Apple : How to watch The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart online anywhere and for free |
- How to watch The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart online anywhere and for free
- The best Memorial Day sales 2020: a guide to the best deals going on
- Hackers siphon millions in cryptocurrency from dForce exchange
- Billions of phones can't run Google and Apple contact-tracing apps
- Where to buy a webcam: these retailers still have stock
- The Batman: release date delay, cast, Batmobile and more explained
- Best e-commerce platform of 2020: website software for an online store
- Intel Comet-Lake S CPUs face-off against AMD Ryzen in leaked benchmarks
- Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC?
- Best mesh Wi-Fi routers 2020: the best wireless mesh routers for large homes
- Where to buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and why you should consider a digital copy
- Best portable SSD of 2020: top external solid state drives
- Best cheap headphones: your guide to the best budget headphones in 2020
- Cloudflare wants to put an end to BGP hijacking and leaks
- Surface Book 3: what we want to see
- Best WordPress hosting 2020
- AMD could be launching budget Ryzen processors to challenge Intel Comet Lake
- Best business VPN providers of 2020
- Canon EOS R5 release date, news and features
- New Canon EOS R5 video specs confirm it’ll be a game-changer – here’s why
| How to watch The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart online anywhere and for free Posted: 20 Apr 2020 02:39 PM PDT One of the biggest reality shows has only just wrapped up its latest full season and already a new special is airing. Follow our guide as we explain how to watch The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart online no matter where you are in the world. Starting off with 20 singles all looking to find love through music, the new show combines the best of The Bachelor and Bachelorette drama with elements of popular music competition shows. Running over six weeks, The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart is something of a fill-in for the The Bachelorette season 16, which has been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus crisis. In its place, we now have episode 2 of the spin-off to look forward to, with the guys set to give out their roses - so some of the women will be leaving the show in what promises to the first big bit of drama in the show. There's also a dizzying line-up of celebrity judges and performers set to grace Listen to Your Heart, includin Jason Mraz, Kesha, Toni Braxton, Ashlee Simpson-Ross, Evan Ross, Rita Wilson, Jewel, Taye Diggs, Bachelor stalwart Chris Lane, and Shaggy. Read on for how to watch The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart online for free - and from anywhere.
How to watch The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart online from outside your countryIf you happen to be away from home at this tricky time, don't despair. You can easily keep up with the latest Bachelor spin-off from nearly anywhere, despite the pesky geo-blocking many services impose to region-lock content. The solution to this comes in the form of a VPN, which changes your IP address so that you can access your favorite shows just like you would at home, including The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart.
How to watch The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart online in the US for free
How to watch The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart online in Canada
The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart and season 24 UK release date
Can you watch The Bachelor in Australia?
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| The best Memorial Day sales 2020: a guide to the best deals going on Posted: 20 Apr 2020 02:14 PM PDT Memorial Day 2020 is just around the corner (May, 25 to be exact) and that means incredible deals from top retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's and more. The best Memorial Day sales:
Our best Memorial Day sale picks:
When is Memorial Day 2020?Memorial Day is an American federal holiday that always falls on the last Monday in May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. This year Memorial Day is on Monday, May 25, with the long holiday weekend kicking off on Friday the 25. When do Memorial Day sales start?Most Memorial Day sales start the week before the actual holiday on Monday the 20, and some retailers don't start their promotions till the weekend before. All sales will last through the holiday weekend, and most will end on Memorial Day. What are the best Memorial Day sales?The biggest categories discounted during Memorial Day include appliances, patio, mattresses, and laptops. Because Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, you can find discounts on several outdoor items such as grills, patio furniture, planters, and camping equipment. Retailers like Home Depot and Target are offering up to 40% off patio items.
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| Hackers siphon millions in cryptocurrency from dForce exchange Posted: 20 Apr 2020 02:10 PM PDT The Chinese decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol dForce has fallen victim to a well-known exploit of an Ethereum token which led to $25m worth of its customers' cryptocurrency being stolen. As reported by Decrypt, DForce recently announced that it had secured $1.5m in a seed funding round led by the crypto venture capital fund Multicoin Capital. However, those funds were drained from the contracts of a lending protocol that is part of dForce called Lendf.Me. Lendf.Me is now offline and all of its smart contracts have been paused. However, the hackers did return $126.014 of the stolen funds back to the lending platform with a note, which read “Better luck next time”.
ERC777 token vulnerabilityA similar attack was recently launched against the decentralized exchange Uniswap to steal over $300,000. The exchange's smart contracts containing an Ethereum-based, tokenized version of Bitcoin run by TokenIon called imBTC were drained. The connection between the two attacks deals with the fact that Lendf.ME integrated imBTC earlier this year. The Uniswap attack leveraged a known vulnerability in the ERC77 token standard. As a result of the way Uniswap smart contracts are set up, a hacker could continually withdraw ERC77 funds from Uniswap before the balance updated which could allow them to drain the contracts of imBTC. While the dForce hack is entire separate from the Uniswap hack, it is believed that the same exploit was used in both attacks. The vulnerability is not new and the firm ConsenSys conducted an extensive audit of Uniswap 16 months ago, concluding that it was a “major” issue. To make matters worse, the CEO of Compound, Robert Leshner claims that Lendf.Me had appropriated its open source code. In a tweet, Leshner called out Lendf.Me's security, saying: “If a project doesn't have the expertise to develop its own smart contracts, and instead steals and redeploys somebody else's copyrighted code, it's a sign that they don't have the capacity or intention to consider security.” As of now, dForce has not discussed the hack on its social media channels and it looks like the rest of the stolen funds won't be returned anytime soon.
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| Billions of phones can't run Google and Apple contact-tracing apps Posted: 20 Apr 2020 01:00 PM PDT Apple and Google's upcoming smartphone-based contact-tracing system will be unavailable on as many as 2bn mobile phones according to new estimates from industry researchers. As reported by The Financial Times, the system will allow mobile phone users to track whether or not they have come into contact with anyone infected with the coronavirus which will help prevent Covid-19 from spreading further. However, Apple and Google's new system relies on specific wireless chips and software that are missing from hundreds of millions of older smartphones that are still in use today. This means that those still using older smartphones will be unable to use the system which could make them more susceptible to becoming infected.
Analyst at CSS Insight, Ben Wood explained to The Financial Times how those using older smartphones or feature phones will be unable to use the contact-tracing system that could arrive as early as next month, saying: “The underlying technology limitation is around the fact that there are still some phones in use that won’t have the necessary Bluetooth or latest operating system. If you are in a disadvantaged group and have an old device or a [basic] feature phone, you will miss out on the benefits that this app could potentially offer.” Contact-tracing systemApple and Google's new system will use Bluetooth to exchange anonymous identifier beacons with those they've come into contact with. If someone does become infected with Covid-19, the system will then use these beacons to notify everyone they have come into contact with to self-isolate to prevent the disease from spreading further. The system relies on Bluetooth Low Energy chips to detect proximity between devices without taxing their battery life. However, these chips are nowhere to be found in a quarter of the smartphones that are used today according to Counterpoint Research. Additionally, 1.5bn people use basic or feature phones that will also be unable to take advantage of Apple and Google's contact-tracing system. While the tech giants' new system may not be able to be installed on all of the smartphones in operation today, it could still be a huge help in flattening the curve by preventing new infections.
