddities like Splash. TV shows-wise, Disney Plus isn't quite as strong, but Star Wars fans can check out every season of The Clone Wars and Rebels, which are fantastic animated series. Marvel shows like Agents of Shield and The Runaways are also available to stream. New originals, like The Mandalorian and The World According to Jeff Goldblum, will release weekly. If the launch line-up impresses you, sign up to Disney Plus for a year at just £49.99, which is £10 off when you pre-order before the March 24 release date. You'll find the full list of Disney Plus UK shows and movies below, broken up by category.
Disney Plus UK: full list of movies and showsHere are the Disney-specific movies...
Disney TV shows on Disney Plus UKNow onto Disney-specific TV shows, which includes favourites like Duck Tales and Recess (but not The Weekenders yet!).
These are categorised as 'shorts', meanwhile, and they include Steamboat Willie, the original Mickey Mouse cartoon.
Finally, these are the specials under Disney-related TV.
Disney Plus UK: Pixar moviesA complete collection of Pixar movies awaits you on Disney Plus UK.
Meanwhile, these are the Pixar shorts you can look forward to.
Disney Plus UK: Marvel moviesThe Marvel movies arrive in full swing, with more films than the US version of the service launched with. You won't see the Spider-Man movies on this list, since Sony owns the rights to those, or The Incredible Hulk which is distributed by Universal. Plenty more X-Men movies than the US got, though...
These are the TV shows you can enjoy from Marvel, meanwhile.
Disney Plus UK: Star Wars filmsGreat news: every Star Wars movie minus The Rise of Skywalker has made the cut, and that will follow at a later date.
Here are the Star Wars shows and specials you can look forward to, as well:
Disney Plus UK: National Geographic movies and showsHere, we've grouped all the National Geographic movies, shows and specials together.
Other movies on Disney Plus UK, including AvatarThree Ice Age movies and the Home Alone series arrive on day one, along with James Cameron's Avatar.
Disney Plus UK: The Simpsons episodes at launchThat's 30 seasons of The Simpsons at launch, just like Disney Plus in the US.
These are other TV shows and specials coming to the service:
Originals on Disney Plus UKThese are all a known quantity, but here are the Disney Plus originals you can stream on day one:
These are the original shows, including the crown jewel, The Mandalorian.
Finally, these come under the shorts category.
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| PS5 release date, specs, news and rumors for Sony’s PlayStation 5 Posted: 06 Mar 2020 10:44 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, and a number of notable features like quick-loading games and Smart Delivery that allows gamers to play the "best possible version" of an Xbox game, no matter the platform. 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: Turns out, the PS5 and Xbox Series X could use the same AMD RDNA 2 technology for 4K ray-tracing, a feature Sony has confirmed in the past. 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 treated with skepticism, 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. When it comes to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, players see 'affordable price' as the most important factor according to a Twitter poll by Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon. Boon asked Twitter users what the most important thing was for them when it comes to next-gen consoles. The poll received a total of 50,295 responses, with a 37.5% majority of users saying 'affordable price' was the most important factor. 'Plays last-gen games' (AKA backwards compatibility) came second with 30%, 'better graphics' received 19.2% of votes, while 'exclusive games' was the least important with just 13.2% of votes. It's worth noting that a Twitter poll isn't exactly reflective of the overall player base, especially as it's unlikely younger players will be on the platform. So, while this poll can be useful as a steer, the reality is likely to be a lot more complex. Regardless, we expect price to be a key factor in whether players pick up a PS5 or Xbox Series X - even if it's not the most important.
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."
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. We will also see a remake of THQ Nordic's cult classic Gothic, Gollum and Outriders land on PS5. 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. We also know Rainbow Six Siege will be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X from launch. 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." 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." 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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| Millions of VPN users at risk of hacking - here's what you need to know Posted: 06 Mar 2020 10:44 AM PST After analyzing the top free VPNs available on the Google Play Store, security researchers have discovered that several contain critical vulnerabilities. VPNPro's investigation found that the app SuperVPN Free VPN Client, which has over 100m installs, contains critical vulnerabilities that open users of the app up to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. By exploiting these vulnerabilities, a hacker can easily intercept all of the communications between a user and the VPN provider to find out exactly what the user is doing online.
According to VPNPro, nearly 105m users who have installed SuperVPN Free VPN Client could be at risk of having their credit card details stolen, their private photos and videos leaked or sold online or their conversations recorded. To make matters worse, of the top free VPN apps analyzed by its security researchers, 10 other apps contained similar vulnerabilities. Free VPN appsBesides SuperVPN Free VPN Client, the other free VPN apps that VPNPro found to have vulnerabilities include TapVPN Free VPN, Best Ultimate VPN – Fastest Secure Unlimited VPN, Korea VPN – Plugin for Open VPN, VPN Unblocker Free unlimited Best Anonymous Secure, Super VPN 2019 USA – Free VPN, Unblock Proxy VPN, Wuma VPN-Pro (Fast & Unlimited & Security), VPN Download: Top, Quick & Unblock Sites, Secure VPN – Fast VPN Free & Unlimited VPN and Power VPN Free VPN. Cybersecurity expert at VPNPro, Jan Youngren explained to 9News that using a free VPN could actually leave users less protected than not using one at all, saying: "(VPN users are) more willing to transmit sensitive information on VPN apps than on other apps. For a VPN app to then be so vulnerable is a betrayal of users' trust and puts them in a worse position than if they hadn't used any VPN at all." VPNPro disclosed these vulnerabilities to the developers of all 10 affected VPN apps back in October in order to give them enough time to fix these issues. However, only one VPN app, Best Ultimate VPN, responded and patched the vulnerabilities.
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| Google Home smart speakers lose John Legend's voice, because the world is cruel Posted: 06 Mar 2020 09:39 AM PST Get ready to play mournful pop songs on your smart speakers, folks – it looks like Google Assistant is losing its John Legend voice option on March 23. As part of Google's celebrity cameo program for its popular voice assistant, the All of Me and Ordinary People singer John Legend has been an optional voice to use when chatting with your compatible home smart speakers, such as the Google Home or Google Nest Hub Max. It's unclear why John Legend's voice will no longer be available, though it may be that Google always had a limited-time agreement with the pop singer.