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| Where to buy a webcam: these retailers still have stock Posted: 20 Apr 2020 12:54 PM PDT When you have to work from home, the capability to have an effective video conference is extremely important. And, while a lot of folks may have laptops that have a built-in camera, the best webcams can boost video quality so much that they're essential for anyone having regular video calls. However, now that the Covid-19 crisis has driven so many people to work from home, supply is running out. Understandably, a lot of people are scrambling to get their hands on a solid webcam so they can keep doing their jobs, even if they have to be remote. If you're scrambling to get your hands on a solid webcam, however, don't worry – they're definitely still out there, even if they're not quite as easy to find. Luckily, we here at TechRadar are online shopping pros, and we've found the retailers that still have solid webcams on sale and gathered them all up down below. Just keep in mind that because webcams are moving so fast, there are certain models that may sell out super quickly. In the UK? We’ve just added some webcams for the UK market as well. Stock is moving really quickly right now, so make sure you jump on what's available now. Check out our best webcams piece also to see the current range and find out which are still in stock in your areas. Where to buy a webcam in the US
We scoured the web to find the webcams that still have stock available to buy right now. Because the nature of online shopping, however, we'll likely see some of these sell out in the meantime. Some of these webcams are on backorder right now, but if you do buy one that's affected you should still be able to get it in about a week. Where to buy a webcam in the UKWebcams are also thin on the ground in the UK. Here are some that we've found that are still in stock: Webcams on backorderBecause availability for webcams is a little hit or miss right now, many webcams are currently on backorder. That means you probably won't be able to get it within a couple days, but it should arrive within a week or two. We found the best webcams that are on backorder that are actually worth waiting for – having to wait for a piece of hardware is enough without worrying about getting something that is potentially not as good. Where to buy a webcam in the UKStock is currently an issue for webcams in the UK right now with many of the big retailers such as Amazon, Curry's and Argos selling out quickly while people adjust to their new working from home situation. We've still found some cheap webcams that are still available, so don't worry if you're still looking - we can help your search. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Batman: release date delay, cast, Batmobile and more explained Posted: 20 Apr 2020 12:01 PM PDT The Batman is the long-gestating Caped Crusader movie directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, the last two Planet of the Apes movies). Originally announced back in October 2014, The Batman started as a Ben Affleck project, back when the actor was signed up to play the Dark Knight in Batman Vs Superman and Justice League. Now, it's a standalone movie – and Robert Pattinson will debut as Bruce Wayne, with an amazing ensemble cast backing him up. Co-written by Reeves and rising screenwriter Mattson Tomlin, expect more of a noir-inspired detective story than we've seen from past Batman movies. Below, here's everything we know about The Batman's release date, cast, Batmobile and story, which we'll update as we learn more.
The Batman release date: 2021, but delayedThe Batman will release on October 1, delayed from its original release date of June 25, 2021. It was filming in the UK until the coronavirus led to production being shut down. The Batman cast: Robert Pattinson stars as Bruce WayneRobert Pattinson is starring as Bruce Wayne/Batman in this movie, with Andy Serkis serving as his Alfred. The movie's villains are The Riddler (Paul Dano) and The Penguin (Colin Farrell) – while crime lord Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) and Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) could be categorized as such, too. Here's a quick list of the ensemble cast that's been confirmed so far:
Twin actors Max and Charlie Carver have been cast in the movie, too, in unknown roles. There are numerous pairs of DC characters the actors could be playing: Tweedledee and Tweedledum are the most recognizable 'twin' characters from Batman lore. The Batman's Batmobile has been revealedThe Batman's Batmobile has been revealed by Reeves, both to create buzz for the movie and likely to stop paparazzi photos of the car from leaking as filming continues. It looks like a sports car that's been fitted with a rocket engine – it's a wild contrast to recent Batmobiles, which were more tank-like in the Nolan and Snyder movies. The Batman's Batsuit features a gun welded into the Bat symbolThe Batsuit was revealed by Reeves through a brief bit of moody test footage, with noir-ish music provided by the movie's composer, Michael Giacchino. The main detail to take away from this video is the Bat symbol on Pattinson's chest – it's a handgun that's been sliced in half and turned into the famous logo. Speculation – and common sense – points to this gun being the one used by Joe Chill to kill the Waynes. If that's true, it's pretty goth – and very Batman. The Batman story: what do we know?
The Batman is set during the second year of the Caped Crusader's career, according to a story on The Wrap. That should bypass the need to see another Batman origin movie, which Christopher Nolan's films covered definitively in Batman Begins. Indeed, the presence of Catwoman, Penguin and the Riddler in this film suggests we're fairly deep into DC Comics lore, here. Expect this to be a Batman movie that features some actual detective work, too. "It's very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale," Reeves told THR, explaining that he's going for a 'thrilling' but 'emotional' movie. "It's more Batman in his detective mode than we've seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He's supposed to be the world's greatest detective, and that's not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I'd love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it's going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation." That does sound very different to past Batman movies, and you get a real sense of the movie's noir flavor in the Batsuit test footage – but until we see a trailer or official synopsis, this is all we really know about the storyline. The Batman: what happened to Ben Affleck's version?This Batman film has had a long road to production. Back in summer 2015, Ben Affleck was slated to co-write and direct a movie with that title, reprising his role as the Caped Crusader from Batman Vs Superman. The movie was to feature Deathstroke as the villain, with Affleck even releasing the test footage above on Twitter. Deathstroke briefly pops up in the post-credits sequence of the Justice League movie, played by Joe Manganiello as he is in the footage above. Affleck dropped out of directing The Batman in January 2017, and finally ended his involvement with the movie officially in early 2019. Affleck ultimately left the movie due to his struggles with alcohol. "I showed somebody 'The Batman' script," Affleck told the NY Times. "They said, 'I think the script is good. I also think you'll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again.'" The piece also mentions that the troubled Justice League shoot had "sapped his interest" in the Batman role, which is fair enough. Does the world need another Batman movie?This new version focuses on Batman as a detective in his younger days, which is a big shift from Affleck's older version of the character. The choice of villains immediately conjures up thoughts of 1992's Batman Returns, but expect The Batman to have its own specific tone. With so many versions of Batman on-screen over the past three decades, it makes sense that Reeves would want to differentiate his adaptation from past efforts. The world probably doesn't need another Batman movie – but a noir-infused film with a cast this good will firmly draw a line under the Justice League version of the character, which can't hurt. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best e-commerce platform of 2020: website software for an online store Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:56 AM PDT The rise of the web has allowed countless businesses to reach a wider market. Not only that, it has given rise to countless new online-only businesses, fueled by the exponential rise of mobile connections. It's not surprising, then, that one analyst claims that the SMB e-commerce platform market will break the billion dollar barrier. There's no doubt that the web provides a huge opportunity for companies, but it’s important for organizations to make the most of that opportunity. In order to sell your products or services online, your website has to be appropriately equipped. Today, there is a huge variety of e-commerce platform packages from which to choose, so building an online store has never been easier. To begin, first you'll need ecommerce web hosting, which is to say hosting that will scale up with your business without interruption. Next you'll need shopping cart software to run with your ecommerce site. This will probably include a payment gateway for credit card processing, though if you're already established and have a decent enough credit rating you could apply for merchant services to reduce transaction costs. Your ecommerce website doesn't have to be expensive to design, either, as there are plenty of ecommerce themes available. Additionally, if you also have a bricks-and-mortar store than a Point of Sale (POS) system for mobile credit card processing can be particularly desirable. Which e-commerce software is best for your business depends entirely on your specific requirements. If you're an online-only outfit, then POS integration won't be necessary, but you may get a lot of business from overseas, in which case foreign currency support would be a requirement. In this article, we’re going to highlight some of the best e-commerce platforms available right now, before moving on to consider other options you might want to explore in terms of creating your own e-commerce solution. The best e-commerce platform packages
Shopify is perhaps the most well known e-commerce platform available. It was set up in 2006 by founders Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake who, as the story goes, felt that there wasn't a simple-to-use e-commerce platform available and so built their own. The company claims that: "You don't need to have any technical or design experience to easily create a beautiful online store." According to Shopify, it's possible to get one of its online stores up-and-running within minutes. Users can choose from a wide range of templates, or they can design the look and feel of their store themselves. It accepts a comprehensive range of credit cards, has Level 1 PCI compliance and 256-bit SSL encryption for security, and it offers 24/7 support via phone, instant messaging or email. The platform provides a full CMS with which users can manage the functionality and layout of their online store. Users can manage their store on-the-go using Shopify's mobile apps, and the platform itself is fully responsive, meaning the store will be optimized for visitors regardless of whether they access it from a desktop computer or a mobile device. Also, a live chat function is available which allows you to have a real time conversation with your customers. There's a built-in support for 3D models and video too. Until October 1, 2020, you can now craft email campaigns tailored to your brand with Shopify Email, for free. Shopify also offers users unlimited hosting for their stores, in-depth analytics of how visitors are using the store, and functionality for marketing such as SEO optimization, a discount and coupon engine, gift cards and email marketing tools. You can test out Shopify with a 14-day free trial.