John Legend first appeared on Google Home smart speakers back in April 2019, and the roughly year-long activation period supports the idea of a limited-time agreement. What's going on in that beautiful mind?The inclusion of John Legend gave some much-needed personality to the Google Assistant, given his famously smooth vocal chords – with some delightfully personal responses to questions around music, serenading, or his partner (and Luigi's Mansion enthusiast) Chrissy Tiegen. Legend's departure may be sad for some – especially given the paucity of voice personalization for most smart assistants, beyond basic gender or language options – though it does suggest we may be seeing another performer / celebrity take his place in the coming months. Until then, it looks like we'll be having conversations in the dark without him. For now, we'll leave you with Chrissy Tiegen's uncanny impression of Nintendo's Luigi in this Twitter video, because you deserve something nice today.
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| The best March Madness TV sales: 4K TV deals from Samsung, LG, Sony and more Posted: 06 Mar 2020 09:31 AM PST March Madness is almost here (March 17 to be exact), and to celebrate the big dance retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are discounting its best-selling 4K TVs. You can find incredible deals on a range of televisions from top brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, and more. To help you sort through all the offers, we've listed the best March Madness TV deals and sales that are happening now. Our top March Madness TV picks include everything from a mid-size 43-inch TV to a massive 75-inch set, with prices starting at just $218 and different features like HDR, smart functionality and voice control. To make things easier for you, we've split our selection of TVs into three categories: the outright best TVs for watching your favorite team, the best mid-range TVs, and the best budget TVs. We've included a range of different sizes in each category, and we've also picked a standout bargain for our March Madness TV deal of the week. The best March Madness TV deals 2020:
Shop more of our top picks for the best budget TV deals. Shop more TV offers with our roundup of the best cheap TV deals and sales that are happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Noise Cancelling: the best new tech podcast around? Posted: 06 Mar 2020 09:22 AM PST Well, this is a bit exciting. We're launching a podcast... well, actually, we've launched one, as it's already here. Noise Cancelling is going to be your favorite weekly podcast encompassing the world of technology, giving you a new and (hopefully) entertaining alternative look at all the news, reviews and features that we write about here each week. Our new podcast isn't just going to be from the top writers from this site though. Joining me, Gareth Beavis (Global Editor in Chief of TechRadar) will be Sherri L. Smith (Editor in Chief of Laptop Mag), as well as regular guests from Tom's Guide and other brands too as we enlist the best names from the suite of tech sites at Future Publishing (our parent company). Week one: expensive wheelsIn this inaugural episode, we welcome special guest James Peckham, TechRadar's Phones Editor, to give us the lowdown on why Apple might be forced to pay out $25 to select iPhone users, as well as give us his take on whether the S20 range is going to be a success. There's also talk about whether you should have a lock on wheels that cost $400 (we're looking at you, Apple Mac Pro) and we find out which laptop has set a new benchmark for battery life in the Laptop Mag laboratories. There's also a question whether VR is really ever going to make it mainstream, a smackdown on cloud gaming and the key point: does Sherri know how much a wheel costs? All this and more on the all-new Noise Cancelling podcast - subscribe on Spotify, grab it on Apple podcasts or find us wherever you get your pods. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Leica S3 is one very expensive camera, with a Hasselblad-beating price tag Posted: 06 Mar 2020 09:11 AM PST It's been a long wait for the Leica S3, which made its debut at Photokina 2018, but the medium format monolith has finally gone on sale with a five-figure price tag. It's just as well Leica gave us a while to save up, because this 64MP medium format DSLR has an asking price of $18,995 / £16,500 (around AU$32,400). This even puts it above limited edition cameras like the Leica M10-P: ASC 100 Edition (and only 300 of those cameras exist worldwide). What's so special about the Leica S3, then? Well, it's far from the only medium format camera around these days, with the 100MP Fujifilm GFX100 and 150MP Phase One XF IQ4 both beating it for megapixels, but it does have that unique Leica design and a huge optical viewfinder. Like its predecessors, the S3 has a weather-resistant magnesium body and a somewhat hulking design, with a large grip and very minimalist approach to dials and buttons. We haven't played with the S3 yet, but we imagine those controls are just as silky smooth as those on the Leica S2, which arrived back in 2008. That massive viewfinder also offers 0.87x magnification, which is marginally higher than its predecessor and should offer an extremely clear view of the sweeping landscape you're attempting to take award-winning photos of. Of course, the big news is its resolution advantage over the 37.5MP S2, providing a 71% boost in resolution over the S2 and, apparently, an impressive dynamic range of 15 stops. Another interesting feature is the central shutter, which means you can do flash synchronization at shutter speeds as fast as 1/1000s, far faster than traditional focal plane shutters.
Professional price tagThe Leica S3 isn't just for studio stills either – it can also use the entire sensor for 4K video with no crop. That's another upgrade on its predecessors, which tended to offer only cropped video. One curious feature that does reflect the S-System traditional origins – and perhaps its target audience – is the fact that the S3 has only CF and SD card slots, without the option of the more recent CFExpress seen on the likes of the Canon 1DX Mark III. This seems a little odd, but then maybe Leica S3 owners don't tend to demand the sports-friendly speed offered by the likes of CFExpress and XQD cards. Something the Leica S3 does offer over other rivals systems like the Fujifilm GFX range, though, is native lens options, with the S-Series offering 16 options, ranging from fast primes like the Summicron-S 100 f/2 to zooms like the Vario-Elmar-S 30–90mm f/3.5–5.6. Of course, on paper the Leica S3 struggles to justify its premium over rivals like the Fujifilm GFX 50R and Hasselblad X1D II 50C, but you'll be able to see one in the flesh – or maybe even buy one – now that it's finally on sale.
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| Super cheap Apple Watch deals are seeing luxury wearables up to $250 off Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:57 AM PST We're seeing luxury Apple Watch deals offering fantastic discounts on premium wearable tech this weekend. You can nab yourself a cheap Apple Watch Series 4 with both GPS and cellular capabilities for as little as $399 right now, with the larger 44mm option enjoying a $250 price cut down to just $499. That's an excellent discount in a landscape starved of cheap Apple Watch deals at the moment, so if you're in need of some new wrist candy, but don't want to shell out for the latest model, these discounts offer the perfect compromise. You're grabbing all the latest fitness tracking features in these Apple Watch 4 deals - personalized training, onscreen instruction, calorie and workout tracking - but you're also picking up a powerful companion to your iPhone. Pick up notifications, receive and send messages, make and take phone calls, and explore the wonderful world of the Apple Watch App Store to truly make the most of the Apple Watch 4's 18-hour battery life and 30% larger display. Plus, because these particular Apple Watch deals offer cellular connectivity, you can do all that on the go without needing your phone present, though do remember you'll need to take out a separate data plan for your wrist. Not in the US? Scroll down to find the best cheap Apple Watch sales in your country. Today's best cheap Apple Watch deals
More cheap Apple Watch salesYou'll find all the latest Apple Watch deals on our dedicated page which gathers all the best prices from your favorite retailers. Or, check out the best Garmin fitness tracker sales or our top picks for the best Fitbit prices around. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| England vs Wales live stream: how to watch Six Nations 2020 rugby online from anywhere Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:51 AM PST With the home side looking to keep the pressure on France at the top of the Six Nations table, Saturday's match at Twickenham looks set to be an absorbing clash - don't miss a minute by following our England vs Wales live stream guide and watch the Six Nations rugby from wherever you are this weekend. England appear to have put their lacklustre start to the tournament behind them, with a superb performance to beat Ireland 24-12 in their last Six Nations match doing much to erase memories of an opening day defeat against France. Wales have disappointed by their standards, with last year’s Six Nations and Grand Slam winners suffering back-to back defeats against Ireland and France. With their chances of retaining the Six Nations now almost gone, the Welsh will be trying to draw some positives out of their campaign - and preventing England from winning a first triple crown since 2016 would be just the ticket. Fly-half Dan Bigger and Scarlets star Liam Williams have both been declared fit for the Welsh, while Eddie Jones’ England side will be without Saracens star Mako Vunipola as a precaution over his potential exposure to the coronavirus. It looks set to be a tight affair at Twickenham and you can watch the Six Nations 2020 clash in its entirety - in some places for free - by following our England vs Wales live stream guide below.
How to live stream England vs Wales in the UK for freeHow to watch a Six Nations live stream in 2020 from abroadIf you're away from home and outside of your home country, then you're going to run into problems when trying to stream coverage of Six Nations fixtures like England vs Wales from your native broadcaster, as it's likely to be location restricted. Thankfully, you can still watch all the action - all you need to do is make use of a VPN. Simply download and install the software or an app from one of the many VPN services out there. These will spoof your computer into thinking that you're in your home nation, allowing you to enjoy your regular broadcaster's coverage (so long as you comply with the broadcaster's Ts&Cs). So no need to search the internet for a link to a dodgy stream from a suspect website.
Live stream England vs Wales in Australia
How to watch England vs Wales in New Zealand
Watch England vs Wales and live stream the Six Nations rugby in Canada for free
How to watch an England vs Wales live stream online in the US
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| Virgin Media data breach 'links customers to porn' Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:47 AM PST Virgin Media has reported a data breach affecting 900,000 customers, caused by a failure to secure a marketing database. The company says the incident was not due to a cyberattack, but rather a misconfigured database which left personal details unsecured and available for anyone to access for 10 months. The breach compromised sensitive customer information, including phone numbers, email and home addresses, though no financial information was leaked.
Researchers have also claimed that the information held on the database could link customers to pornography and other explicit websites. Virgin Media confirmed the database held records of roughly 1,100 customers who had asked for certain sites to be unblocked via an online form. The company has confirmed the information was accessed “on at least one occasion” by an unauthorised user. Virgin Media data breachVirgin Media first became aware of the issue last week, after it was identified by a researcher at security firm TurgenSec. The majority of those affected were customers with television or landline telephone accounts, though some mobile customers also featured on the database. The nature of the compromised information means the group is at increased risk of phishing attacks, nuisance calls and identity theft. “We recently became aware that one of our marketing databases was incorrectly configured, which allowed unauthorised access. We immediately solved the issue by shutting down access,” Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media, said in a statement. “Based upon our investigation, Virgin Media does believe the database was accessed on at least one occasion, but we do not know the extent of the access or if any information was actually used.” “Protecting our customers’ data is a top priority and we sincerely apologise,” he added. However, TurgenSec believes the data exposed is more extensive and incriminating than Virgin Media first let on, and could also be used to hold victims to ransom. "Stating to their customer that there was only a breach of 'limited contact information' is from our perspective understating the matter potentially to the point of being disingenuous," said a TurgenSec researcher. "These highly sensitive details could be used by cyber-criminals to boost the chances of extorting money from victims." Virgin Media has informed the Information Commissioner’s Office and alerted the affected individuals via email.
Via BBC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best gaming mouse 2020: the best gaming mice we've tested Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:31 AM PST It’s time for you to invest in the best gaming mouse if you’re serious about gaming. While it might be an afterthought for many, it’s an important part of any quality gaming rig. And, it just may just save your wrist from unnecessary chronic pain. The best gaming mouse is critical regardless of whether you’re a casual gamer or trying to go toe-to-toe in the latest esports. Having one of the best gaming PCs isn’t enough; peripherals make a huge difference in your gaming immersion and experience. That includes your gaming mouse, which must be designed especially for gaming to help your performance instead of hindering it. But, don’t just pick the most expensive out there. There are many top-notch mice at every price point, so you can find something that delivers durability, performance and speed without breaking the bank. To help you look for the best gaming mouse, we’ve rounded up the top ones we’ve tested here at TechRadar, complete with our price comparison tool to help you find money-saving deals. And, while you’re at it, pick up one of the best gaming mouse pads as well for a truly incredible gaming experience. Best gaming mice 2020 at a glance
The features, balance and performance are all present in equal measure in the SteelSeries Rival 710. When it comes to the best gaming mouse, features, balance and performance are all present in equal measure in the SteelSeries Rival 710, securing it a top spot on our list. This behemoth of a gaming mouse – at least, in terms of power – is a bit expensive, but when you weigh that price against the customizable OLED display, haptic feedback (great for you MOBA players) and excellent build quality, the SteelSeries Rival 710 is still a very solid purchase. The kicker? Everything is modular, even down to the sensor, so you never have to feel like you’re missing out on the latest tech. Read the full review: SteelSeries Rival 710