Bigcommerce was established in 2009 and promises to "support your business, not just your store." In addition to offering support via phone, instant chat and email, it also offers articles and videos to help with e-commerce, and access to a team of e-commerce experts who can provide advice and guidance about online selling. Their experts are qualified in both Google Analytics and Adwords. Like Shopify, Bigcommerce provides a variety of templates and themes to help stores look their best and get up-and-running quickly. Alternatively, users can design their own store or use Bigcommerce designers to do so. The platform incorporates a full-featured CMS that allows users to run an entire website, rather than just a store. Users can benefit from detailed and flexible product management, optimized search engine rankings, along with a variety of integrated marketing tools and analytics. Payments can be accepted via 40+ pre-integrated gateways and shipping details can be customized as per the business's requirements. As of late, some new features have been added like support for Amazon Import and Link and Shopping in Instagram Stories. The platform offers automated order processing, flexible tax rules depending on where orders are made and shipped, and support for multiple currencies. You can test out Bigcommerce with a 15-day free trial.
Volusion has been around for almost two decades, having been set up in Texas over in the US in 1999. The company touts its platform as being an "all-in-one e-commerce solution", and offers a free 14-day trial (no credit card required). As with other e-commerce platforms, users are offered a variety of templates from which to choose, and can also customize templates if they so wish. Should a more complex design be required, Volusion offers a custom design service that can incorporate branding and a firm's social media presence. The platform provides the site and product management tools you'd expect, marketing functionality for SEO, social media, and affiliate outlets, along with emails and order management functionality for fast order processing, accepting payments, tax calculations and POS integration. In addition to its platform and associated services, Volusion offers apps from its partners, support for users and a knowledge-base for help with e-commerce. Users can draw upon blog posts, guides and webinars. As of October 8th 2018, there are no more transaction fees.
CoreCommerce was set up in 2001 and focuses on providing e-commerce services to small and medium-sized businesses. The company places an emphasis on simplicity and transparency, promising that its platform is easy-to-use and that customers will not fall foul of any hidden charges. Perhaps CoreCommerce's most unique aspect is that all of its features are offered to all customers regardless of what plan they are on. Price plans are determined by the number of products, the number of email addresses, the amount of bandwidth and the amount of storage required by the user (and higher-end plans also benefit from additional support). As with other e-commerce providers, CoreCommerce offers functionality for store design, product management, order processing and marketing. Of its headline features, the platform offers unlimited product customization options, a built-in blogging engine, and secure hosting that is provided by Rackspace and comes with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. You can try CoreCommerce out with a 15-day free trial.
Having been founded in 1997, 3dcart is the oldest of our featured providers here. It was set up with a view to incorporating as many of the most requested e-commerce features into one platform as possible. The company says it has six core values by which it operates: ongoing innovation, good service, simple solutions, fostering trust, keeping employees and customers happy, and stimulating prosperity amongst employees and customers. Some of the platform's innovative features include a module that users can install to offer gift-wrapping, a purchase order system, the option of running a loyalty program and the ability to offer recurring orders. Many of these features are very specific, meaning that stores can be highly tailored to the needs of each business. Stores can be designed using one of the many templates offered by 3dcart, or users can design their own store. A quick edit bar means that making changes to the design of a store is simple. Product images are fore-fronted with 3dcart's auto-zoom feature and products can be sold via Facebook with its store integration. As with some other platforms, users can blog directly from 3dcart and tools are provided for setting up coupons, sending newsletters and affiliate marketing. 3dcart is regularly updated and new features are constantly added, like the drag and drop HTML builder, the home page editor or scheduled promotions. Users can also make use out of "make an offer" feature, which basically lets you and your customers to negotiate on a price. There is also a B2B quote system, which provides customers with a temporary quoted price after discussing their order via phone. In addition to its platform, 3dcart offers a number of professional services. Users can request help with SEO, PPC, shopping feed management, social media, Facebook ads and conversion consulting. Help can also be provided to ensure that a user's store is set up to the highest standard. Services such as site cloning, setting up custom tracking, data migration and training are offered. In addition, 3dcart can provide SSL certification. Hosting is guaranteed at 99.9% uptime and 24/7 support is provided via phone, email or online chat. You can test out the service with a 15-day free trial.
Also consider: Alternative meansIf you don’t want to go the route of using an off-the-shelf package, what other options are available for you to explore? That’s what we’re going to look at in the second half of this piece…
Is eBay right for your business?Opening its doors in 1999, eBay UK now has over 14 million users, with over 10,000 people using the site for a business that is their primary means of income. It's not just about people selling unwanted goods - businesses have used the simplicity that eBay offers to set up lucrative operations. Even the larger brands such as Argos, Debenhams and House of Fraser are using eBay to sell online. With sophisticated tools now available you can be up and running with your store in just a few hours. The eBay Seller Centre has all the information you need. Each store is managed via eBay's familiar user interface, and there are a number of eBay-provided tools to help manage, track and promote your shop once it's established. Using eBay as the platform for your business could be ideal if your business wants to sell goods on a fixed price basis. The complete integration of the PayPal e-payments system into eBay takes care of this essential component of your store. The key with eBay is to look closely at the costs involved and also the transaction fees that PayPal charge before moving forward and setting up your own store. How to create your own e-commerce solutionOf course if you want complete control over every aspect of your new online store, building each page yourself will be the best course of action. Hiring someone to code your website is one option. If you decide to do this follow these steps:
You also don't have to build your site completely from scratch. Buying a template can give you all the basic pages your site needs. You can then either modify them yourself using an application like Dreamweaver, or hire a coding expert to make the changes. Website templates are available from a number of vendors including Template Monster. If you already have a website and want to add e-commerce functionality, this can be easily achieved with a number of applications including: Final adviceWhichever route you decide to take when building your website always remember:
Setting up your online store should be approached carefully and diligently to ensure you put a professional and efficient site live. Internet shopping continues to expand. Make sure your business doesn't miss out on a sales channel that shows no signs of slowing down.
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| Intel Comet-Lake S CPUs face-off against AMD Ryzen in leaked benchmarks Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:54 AM PDT New benchmarks for Intel's 10th generation Comet Lake-S desktop CPUs have surfaced online, just days ahead of the lineup’s rumored launch. These benchmarks come courtesy of serial leaker TUM_APISAK, who posted links to alleged Geekbench V4 listings for the 8-core/16-thread Intel Core 10700k and the 6-core/12-thread Core i5-10600K on their Twitter account.
These processors, which will go head-to-head with the Ryzen 7 3700X and Ryzen 5 3600, respectively, lock horns with their respective AMD counterparts, and – unsurprisingly – lead the charge when it comes to single-core performance. The Intel i7-10700K, listed with a max frequency of 5.1GHz, scored 5,969 in the Geekbench 4 single-core test and 34,133 in multi-core, while the more affordable i5-10600K – with a 4.6GHz boost – scored 6,081 points in the single-core test and 28,523 points in the multi-threaded test. Pulling aheadAs noted by TechPowerUp, these leaked scores put the Intel chips way ahead of their AMD counterparts when it comes to single-core performance, cementing the chipmaker’s lead as the manufacturer behind the best gaming processors. However, when it comes to multi-core, AMD Ryzen CPUs are able to just about match the Comet Lake-S lineup despite lower all-core frequencies, with Intel just a single-digit percentage ahead of Zen 2. There’s no sign of the Intel Core i9-10900K, the 10-core/20-thread flagship processor in the Comet-Lake S lineup, in this latest leak. However, the CPU made an appearance on Geekbench 5 earlier this month where it earned a 10% lead in single-core performance compared to AMD Ryzen 9 3900X The CPU, like its less-expensive counterparts, again fell short in multi-core tests. It raked up a score of 11,296 which isn't quite as powerful as AMD's current-generation flagship. Intel’s 10th-generation Comet Lake-S desktop CPUs are expected to launch on 30 April, though it’s likely notes that the first official benchmarks and reviews won’t arrive until the second week of May. The CPUs are rumored to require new Intel 400-series motherboards built around the new LGA1200 socket, and these are expected to be unveiled at the same time.
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| Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC? Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:53 AM PDT The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is hard to beat as the best budget GPU out there. Even in the shadow of the GTX 1660 Super, the GTX 1660 Ti still rules the roost for budget options. In fact, it’s the fastest growing card among Nvidia's Turing offerings. Nvidia essentially took its Turing architecture then removed the RT and Tensor cores that handled the RTX and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technologies, giving us a cheaper alternative that still delivers the same foundational performance as the RTX cards. So, what you’re getting here is an excellent balance of great performance and reasonable price. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is certainly among the best graphics cards, and if you’re on a budget, you can’t do much better than this Nvidia Turing GPU. Since there are some variances in price, due to the fact that this GPU doesn’t have a Founder’s Edition, we’re here to help. We’ve rounded up the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti card 2020 has to offer, so you can skip searching and get right on gaming.
PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC delivers the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps. The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC may not look like much, being tiny and all. But, this one’s small yet mighty, packing a punch with its 70MHz factory overclock and solid specs. This card delivers the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps, and it’s guaranteed to blow you away. If that isn’t enough, all of this performance will cost less than 300 smackers. This is the one of the best bang-for-your-buck graphics cards you’ll find right now; your wallet will thank you. Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC
Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC is a breeze. If you’re looking to max out the performance of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, then the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC might just be the card for you. It’s an ace in our book, especially considering that it delivers the highest factory overclock we’ve seen on this mid-range graphics card yet. In addition, its enormous heatsink and triple axial fans keep this card running a full 10C cooler than most of its rivals. Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking this card is a breeze. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC review
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC utilizes 3D molded curves on its fan blades for an extremely effective airflow. Prefer a more middle of the road Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 card? The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC is the nearest thing you can find to the average GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. It’s only packed with a middle-of-the-road dual-fan cooler. However, Gigabyte offsets that by utilizing 3D molded curves on its fan blades for an extremely effective airflow, which is further improved by the graphics card’s fans also spinning in alternate directions. Rounding its features out is a 1,845MHz boost clock. This card undoubtedly delivers more performance for not much more cash.
Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC packs all the power of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti. Besides being one of the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti available, Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC is one of the most compact graphics cards ever designed, intended to fit in the tiniest of PC cases. Don’t let the small size fool you, however: this graphics card still packs all the power of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti and then some, with a factory set 1,815MHz boost clock. Best of all, you won’t have to pay extra for this mini GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, so it will also save you some silver.
The MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch. Just because it’s a mid-range card doesn’t mean it can’t also be trendy. If you’re building a cool-looking and immersive gaming rig, the MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch, with a stylish aesthetic and fully programmable RGB lighting. You can personalize how it glows in sync with an MSI motherboard, which only enhances your immersion in the game. As far as performance, this card also delivers a solid one, which it couples with a Twin Frozr cooler to keep things chilled.
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| Best mesh Wi-Fi routers 2020: the best wireless mesh routers for large homes Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:51 AM PDT Switch to the best mesh Wi-Fi routers on the market if you’re having network issues. Whether you’re having spotty connections or trying to cover a large office, mesh Wifi routers can provide a much more reliable and robust signal to every corner of your space. It’s all thanks to their multi-node setup. While the typical wireless routers are usually one device providing coverage, you can strategically place these nodes around the area you want covered. By using the best mesh WiFi routers, you’re able to cover a large space while maintaining the connection and without requiring multiple networks. On top of that, setting up the best mesh WiFi routers is usually easy enough that you can do it without expert IT help. We found the best mesh Wifi routers available in 2020. Whether its best value, easiest setup, or even the most aesthetically pleasing, one of these will more than satisfy your network needs.