The HyperX Pulsefire Surge boasts extremely reliable Omron switches and entrancing RGB lighting. If you catch yourself rolling your eyes at some of the gaming mice out there in 2019 that sport ridiculous, over-the-top designs, then you should take a look at the HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB. Boasting extremely reliable Omron switches and entrancing RGB lighting – not to mention, an impressive 16,000 DPI sensor – you’re scoring the best gaming mouse for an outstanding price. Plus, it’ll fit right into any office, at least once you turn down the lighting effects to show off its more accessible design. Read the full review: HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB
The Razer Viper is our new favorite esports gaming mouse. There are a couple reasons why Razer Viper is our new favorite esports gaming mouse. Along with its lightweight ambidextrous design, true 16,000 DPI and Razer Chroma lighting, this powerful little mouse also features 1000 Hz Ultrapolling, Optical Mouse Switches rated for 70 million clicks and 8 independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons. If you want a gaming mouse to give you that extra competitive edge, you’ve found it here. Read the full review: Razer Viper
The Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is the poster child for this ideal price-and-performance match. The best gaming mouse is always going to be the one that brings excellent performance at a reasonable price. And, the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is the poster child for this ideal price-and-performance match. You’ll have a wireless mouse that has RGB lighting, touts a long battery life and doesn’t at all suck, for less than $50. The ergonomics unfortunately favor right-handed users, but at this price and with this impressive performance, there’s not much else to complain about. Read the full review: Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
The SteelSeries Sensei Ten delivers such impressive acceleration and deceleration customization options. Its onboard profile customization and nice matte finish are just two of the things you’ll love about the SteelSeries Sensei Ten. Most importantly, this ambidextrous mouse boasts a top-of-the-line sensor, making it one of the best gaming mice we’ve tested in 2019. It delivers such impressive acceleration and deceleration customization options, as well as butter-smooth performance. SteelSeries tops it all off with Tilt Tracking, which essentially keeps tracking consistent and precise even when you’re lifting your mouse and putting it back down at tilted angles. Read the full review: SteelSeries Sensei Ten
Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed boasts excellent performance with 450 IPS tracking speed and up to 40G acceleration. With up to 450 hours in Bluetooth mode, the Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed is one of the longest lasting wireless mouse on the market. But, it’s got more going for it than just longevity. It also boasts excellent performance with 450 IPS tracking speed and up to 40G acceleration. It’s key feature, however, is the HyperSpeed Wireless, which reduces the time it takes to send data between your mouse and PC so it’s 25% faster than any other wireless gaming technology. Read the full review: Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed
The Corsair IronClaw RGB is an eye-catching mouse for big-hand users. Most of the best gaming mice on the market are either too small or too light, or even a bit of both, leaving gamers with big hands with few options. To make matters worse, some of the big mice out there come loaded with gratuitous buttons and weird shapes that make them more like asylum-seekers from an alien robot planet. The Corsair Ironclaw is just the opposite. It’s an eye-catching mouse for big-hand users, with a design that won’t make you want to squirrel it away in your desk drawer every time company comes around. It’s quite tough as well, so it can handle quite a bit of heavy use, making it the best gaming mouse for you. Read the full review: Corsair Ironclaw RGB
The Razer Basilisk V2 is the only choice if you're looking for a mid-range gaming mouse. A solid gaming mouse at a decent price point, the Razer Basilisk V2 is the only choice if you’re looking for a mid-range gaming mouse. It allows you to effortlessly hop from game to game with minimal fuss, and has 11 programmable buttons, a tactile scroll wheel with a tension dial and up to five different sensitivity levels. On top of that, it has the Razer Speedflex Cable, which boasts incredible flexibility and produces minimal drag. And, for comfort, it’s well-suited for a palm grip, as well as claw and fingertip styles. Read the full review: Razer Basilisk V2
Keep things simple with the Roccat Kain 202 AIMO. The Kain 202 AIMO from Roccat is the perfect mouse for the gamer who likes to keep it simple. No wires, no weight adjustment, no-nonsense. The 202 is easy to set up, works like a charm and comes with a solid battery life, ensuring that you won’t need to be plugging it in too often. Overall sensitivity and physical feedback is good, with particular mention going to the rugged scroll wheel, which feels great to roll and click. It’s not the most portable of mice, but its anti-wear coating ensures that this mouse should remain looking fine for the duration of its life. Read the full review: Roccat Kain 202 AIMO
Don't knock the Razer Deathadder V2's simple design. The Razer Deathadder V2 may be a simple mouse with a simple design, but don’t let that fool you. This is one of the best gaming mice out there, touting a response time of 0.2ms, 650IPS tracking speed, 8 programmable buttons and Razer Speedflex Cable. It’s pretty lightweight as well, making it possible to reduce hand and wrist fatigue. And don’t knock that simple design, either, as it only makes this mouse look right at home in the office as much as it does in your gaming setup. Best yet, it boasts a 70M click durability, which means it’ll last you for a long, long time. Read the full review: Razer Deathadder V2
How to choose the best gaming mouseWhile you’ll definitely find the best gaming mouse of your gaming dreams, doing so might take some time and effort. That’s expected; there’s a ton of complicated technical jargon that goes into the best gaming mice – terms like polling rates and DPI ratings that a regular buyer may not be familiar with. For the record, you’ll want a higher number of both, even though these two terms mean very different things. For newcomers to the world of PC gaming, when you come across the term DPI, that is shorthand for ‘dots per inch.’ The higher the number, the wider the range wherein you can specify how sensitive your mouse is. If you don’t have a lot of desk space available, but you still want accuracy and precision, then opt for the best gaming mouse with a higher DPI rating that can toggle to a lower DPI, in case you get a bigger desk. Meanwhile, a high polling rate means you’re getting faster response times. The polling rate is measured in hertz, and it usually ranges from around 125 to 1,000Hz. The latter means that your mouse’s position is reported to your computer 1,000 times per second. Other key gaming mouse factors you’ll want to keep in mind are ergonomics – particularly if you’re left-handed – and RGB lighting. Gabe Carey and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best email providers of 2020: Free, Paid and business services Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:30 AM PST Getting hold of an email account is easy. Sign up with an ISP and you’ve got one account for starters. Creating an account with Google and other big names will get you more. Buy a decent web hosting package and you'll probably get enough email addresses to power a large business, all for no extra charge. Getting the right email account is more difficult, as there's a lot to consider. What are the spam filters like? How easy is it to keep your inbox organized? Can you access the account from other email clients? And what about using the service with a custom domain and address of your own (yourname@yourdomain.com)? Keep reading and we'll highlight some of the best email providers around. All have decent free services, perhaps with ads and some limits, but we'll also talk about their business-friendly commercial products which deliver the power, functionality and enterprise-level extras that demanding users need.