Best mesh Wi-Fi routers at a glance
The Google Nest Wifi kicks things up a notch. What’s better than the best mesh router? Well, a mesh router with a smart speaker, that’s what. Especially if you’re a smart home fiend, you will appreciate the pure genius of this upgrade in Google’s Wifi line. The Google Nest Wifi kicks things up a notch, taking Google Wifi’s incredible yet simple design and performance then merges it with the convenience of a smart speaker so you’ve got a two-in-one device in an even sleeker and more attractive package. And, if you’re tired of the color white, this one also comes in Mist and Sand colors. As far as the best mesh Wi-Fi routers go, the original Google Wifi is still the one to beat. This one just gives it that extra oomph. Read the full review: Google Nest Wifi
With Google WiFi, Google has taken dominion over the mesh WiFi world. (Image credit: Google) The Google Wifi tops, possibly, the best wireless mesh routers we’ve ever used, and we’re not saying that casually. In fact, we’d even go so far as to say that it may be the best wireless mesh router, at least to date. Not only does it have the power to push fast Wi-Fi throughout your house – an even more impressive feat considering its diminutive size, but it’s also fairly cheap and not that hard to set up. Setting up is so simple that all you have to do to configure Google Wifi is to download an app to your smartphone, scan some QR codes and just place the nodes where you want around your house. With Google WiFi, the company has taken dominion over the mesh WiFi world. Read the full review: Google Wifi
The Netgear Orbi boast more than enough Ethernet ports. (Image credit: Netgear) If you have deep pockets, then check out the Netgear Orbi, which may be one of the best wireless mesh routers money can buy this year. Instead of something like the Google WiFi, which uses three identical nodes to create the network, you’ll get one main router and several satellite nodes to plug into power outlets around your home. In addition, the Orbi touts more than enough Ethernet ports, making it an exceptional option for anyone with a number of devices that need a hardwired connection. This mesh router is the best choice for consumers who use their network mostly for gaming, particularly across multiple devices. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi
The Orbi WiFi 6 is your best bet when it comes to getting the best mesh Wi-Fi routers. If you’re ready to jump on the Wi-Fi 6 bandwagon, the Orbi WiFi 6 is your best bet when it comes to getting the best mesh Wi-Fi routers. It’s not by any means a casual purchase, with its steep price tag, but if you’re looking to upgrade to a faster and more reliable router to cover a massive space – like your countryside mansion, perhaps, or your crowded smart home – then this one’s absolutely worth the money. Plus, it’s easy and straightforward to setup, making it great for people who don’t have too much experience with Wi-Fi networks. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi WiFi 6
The tri-band Orbi Whole Home AC1200 offers solid performance at a reasonable price. The tri-band Orbi Whole Home AC1200 offers solid performance at a reasonable price, and will be a good choice for most small and medium-size homes that need to improve their Wi-Fi coverage. It’s simple to set-up and use for newcomers, although Netgear’s decision to use Disney’s subscription-based Circle service for parental controls is discouraging, considering that rival routers and mesh systems have often provided better parental controls for free. The lack of Ethernet ports for wired connections as well as more advanced features in the Orbi app might turn off experienced users as well.
The TP-Link Deco M5 is an affordable way to spread Wi-Fi throughout your home. (Image credit: TP-Link) If you’re looking for a way to spread Wi-Fi throughout your home without having to spend a lot of dough, then look into the TP-Link Deco M5. It’s not as speedy as some of the other best mesh Wi-Fi routers on this list, but if you’re not too concerned about getting the maximum theoretical throughput, which you probably won’t be able to take full advantage of anyway, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Setup, similar to the other devices here, is a breeze, even if you’re not tech-savvy. The TP-Link Deco M5 is among the best wireless mesh routers for those who don’t want to get too technical. Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M5
You'll find a lot to love in the Ubiquiti Amplifi HD. (Image credit: Ubiquiti) If you love Apple’s design philosophy, enjoy having attractive gadgets set up around your home and have more than enough extra money sitting around, then the Ubiquiti Amplifi HD is the perfect mesh router for you. You’ll find a lot to love with this device, especially if you live in a large house and can take advantage of the full power that this mesh Wi-Fi setup provides, as it’s capable of a very large amount of throughput. You might find that the value diminishes quite a bit when you live in a smaller space however, since there are more affordable alternatives on hand for small to medium homes. The Ubiquiti Amplifi HD may be pricey, but you’re paying for a piece of tech that both exudes style and a ton of substance. That’s more than enough to justify the price tag, making this a great addition to the best wireless mesh routers list. Read the full review: Ubiquiti Amplifi HD
There's something to be said about the simplicity that the Linksys Velop delivers. (Image credit: Linksys) While it’s expensive and not quite as powerful as the other Wi-Fi mesh routers on this list, there’s something to be said about the simplicity that the Linksys Velop offers. It might come with a heftier price than the competition, but the Velop will appeal to people who need to create a Wi-Fi network and want to avoid setting it up. More tech-savvy users will most likely look elsewhere – why spend money when you can do the work yourself for free? However, for most users, the Linksys Velop is among the best wireless mesh routers because of the convenience it offers from the start. It’s also completely modular, so you only have to pick up as many nodes as you actually need – one node will cover up to 2,000 square feet. Read the full review: Linksys Velop
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| Where to buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and why you should consider a digital copy Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:37 AM PDT As the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite continue to sell out, demand for its games have also increased considerably. The situation is bad enough that some retailers in both the US and UK are running out of physical copies of the year's biggest exclusive title, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with copies selling on eBay for much more than the standard retail price. It's not worth paying over the odds for Animal Crossing, especially when you can buy the game digitally for a more acceptable price and get the game without waiting for delivery. Below, we'll show you where to buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons for a sensible price, both digitally and physically.
Where to buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons: get the game right now, in digital or physical copiesIf you're happy to go digital, and you've got an internet connection and a Nintendo Account, get the game right now here: Physical copies of Animal Crossing: New Horizons are available at some US and UK retailers, just not everywhere, and stock is sporadic. If you really want a physical copy, do not pay more than $59.99/£49.99. The game will eventually come back in stock everywhere, and they'll be easier to restock than the console itself given that they're just game cards in plastic boxes. Here are some places where you can still get physical copies: Why it's worth buying Animal Crossing: New Horizons digitally
Redeeming a Nintendo code is very simple. In most cases, retailers will email you the code straight after purchase, and all you have to do is access the Nintendo Store on your Switch or Switch Lite, and select 'Redeem code' from the menu on the left-hand side of the screen. The only considerations are whether you've got enough storage space for the game (6.4GB of free space is required) and an internet connection. You'll need a Nintendo Account linked to your Nintendo Switch to redeem the game digitally. Once you've entered the code, though, the game is added to your account and it'll download right away, assuming you have the storage space. If you eventually want to delete Animal Crossing and redownload it later, you can do that too. Are there downsides to buying Switch games digitally?Buying a game and having it delivered to you straight away is so convenient. Physical copies are great for collectors and the cases look nice, plus retailers can set competitive prices for physical copies, but if you just want to play a game, it's hard to go back from instant downloads. The big drawback in forgoing physical is you won't be able to loan out your cartridge to a friend or resell the game when you're done with it. If your friends all pick up their own copy (and they should, if you all want to play together), this is less of an issue. The only other possible, distant concern with buying a game digitally instead of physically is that, one day, Nintendo could theoretically decide to turn off the digital store on Switch. Nintendo did this very thing with the Wii and DSi digital storefronts, and Nintendo is planning to turn off the ability to redownload Wii software at some point in the future. It's not impossible that could happen again with the Switch store many years down the line, though given that downloads are more fundamental to this console than they were to the Wii, hopefully that will never be the case. Either way, a physical copy would mean you won't have to worry about that. In the here and now, it's not worth worrying about, and hopefully the unifying of Nintendo's various online operations on Switch and 3DS means there'll be more continuity to the software you own in future. Microsoft has done a great job with this on its Xbox consoles, and Nintendo should take note.
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| Best portable SSD of 2020: top external solid state drives Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:31 AM PDT The best external SSDs bring quite a few benefits to the table. These portable SSDs aren’t only useful for giving you additional storage for your files, but they’re also ideal for keeping your files portable and protected – especially because quite a few of them have a rugged build. And, as they have no moving parts, they’re faster and less likely to break than portable hard drives. As there’s quite a selection of portable SSDs out there, it might be hard to weed out the bad ones and find the best for you. The trick here is to find the one that ticks all the right boxes. You’d want, first and most important of all, a capacious drive so you won’t run out of space when backing up your important – not to mention, large – files like videos and photos, while also making use of the inherent speed benefits of a solid state drive. To make your search for the best portable SSD for you easier, read on. We picked out the best portable SSDs money can buy in 2020. Whatever it is you’re looking for, you’ll find it on this list.
The best portable SSD at a glance
Samsung is a company that has made some brilliant portable SSDs, and you'll see a number of its devices on this list, however the Samsung Portable SSD T5 is our pick of the best portable SSD of 2018. It builds on the brilliant design and performance of its predecessor, the Samsung T3 SSD (also on this best portable SSD list), but brings it up to date with an incredibly fast USB Type-C connection that ekes out every last drop of performance from the solid state drive inside. Of course, it's also backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 if your PC doesn't have USB Type-C. It's expensive, but it's well worth the cash. Read the full review: Samsung Portable SSD T5
Seagate is a well-known brand when it comes to storage, and it's brought its impressive experience to the portable SSD market with the brilliant Seagate Fast SSD. This is an impressively slim external SSD, at only 9mm thick with a footprint of 94 x 79mm. Best of all, it's affordable – with prices likely to drop – and it’s an excellent performer, relatively small, plus it has a nice design and a three-year warranty. Well worth considering if you're looking for a the best portable SSD for a low price. Read the full review: Seagate Fast SSD 500GB
If you want speed above all else, and money is (almost) no object, than the Samsung X5 Portable SSD is the best portable SSD for you. It comes with a Thunderbolt 3 connection that takes full advantage of the super-fast speeds of the brilliant Samsung 970 Evo NVMe SSD that comes inside. However, that pure dedication to speed comes at some expense. First, there's the financial expense, as this is a pricey external SSD. It's also larger and bulkier than the Samsung T3 or Samsung T5, which are also on this list. The device is fairly heavy at 150g, triple the weight of the Samsung T5, and at 116 x 60 x 18mm, it can best be described as portable rather than miniature. However, when it comes to performance, the Samsung X5 Portable SSD is definitely the portable SSD to go for. Read the full review: Samsung X5 Portable SSD
This small and compact external hard drive offers very decent speeds, as well as a rugged body that keeps it safe from water - as well as drops and knocks. It's not the fastest drive out there - as it's still reliant on the aging SATA technology, rather than the newer - and faster - NVMe tech, but for the money you're still getting a brilliant performer. Adata claims this is the most compact external SSD, and with dimensions of 72.7 x 44 x 12.2mm and weighing only 37g excluding the cable, it is smaller and lighter than Samsung’s T3 and T5 drives - which are also on this list of the best portable SSDs. While it is pricey compared to some of the other external SSDs we have on this list, remember that it comes with military-certified protection. The stringent MIL-STD-810G 516.6 impact resistance test so it should survive accidental drops and shocks without much damage. If you shop around, you can also get it for less than its RRP.
Storage giant Western Digital is no stranger when it comes to storage gear aimed specifically at pro photographers, and with the WD My Passport Wireless SSD it has created another brilliant device that photographers (or even regular users) will love. It joins WD's growing stable of wireless hard drives, which allow you to view and move files via a Wi-Fi connection, rather than with a cable, which is handy. However, over Wi-Fi, you're not utilising the full speed of the SSD. It also connects via USB 3.0, which offers very good speeds, but not quite as fast as USB Type-C or Thunderbolt. But the flexibility and durability of the WD My Passport Wireless SSD is certainly tempting, plus it comes with a built-in SD card reader, making it one of the best portable SSDs for photographers. Read the full review: WD My Passport Wireless SSD
If you’re looking for a portable SSD with lots of features, then you might want to take a look at the Samsung T7 SSD. This external storage is not only fast – with sequential read and write speeds of up to 1,050 and 1,000 MB/s, respectively – but it also boasts quite a few nifty features in its palm-sized package. The most important of those features is, of course, its built-in security options that use AES 256-bit encryption and give you the option to use fingerprint sign-in, which you can set-up through its own management software.
The Adata SD700 will suit those looking for a rugged storage device that can provide ample capacity without costing too much. It offers good speeds, and it's IP68 rated, which means you can carry it around with you without worrying about it getting damaged. It comes in capacities up to 1TB, so you don't have to worry about missing out on storage space just because it uses an SSD. However, it doesn't come with the new USB Type-C connection, which means speeds aren't quite as fast as they could be.
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| Best cheap headphones: your guide to the best budget headphones in 2020 Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:16 AM PDT Looking for cheap headphones, but don't want to skimp on sound quality, comfort, and modern conveniences like noise cancellation and Bluetooth? You've come to the right place. Headphones are like pieces of art: while the real connoisseurs can spend a fortune on them, for most folks, budget models work just as well. Just like art, there's a big difference between finger painting and Picasso – with a happy medium somewhere in between – and the same is true for headphones. Here at TechRadar, we’ve sort of built a reputation for covering all of the latest, greatest and priciest technology in the world. However, even in the face of all of that high-end equipment, we still have a passion for finding great tech items that anyone can afford, and the best cheap headphones are a great place to start. It’s this passion for affordability that inspired us to create this list of the best cheap headphones on the market in 2020 – we’ve put our bargain-hunting prowess to great use and found a great deal of cheap headphones that you can buy without thinking twice about it. Best cheap headphones at a glanceCheap earphones: RHA MA390 What are the best cheap headphones?