The best email services of 2020 are:
Image credit: Proton Technologies Signing up with an email provider will often involve some privacy compromises. Yahoo Mail asks for your name and mobile number, for instance. Gmail and other services might scan your messages to carry out useful actions (such as adding events to calendars), and just about everyone serves you with ads. ProtonMail is a Swiss-based email service which focuses on privacy above all else. You can sign up anonymously, there's no logging of IP addresses, and all your emails are end-to-end encrypted, which means there's no way ProtonMail (or anyone else) can read their contents. Also, address verification (which allows you to be sure you are securely communicating with the right person) and full support for PGP email encryption is available. In late April 2019, elliptic curve cryptography was introduced, which adds additional security and faster speeds. There are some significant limits. The free product has a tiny 500MB storage space, only supports sending 150 messages a day, and is distinctly short in terms of organizational tools (no folders, labels or smart filters). As the end-to-end encryption is specific to ProtonMail, it also ensures that you can't use the service with other email clients. Still, it seems a little unfair to complain about a service which is no-strings-attached free, and doesn't even show ads. In reality, ProtonMail is a specialist tool which is intended for use alongside services like Gmail – not to replace them – and overall it performs its core tasks very well. If you do need more, ProtonMail's $5 (you can choose to pay in USD, Euro and CHF) a month (or $48 yearly) Plus account gives you 5GB storage, a 1,000 message-per-day allowance, custom domains (you@yourdomain.com) and support for folders, labels, filters as well as some addition features like contact groups. A further Professional plan brings more storage, email addresses and a second custom domain, as well as adding a catch-all email address and multi-user support. It's priced from $8 per month per user (75$ yearly), which is reasonable if you need ProtonMail's security, although it's also notably more expensive than the business accounts of the big-name competition.
Image credit: Google First released back in 2004, Google's Gmail has become the market leader in free email services with more than a billion users across the globe. Gmail's stripped-back web interface is a highlight. Most of the screen is devoted to your inbox, with a minimum of toolbar and other clutter. Messages are neatly organized via conversations for easier viewing, and you can read and reply to emails with ease, even as a first-time user. There's plenty of power here. Dynamic mail makes Gmail more interactive, with the ability to take action directly from within the email, like filling out a questionnaire or responding to a Google Docs comment. Messages can be automatically filtered into tabbed categories like Primary, Social and Promotions, helping you to focus on the content you need. Leading-edge spam blocking keeps your inbox free of junk, you can manage other accounts from the same interface (Outlook, Yahoo, any other IMAP or POP email), and there's 15GB storage for your inbox, Drive and photos. You can also access Gmail offline, although you'll need Google Chrome for that to work. Furthermore, there is a neat snooze feature that allows you to, well, snooze an email for a specified amount of time (it also automatically labels that email as important). Other features are more questionable. Instead of organizing messages into folders, for instance – a simple metaphor which just about every user understands – you must filter them using a custom labelling system. This works, and has some advantages, but isn't popular with all users. Still, Gmail is an excellent service overall, and a good first choice for your email provider. Google makes a paid business-oriented version of Gmail available in the shape of its G Suite product. This more professional product drops the ads and allows using a custom email address on your domain (yourname@yourcompany.tld). Business-oriented migration tools can import mail from Outlook, Exchange, Lotus and more. Storage space doubles to 30GB on the Basic plan, and you get unlimited group email addresses, 99.9% guaranteed uptime and 24/7 support. G Suite is Google's answer to Microsoft Office, so of course you also get apps for working with documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Shared calendars keep you better organized, there's video and voice conferencing for online meetings, and again, there’s 24/7 support to keep your system running smoothly. This more Office-like power makes for a more expensive product than the email-only competition, with prices starting at $6 a user for the simplest plan. You're getting a lot for your money, though, and if you'll use G Suite's features then it could be a smart choice. A 14-day free trial provides an easy way to help you find out.
Image credit: Microsoft Outlook's web interface follows the same familiar style as its desktop incarnation, and most other email clients: folders and organizational tools on the left, the contents of the current folder in the center, and a simple preview pane on the right (with adverts in the case of the free account). A toolbar gives you speedy access to common features, and right-clicking folders or messages shows you just about everything else. If you've ever used another email client, you'll figure out the key details in moments. Despite the apparent simplicity, there's a lot going on under the hood. The service automatically detects important emails and places them in a Focused Inbox, keeping any distractions out of sight. Events including flights and dinner reservations can automatically be added to your calendar. It's easy to share that calendar with other Outlook.com or Office 365 users, or you can save your events to a Family calendar that everyone can access. In addition, there are some interesting features too, like the ability to add polls directly to your Outlook emails. Excellent attachment support includes the ability to directly share OneDrive files as copies or links. You can also attach files directly from your Google Drive, Dropbox and Box accounts, and a chunky 15GB mailbox allows storing plenty of files from other people. This all worked just fine for us, but if you're unhappy with the service defaults, there's a chance they can be tweaked via Outlook.com's Settings dialog. This doesn't have quite as many options as Gmail, but they're well organized and give you plenty of control over layout, attachment rules, message handling and more. If that’s still not enough, Microsoft offers a bunch of app-based integrations to take the service further. You get built-in Skype support via the beta, and apps give you easier access to Evernote, PayPal, GIPHY, Yelp, Uber and more. Upgrading to Office 365 gets you an ad-free inbox, 50GB mail storage and a vast 1TB of OneDrive storage. Extras include offline working, professional message formatting tools, phone or chat-based support, file recovery from malicious attacks like ransomware and more. Oh, and the latest versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. All this can be yours for the equivalent of $7 a month on the single user Office 365 Personal plan or you can pay 70$ for a year.