Everyone's talking about true wireless, but there are still plenty of reasons to go wired. Two of the biggest reasons is sound quality and price. While there are cheap wireless headphones out there, they usually sound much worse than wired headphones for the same price. In the budget in-ear headphone category, you usually sacrifice sound and build quality for price. However, there are rare gems that are affordable, sound great, and are built well. The RHA MA390 is one of those headphones. While the RHA MA390 is the cheapest headphone the company makes, it doesn’t sacrifice on build quality, design, or sound: These headphones are beautifully crafted out of aluminum, feature a braided cable, and a universal remote that works with Android and iOS. While not perfect, the RHA M390 are an excellent value in the budget in-ear category. If these don't take you fancy, check out our roundup of the best earbuds for every budget. Read the full review: RHA MA390 in-ear headphones review
OnePlus is most known for its “flagship killer” phones like the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro,, but the company also makes headphones – the best example of which are the company’s excellent Bullets Wireless 2, which offer an incredible value in the neck-bud headphone category. In terms of audio quality, they boast a lively sonic presentation and an accurate-feeling soundstage, although bass-heads may want to look elsewhere for headphones that pack a bassier punch. They may be $30 more expensive than their predecessors, but the improved battery life and sound quality makes up for that; it also makes it worth upgrading if you have the originals and are due a new pair of wireless earbuds. Read the full review: OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 review
The JLab Go Air True Wireless Earbuds will cost just $29 / £29 when they’re released in March, and while we’re still waiting for official confirmation of pricing outside the US and UK, that works out at around AU$40. In other words, they're unbelievably cheap compared to the rest of the true wireless market. The JLab Go Airs herald a new age of truly affordable true wireless earbuds – but you get what you pay for with these super-cheap buds. The sound quality is too poor for us to wholeheartedly recommend them, but the Go Airs are so cheap that they could make a good pair of ‘backup’ buds to stow in your bag and forget about until you forget your main pair or they run out of battery. If you really can’t abide the poor sound quality on offer here (and it is poor, make no mistake), but you like the sound of JLab’s low prices, you could check out the JBuds Air Executive – at $69 (about £55 / AU$100) they’re a bit pricier, but they offer better sound and better battery life. Better yet, the Lypertek Tevi true wireless buds cost £99 (about $130 / AU$140), and are nearly faultless for the price. Read the full review: JLab Go Air True Wireless Earbuds review
For your money, you can't do any better than Grado's SR60e. The third-generation of the Brooklyn, NY-based company's Prestige Series is its best and most refined yet. The SR60e in particular is a smart choice if you're looking for an entry-level set of headphones that sounds like it should cost you way more than it does. Their open-backed ear cup design makes them a more breathable experience than what most on-ear headphones can deliver, although this does mean that they're not ideal for use in loud environments where sound can 'leak' in and disrupt your listening. That said, in terms of pure sound quality, they're our gold-standard when it comes to on-ears. Read the full review: Grado SR60i review (our review is for the SR60i, but the newer SR60e headphones are largely similar in design and performance).
You, like everyone else, probably wants a set of headphones that nails the tricky blend of design, useful features and incredible sound. You might think that you need to flush your savings to enjoy such a pair of cans. Protip: you don't. The Audio-Technica ATH-S200BT are a well-built, great-sounding, long-lasting pair of headphones. Their features constantly outweigh their modest price and we can’t get enough of that 40-hour battery life. While technological advancements usually mean a premium price, that's just not the case with the Audio-Technica ATH-S200BT. Read the full review: Audio-Technica ATH-S200BT review
It’s easy to spend an arm and a leg on good over-ear headphones. Barring the exception of noise-cancelling and planar magnetic cans, they are the top dogs of the audio world. Really good over-ears should be the most comfortable, most versatile headphones in your audio arsenal. They should be just as adept with Hi-Def audio sources of 16-bit/44.1KHz as they are streaming from Spotify, and they should do so without sacrificing either end of the audio spectrum. In our testing we found a half-dozen that can do the job (there are even a few uber-cheap ones from Monoprice that will get the job done) but, of them all, the original Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are the best of the best. For the price they sound outrageously clear, balanced and powerful, and give you best bang for your buck. There are other options, but pros will choose the M20x in a heartbeat.
It's nearly impossible to find good noise-cancelling headphones for a reasonable price. That's because market leaders like Sony and Bose have created top-tier products and set the bar high in terms of price. Others have tried to duplicate their efforts but none of them live up to those flagship can. Of the ones that try to sit on the throne of best noise cancelling headphones kingdom, the Taotronics TT-BH085 have a decent claim. They encompass the entirety of your ear and do a pretty good job keeping out the noise. They don't sound as good as other top-tier headphones, but they're one of the few that support aptX for HD audio and that's a real surprise at this price point. Don’t buy them expecting the same performance as the most desirable pairs from Beats, Sennheiser or Bose but if you're fine with a bit of a compromise to save $200, then these are your best bets.
Beyerdynamic makes loads of equipment for both audiophiles and audio professionals, and some of it comes at a high price. But, the Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro headphones find a sweet spot offering professional audio and a high standard in design for a lower price point. The DT 240 Pro headphones cost $99 (£89, AU$139), making them more affordable than heaps of other studio monitor headphones. This price puts them in close competition with some of Audio-Technica’s cans, like the widely praised ATH-M40X or the wireless ATH-SR5BT, which can be found on sale in the same ballpark as the DT 240 Pro. Beyerdynamic shines in performance with the DT 240 Pro. As studio monitor headphones, the sound produced is not very colorful, but that’s exactly as it should be. All the sound comes through clean and incredibly well balanced. The bass is easy to pick up on without being thumpy, though with a subtle punch at higher volumes. From the bass on up to the high end, all the sounds mesh clearly, with the DT 240 Pros not boosting one register over the other. They're neutral, perfect for recording and best of all, cheap. Read the full review: Beyerdynamic DT 240 PRO review What to look for in cheap headphonesIn order to create this guide, we’ve tested, listened to and compared over 25 headphones in every category, shape and size. When we found a great pair, we then put it against the rest back-to-back-to-back to make sure they still really deserved the title of ‘best cheap headphones’. You might be wondering what we were looking for through all this expansive testing? Sound fidelity was clearly the most essential detail – but we also made sure to consider comfort, design and other features also. Like most people, we prefer our music detail-rich and well-balanced. We can live with our music sounding a bit warm with an emphasis on the mids and highs, but we still like to be able to feel the bass. Also, it’s important to look for headphones with reasonable battery life if they’re wireless, a robust, durable build that will stand up to the trials of everyday commute and comfortable padding to help make longer listening sittings nice and comfortable. Keep in mind though, that testing headphones will be, at least on some level, subjective, and our taste in tonal balance might not match yours (neither will the size of our head or the shape of our ears). Still, we’ve done our best to take subjectivity out of the equation and can present, through our expertise, the best cheap headphones that won’t hurt your wallet. By their very nature, the headphones you prefer will ultimately boil down to your own personal taste. However, seeing as the headphone market is extremely saturated, it is genuinely hard to figure out what the best headphones for your tastes actually are. That’s where we come in. Now, bear with us – it’s impossible to get our hands on every affordable pair of headphones, but we won’t recommend anything we haven’t used ourselves. So if we missed your favorite pair of Beats headphones, it wasn’t on purpose, we assure you. With this guide, we went through a process – exhaustively testing a huge amount of cheap headphones from all over the internet in every style under the sun. In-ear, over-ear, wireless – everything you can think of. We then took the results of all of this exhaustive testing, and measured each headphone against each other until we could confidently pick a few to proudly wear the ‘best cheap headphones’ badge. So rest assured, even if we didn’t pick your favorite headphone, there isn’t a single pair in this list that will disappoint.
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| Cloudflare wants to put an end to BGP hijacking and leaks Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:15 AM PDT Cloudflare has introduced a new tool to help improve BGP security which can hold ISPs accountable for their BGP safety measures. In a recent blog post, the cloud services provider said that Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) security issues such as leaks and hijacks have “been accepted as an unavoidable part of the internet for far too long”. The BGP protocol has been in use since the 1990s and it is the de-facto system used to route internet traffic between internet networks worldwide. Since that time though, the system has seen the introduction of a number of new security measures including TLS, DNSSEC and projects like the Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) to make it less vulnerable to leaks and hijacking.