Image credit: Yahoo Yahoo Mail doesn't make the headlines so much, these days, but its latest version is a polished and professional service which stands up well against the top competition. The well-designed interface resembles Gmail, at least initially, with a large view of your inbox, one-click filters for common messages and content (Photos, Documents, Travel), and easy browsing of all the emails in a conversation. But you can also organize mails into custom folders, and the layout can be tweaked to display a message preview in a couple of clicks. Mobile users have some additional features like the option to unsubscribe to newsletters and such, without ever leaving the Yahoo Mail inbox. A powerful underlying engine can integrate with Facebook, supports sending SMS and text messages, is accessible via web, POP and (in some situations) IMAP, and can forward email to another address. Valuable extras include disposable email addresses to protect your privacy, and a mammoth 1TB of mailbox storage means you can keep just about everything you receive, for a very long time. Demanding users might find issues, over time. Mail organization can't quite match the flexibility of Gmail's labelling scheme, for instance, and there aren't nearly as many low-level tweaks, settings and options as you'll often see elsewhere. But overall, Yahoo Mail is an appealing service which needs to be on your email shortlist. As with other providers, Yahoo offers a Business Mail plan with more features. The highlight is an option to use the service with a custom domain (yourname@yourdomain.com), although there are other advantages, too. The service can import contacts from Facebook, Gmail, Outlook and more. You can view all your mailboxes on the same screen, and there are all the usual business-friendly productivity tools (multiple calendars, document handling, analytics and more). Prices start from $3.19 per mailbox per month, billed annually, and they drop as you add mailboxes – $1.59 for 5, $1.19 for 10, and for 20+ you'll need to contact them. Additionally, another pricing plan called Yahoo Mail Pro is available at $3.49 per month. This gives you ad-free inbox, priority customer support and additional features. There's even a free domain name included, and not just the initial registration: Yahoo will also renew it for as long as your subscription is active.
Image credit: Zoho Zoho Workplace is a business-oriented email service which throws in an online office suite, document management, and a host of collaboration tools and other extras. Zoho's free plan supports up to 25 users, although there's an extra 25 available if you can refer others to the service (update: Zoho is currently remodeling the referral program so this isn't available at the moment), each with 5GB of mailbox storage, and can be used with one domain of your own. These are features you'll normally only find in commercial products, and when you factor in the spreadsheet, word processor, presentation and other tools, it looks like a real bargain. The email service is easy-to-use, and provides a decent set of features to help organize your emails: folders, tags, filters, smart searches, and more. You can also create custom hotkeys to expand and replace easy abbreviations of your choice with full words and phrases as you type. Zoho also has an offline mode, which allows you to read and respond to your emails even when your internet connection fails you. The free plan is still a little basic. It gives you web access only, for instance, and there's no support for email forwarding. Fortunately, the Zoho Standard plan fixes that. A mere $3 per user (paid annually) gets you IMAP and POP access, email forwarding, active sync, multiple domain hosting, domain aliases, 30GB storage, a 30MB attachment limit (up from 25MB with the free plan) and some major improvements elsewhere (the ability to send cloud files to non-Zoho users, for instance). You also have Lite plan which is a cheaper Standard plan ($1 per user) with less features, and a Professional ($6 per user) plan which adds more features. A number of these features are available elsewhere for free, of course, but businesses or anyone who will use the custom domain support or Office tools will find a lot to like here. Well worth a closer look.
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| Best Windows tablets 2020: all of the top Windows tablets reviewed Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:26 AM PST The best Windows tablets are giving Apple’s iPads a serious run for their money, and they’re only getting better and better. These tablets are not only good for media consumption, web surfing and staying in touch with loved ones anymore. Many of them also tout enough power in their thin and light form factor for productivity and creative work as well, making them excellent laptops alternatives, only more portable and often less expensive. Some of the best Windows tablets are even powerful enough to rival the best 2-in-1 laptops when it comes to performing general computing tasks. So whether your daily computing needs only involve watching movies on Netflix and playing PUBG Mobile or also include writing emails and typing up work documents on Google Docs, these devices have you covered. We scoured the market to find the best Windows tablets out there for you. We’ve even tested and reviewed every single pick, ensuring that whichever one you end up with, you’ll get a quality device. No matter what you need, you’ll find the ideal Windows tablet for you here. Best Windows tablets at a glance:
Microsoft Surface Go is thin, light, portable, elegant and affordable. The Microsoft Surface Go meets that large demand for a budget Surface device, while also being among the best Windows tablets for anyone who wants to do a bit of work on the go. It’s thin, light, portable and elegant like its more expensive cousins, but it has a price tag that’s a bit more affordable for regular users, thanks to Microsoft packing in everything they could in a device with a reasonable price tag. If you’re a student, or just someone who wants to consume some media while traveling, including playing some of the best laptop games on an airplane, then you can’t go wrong with the Microsoft Surface Go. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet offers great value all around. Touted by Lenovo as ‘an IT admin’s dream,’ the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet indeed offers many of the makings of such a device. That includes dual Thunderbolt ports for faster data transfers, Windows Hello login via fingerprint reader, and the optional IR camera for a more secure login and Microsoft AutoPilot readiness. And, that’s without mentioning the SSD and battery that are field serviceable so that you can get a certified technician to come to you if you need parts replaced. But that’s not all; it’s also got a light and sleek chassis, and it comes with the ThinkPad Pen Pro, which means it’s great value all around. Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet
The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 easily one of the best Windows tablets you can buy today. Microsoft’s Surface Pro lineup is the epitome of what other Windows tablets should strive for – and the Surface Pro 6 has followed in its predecessors’ footsteps. While it doesn’t bring anything particularly fresh to the table, it does iterate in a relevant way, inheriting all the best parts of the previous model then rolling out with more powerful hardware and a new black color option to boot. The Surface Pen and Type Cover are still for purchase and not included in the box, but that’s just the reality we have to live with these days. Either way, the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 easily one of the best Windows tablets you can buy today. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The Acer Switch 5 is the perfect solution for students and professionals who don't want to buy into the Surface trend. The Acer Switch used to be a more affordable alternative to the Surface Pro. These days, the Acer Switch 5 will cost you just as much, but that’s also for comparable specs except perhaps an older processor. Price increase aside, this tablet is still one of the best Windows tablets – not to mention, best performing – out there, and it’s the perfect solution for students and professionals who don’t want to buy into the Surface trend. Read the full review: Acer Switch 5
It's second stunning screen that's the biggest selling point of the Lenovo Yoga Book C930. The Lenovo Yoga Book C930 is a truly innovative 2-in-1 laptop, with a second E Ink display that moonlights as a keyboard, a pad for making notes and drawing and a traditional E Ink reader for viewing documents. It's perhaps this second stunning screen that's the biggest selling point of the Lenovo Yoga Book C930. That fact that it's thin and light makes it an excellent tablet as well. If you're looking for a laptop that doubles as a tablet and a drawing pad, this one's an ace in our book. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book C930 Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article Images credit: TechRadar
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| Samsung Galaxy S20 series are now on sale, packing a big cameras, screens and 5G Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:26 AM PST The Samsung Galaxy S20 lineup is officially on sale in the US, offering premium features for flagship prices - and, crucially, hooking consumers up to both mmWave and sub-6 5G networks. The standard Samsung Galaxy S20 is the main phone of the bunch, with a moderately-sized 6.2-inch display that starts at $999. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus sits in the sweet spot of the lineup, packing a bit more features and a 6.7-inch display while starting at $1,199. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, featuring the highest specs and a 5x optical zoom comes in at a a colossal 6.9-inch device with a fittingly huge price, starting at $1,399. All three feature top-end flagship specs: a Snapdragon 865 chipset, 12GB of RAM (up to 16GB in the Ultra), a WQHD+ (3200x1440) AMOLED display, and a triple rear camera (plus a time of flight depth sensor in the top two models). Those are all incrementally upgraded from last year, but here's what's new in the S20 lineup: a display that maxes out at 120Hz refresh rate, a 64MP 3x optical telephoto lens (up from 12MP 2x zoom) on the S20 and S20 Plus (5x on the Ultra), 8K video at 24FPS, and, yes, all the US models are 5G phones.
Let's talk 5G - and carriersLast year’s Samsung Galaxy S10 5G was a specialist model that only hooked up to high-frequency mmWave networks, but the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra connect to both mmWave and sub-6 networks as carriers build out their 5G networks using one or both frequency ranges. The standard Galaxy S20, though, can only hook up to the lower-frequency sub-6 - which is why you'll see carriers with different release plans. AT&T is selling all three phones, though only the S20 Plus and Ultra will hook up to its newly-launched mmWave network, per Android Central. Verizon is taking a more unique approach: it won't sell the base S20 until it releases its own custom version in the next few months that will connect to mmWave, too. You can find out more on this in Verizon's press release.
New year, new S20 rolesWhile Samsung’s 2019 lineup started out with the budget flagship Samsung Galaxy S10e, the most affordable of the Samsung Galaxy S20 lineup is, indeed, the standard Samsung Galaxy S20. Given the Galaxy S20 packs most of the features of its pricier siblings and isn’t nearly as cheap as the S10e, it doesn’t qualify as a budget flagship. Instead, this role seems vacant, though some markets (not the US, at least) have access to the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note 10 Lite phones. Thus, the S20 Plus is the large - but not enormous - phone of the series, not the 'main' model between budget and pricey. Still, it packs the most features without being as expensive as the Ultra. We may or may not see a 'budget flagship' from Samsung released outside markets where affordable phones reign - we understand the S10 Lite and Note 10 Lite are aimed at Latin America and likely won't be sold by carriers in the US - so for now, the S20 series indicates Samsung's strategy going forward.
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| The best gaming monitor 2020: the 10 best gaming screens of the year Posted: 06 Mar 2020 08:25 AM PST Invest in the best gaming monitor 2020 has to offer, if you want a truly immersive gaming experience. When diving into the best PC games, you want a display that not only delivers stunning image quality, but also has the power to keep up with the fastest and most demanding games out there. The tricky thing is that there’s not one metric to rule them all. Different gamers have different demands, whether it’s a massive screen real estate that takes precedence or the speediest refresh rate that’s most important. Much like when you’re picking the best graphics card and the best processor for your gaming PC, choosing the best gaming monitor is all about finding the best one for your needs. Don’t worry; we’re here to help you with that. To make your search for the best gaming monitor easier, we gathered the best gaming monitors we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves. Whether you’re a big Control fan or obsessed with Red Dead Redemption, you’ll find the perfect fit on this list. Best gaming monitors at a glance
The Samsung CRG9 is the best gaming monitor if you've got the extra cash laying around. It may be very expensive and requires a killer gaming PC setup to run, but the Samsung CRG9 is completely worth it and the best gaming monitor if you’ve got the extra cash laying around. This bigger-than-average 49-incher boasts bezels thinner than most gaming monitors and a picture by picture mode feature that lets you use two different inputs, simulating a dual monitor setup in a single monitor. And, that’s without mentioning that the Samsung CRG9 produces an out-of-this-world image right out of the box. Read the full review: Samsung CRG9
The Alienware AW3418DW delivers a level of immersion that only a 21:9 aspect ratio can. The Alienware AW3418DW is one of the few gaming monitors that deliver a level of immersion that only a 21:9 aspect ratio can, while also offering up a high refresh rate. With a dense 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, ridiculously fast 4ms response times and a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, this ultrawide monitor gives you the best of both worlds. All these features don’t come cheap though, so budget-minded gamers might want to look elsewhere or start saving up. Still, it’s not hard to see why it’s one of the best gaming monitors 2019 has to offer. Read the full review: Alienware AW3418DW
The AOC Agon AC352UCG6 carries over the original's best features. The AOC Agon AG352UCG was one of the best gaming monitors we ever got our hands on, so when we heard that a follow-up was coming – one that comes with a higher refresh rate and better contrast – it was hard not to get excited. The AOC Agon AC352UCG6 Black Edition carries over the original’s best features but ramps them up to 11, making it a stunning display on which to experience ultra-wide gaming. It’s expensive, yeah, but if you have the hardware to back it up, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice by not investing. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition
The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ might just be the most advanced gaming monitor to add to your arsenal. The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ might just be the most advanced – not to mention, best – gaming monitor to add to your arsenal... as long as you’re ready to pay for it. This display features a gorgeous 4K Ultra-HD resolution and HDR, as well as G-Sync and a lightning-quick 144Hz refresh rate. These specs add up to one of the most impressive gaming monitors that’s ever existed – and when you see it in action, it will blow you away. The only thing that holds this gaming monitor back from true greatness is its ridiculous price tag. But, then again, if you have this kind of cash lying around, you should be able to afford a PC powerful enough to drive it. Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
Originally made for CAD professionals, the BenQ PD3200U is also great for gaming. While originally made for CAD professionals, the BenQ PD3200U is also great for gaming, making it one of the best gaming monitors you can buy today. This is mostly thanks to its rock-solid focus on graphic design so it’s able to offer incredibly wide viewing angles, which means that your friends can watch your game in comfort. And, unlike most 4K monitors on the market, you won’t have to mess around with the settings to get the best picture, since every unit is individually calibrated by BenQ before shipping. This is definitely one of the best gaming monitors out there, even though it wasn’t actually designed for gaming. Read the full review: BenQ PD3200U
The MSI Optix MPG341CQR's super-wide 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh certainly give gamers an edge. While all of its extra frills make the MSI Optix MPG341CQR an even more appealing selection for potential buyers, it does an outstanding job of standing out on its own. The use of VA rather than IPS panel technology, for one, is a welcome advantage, offering punchier colors and better contrast. Plus, its super-wide 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh certainly give gamers an edge. The best part might be that this display is also reasonably priced, making it one of the best gaming monitors to consider in 2019. Read the full review: MSI Optix MPG341CQR
An epic gaming experience awaits you with Acer Predator CG7’s 43-inch screen, 4000:1 contrast ratio, 1ms response time and 120Hz refresh rate. To be fair, there are bigger and badder gaming monitors out there, but for some people – particularly, those looking for a TV with gaming-level specs, this one’s a winner. It’s got some extra features as well – namely, a remote control, icons on that stand to encourage game controller storage, and RGB lighting that can sync to your music and games – so you’re getting your money’s worth, even if you are paying for a lot. Read the full review: Acer Predator CG7
The BenQ Zowie XL2540 forgoes flashy lighting effects for a blazing 240Hz refresh rate. Don’t be turned off by its limitations. The BenQ Zowie XL2540 still absolutely deserves its place right up there on the best gaming monitors list. It forgoes flashy lighting effects for a blazing 240Hz refresh rate and rapid 1ms response time. This monitor is both FreeSync and G-Sync compatible, and if you have a setup that’s able of keeping up with this refresh rate, then this gaming display will blow you away. The BenQ Zowie XL2540 keeps things simple by supplying you with a ton of visual presets, an “S Switch” control pod for managing those presets and even a pair of adjustable light screens. This is one of the best gaming monitors to consider if you’re a pro or hardcore gamer. Read the full review: BenQ Zowie XL2540
The AOC Agon AG322QC4 has a lot of aces up its sleeves. A bit of HDR is always a welcome addition, even if it’s not true HDR. And yet, the AOC Agon AG322QC4 has more aces up its sleeves. That includes a 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync 2 and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, ranking this among the best gaming monitors of 2019. And it offers users beautiful, super smooth visuals, all while looking good doing so. It’s not exactly a steal, but the Agon AG322QC4 is still reasonably priced for gamers who aren’t shopping in the bargain basement. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG322QC4
The MSI Optix MAG271CR proves that the best gaming monitors in 2019 are all about the high refresh rates. When you’re playing competitive first-person shooters like Overwatch or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you’ll need speed above all else in order to stay on top of the leader boards. That’s where displays like the MSI Optix MAG271CR come in handy. With a 1080p resolution, 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms of latency, you’re equipped with incredibly fast, super smooth gameplay, as long as you have the hardware to drive it. After all, 60Hz panels are so 2014 – the best gaming monitors in 2020 are all about the high refresh rates. Read the full review: MSI Optix MAG271CR How to buy the best gaming monitor in 2020If in the market for the best gaming monitor 2020 has to offer, know that there are a few things to keep in mind before choosing which display should grace your desk. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with the following terms and specifications to help guarantee that you’re getting the best gaming monitor that’s most ideal for you. It also means you won’t have to pay extra for additional features that you might not actually care about. Screen size: When looking for the best gaming monitor, one of the most important things to consider is the screen size. Larger display sizes can lead to more immersive gaming experiences as the game fills more of your field of vision, but you'll also have to make sure that you have the space to keep a large monitor. And, it goes without saying that the larger the monitor, the higher the price as well. Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of a gaming monitor helps determine the width and height of the display. Most widescreen monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9, while older monitors have closer to a square format of 4:3 that might feel pretty out of date in 2020. Ultra-wide monitors with aspect ratios of 21:9 are rapidly growing in popularity, as they offer a wider view of your games, which is why many ultra-wides have made our list of the best gaming monitors 2020. Resolution: One other critical factor to consider when searching for the best gaming monitor for your needs is the resolution. The higher the number, the sharper the picture. You will, however, require a more powerful graphics card for anything over Full HD (1,920 x 1,080), even if many gaming monitors feature resolutions as high as 2,560 x 1,400 (WQHD) and 3,840 x 2,160 (4K). Refresh rate: When you’re mostly looking to play Counter-Strike and other first-person shooters like it, refresh rate is even more vital. The higher the refresh rate, the more frames per second (fps) the monitor can support, leading to a considerably smoother gaming experience. A 60Hz refresh rate is still the most common in 2020, but refresh rates of 144Hz and even 200Hz are becoming more prominent – not to mention, more and more necessary. Response time: The best gaming monitors offers low response times, which means you’re getting fast and fluid actions, with little to no input lag. The lowest response time for TN monitors (we’ll get to this in the next section) is 1 millisecond, whereas the newer IPS monitors typically have slower 4ms response times. When you’re playing games competitively, it’s vital to keep this number as low as you can in order to avoid latency. Panel type: This is where things get a little technical. The type of panel a gaming monitor uses will largely contribute to its response time and image clarity. TN (twisted nematic) panels, which are often more affordable, have the lowest response times but usually don’t come with great viewing angles. IPS (in-plane switching) panels, on the other hand, have fantastic viewing angles and color reproduction, but usually have higher response times. Meanwhile, VA (vertical alignment) panels are between the two, although its slow response times makes these panels rare in the gaming world. Viewing Angle: While most people play games right in front of their gaming monitor, this isn’t always be the case, particularly when there is an audience. A monitor’s viewing angles tell you what angle you can look at the monitor from and still make out a clear image. The closer these numbers are to 180, the better your viewing experience will be when standing further to either side of the monitor or looking at it from above or below. G-Sync and FreeSync: You've probably noticed that many of the best gaming monitors in 2020 come with either G-Sync or FreeSync technology – sometimes even both. These help keep frames per second (fps) smooth, combat screen tearing and minimize input lag. G-Sync is developed by Nvidia, so it requires an Nvidia GPU. And, the tech is built into the monitor, which can bump up their price tag. FreeSync, on the other hand, was made by AMD. Since it is free to use by manufacturers, the monitors that have them are usually more economical. Check out our HDR Explained video below. Gabe Carey, Bill Thomas and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article Image Credit: TechRadar
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