Unfortunately though, BGP hijacking still occurs at the ISP level with Russia's state-owned telecoms provider Rostelecom and China Telecom being two of the biggest offenders. For example, traffic intended for more than 200 of the world's largest content delivery networks (CDNs) and cloud hosting providers was recently redirected through Rostelecom. Is BGP safe yet?In an effort to hold ISPs accountable, Cloudflare has launched a new website called isBGPSafeYet which allows users to check whether or not their ISP is using RPKI which helps filter out invalid traffic routes. The site runs a test where it tries to fetch two pages (valid.rpki.cloudflare.com and invalid.rpki.cloudflare.com) to see an ISP has enabled RPKI. If the test fails, Cloudflare's site allows users to tweet out the fact that their ISP isn't using RPKI in the hope that public pressure may lead to increased adoption of the public key infrastructure framework. While RPKI isn't perfect at preventing BGP hijacking, almost half of all networks employing the tool are less susceptible to route leaks, according to Cloudflare's tests. The company has also made the scripts used in its new website available on GitHub for others to use.
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| Surface Book 3: what we want to see Posted: 20 Apr 2020 11:11 AM PDT The Surface Book 3 is one of the most anticipated devices right now. Thanks to the original Surface Book’s success, and the elegant Surface Book 2 refining on the winning formula that had the MacBook Pro quaking in its recycled aluminum boots, there’s palpable excitement for the popular Surface line’s third installation. So, naturally, rumors and leaks have started to pop up, especially since 2020 seems like a good bet for the Surface Book 3. After all, its predecessor came out at the end of 2017, and 2019 came and went without so much as a peep from the line. So far, we’ve seen leaks on possible Surface Book 3 configurations, as well as possible prices for both the 13-inch and15-inch models. It’s time for us, therefore, to dive into everything we know and everything we want to see from the Surface Book 3. Will the Microsoft Surface Book 3 be the best laptop to come out of Microsoft? If the company takes what made the Surface Book line such an excellent series and builds upon that – hopefully, with a higher resolution display, Thunderbolt 3 and cutting edge internal components, then quite possibly. Cut to the chase
We're still hoping that Microsoft will showcase the Surface Book 3. (Image credit: Microsoft) Surface Book 3 release dateThe Surface Book 2 was rolled out in late 2017 so it’s already got a few years under its belt. However, based on the release pattern of Surface devices that aren’t the Surface Pro and the recent configuration leaks, we expect a Surface Book 3 release date of sometime in 2020. Three new Surface devices were released in late 2019 – the Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X, and Surface Laptop 3 – but there wasn’t any sign of a new Surface Book. If you also account for the fact that Microsoft has recently given the 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 a quad-core processor, we don't expect to see a Surface Book 3 right away. While Microsoft did release three new Surface devices in 2019, we saw no sign of the Surface Book 3. Ever the optimists, we're hoping that 2020 will feature a Surface Book 3 release date.
Fingers crossed that the would-be Surface Book 3 sticks well within the same price range as its predecessor. (Image credit: Microsoft) Surface Book 3 priceSince there’s no concrete information about the Surface Book 3 right now, we don’t really know what to expect when it comes to how much it will cost. However, a recent leak puts the Surface Book 3 13.5-inch at €1,617 (around $1,760 or £1,410) to start. This leak also shows the 15-inch model starting at €2,234 (around $2,430 or £1,950) and going all the way up to €3,441 (around $3,740 or £3,000) for the highest configuration. This pretty much echoes what we’ve already heard from previous retailer leaks. Looking at the pricing of the Surface Book and the Surface Book 2, however, it’s looking like the 13-inch might be getting a price rise while the 15-inch will get a price drop. Currently, due to a new lower-storage model, the 13.5 inch Surface Book 2 starts at $1,199 or £1,149, while the 15-inch iteration stays at its $2,499 or £2,349 (AU$3,649) price tag. Of course, this is unconfirmed information. We’re still hoping that Surface Book 3 sticks well within its current price range, as anything more would already be too expensive for many users or potential buyers.
An image from a patent shows what the writing surface could look like of the Surface Book 3 Surface Book 3 designMicrosoft's recent Surface devices have been playing it pretty safe when it comes to design, so there's a very good chance that the Surface Book 3 will look a lot like the Surface Book 2. However, a new patent has been discovered that suggests the Surface Book 3 could come with a radical new design. The patent appears to show a detachable keyboard with a panel on the back that could be used for sketching and note taking with a stylus. The user can use to write down notes or perhaps use it as a graphics tablet for hand drawing and sketching. While this isn't confirmation that the Surface Book 3 will incorporate this new detachable keyboard in its design, it's certainly an exciting prospect. We'd love to see Microsoft really innovate when it comes to the look and performance of the Surface Book 3.
Microsoft has to make better use of the room provided it with the 15-inch Surface Book. (Image credit: Microsoft) What we want to see in a Surface Book 3A Surface Book 3 release still seems far away, though a 2020 release does seem likely, since we don’t have much solid information on what to expect. So, all we can do right now is put together a wish list, if you must, of what we would like to see improved in this follow up. Here are the features we’d like to see in the Surface Book 3, based on speculation, leaks and rumors. More powerful internals In fact, thanks to the leaks from @_rogame, we’ve seen configurations with both Ice Lake and an unnamed (possibly Tiger Lake) chips. However, the configurations do seem to come with Nvidia GTX 1650 Max Q and 1660 Ti Max Q so we’ll see if it can handle 4K gaming. Use the extra space accordingly Thunderbolt 3, please The good news is that looks like this might actually happen. Microsoft has patented a magnetic USB-C connector that would kind of function like the existing magnetic Surface charger. Whether or not it will actually support Thunderbolt 3 remains to be seen, but we don’t see why it shouldn’t. Better power management Regardless of who the next iteration is made for, it should come with improved power management so as to not dip into its battery reserves for extra juice. A 4K display would be nice All accessories included Black color option Just imagine, a Surface Book 3 that might not only give the MacBook Pro 2018 a run for its money, but one that has a more striking color option than the Space Gray on the latest Apple flagship.
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| Posted: 20 Apr 2020 10:56 AM PDT Getting started with WordPress web hosting doesn't have to be expensive, after all the 17-year old WordPress is free (and open source). Even the cheapest shared hosting plan usually comes with a one-click WordPress installer, allowing the greenest of blogging newbies to have their first post ready in less than 60 seconds (we tried it). Managing a blog over time is much more challenging, though. You'll need to find your own themes and plugins. And also keep them, and WordPress itself, up-to-date (although you can even get that done automatically). Blogs are often targeted by malware, so it's important you have some way to detect and remove any threats, and you'll want regular backups to help get a broken blog working again. There's a long list of hosting companies offering WordPress plans, but we've picked out five of the best to point you in the right direction. Whether you're a first-time user or a big business, there's something for you here, and with prices starting at around a pound per month, it's well worth taking the time to find out more.
These are the best WordPress hosting services of 2020
Image Credit: Bluehost Budget WordPress hosting can have a lot of appeal, but it usually won't deliver the features, performance or reliability that high traffic sites need. If you're the demanding type, opting for a premium hosting plan will give you much better results.
Bluehost has created its own VPS-based architecture to deliver optimum WordPress performance via NGINX, a custom PHP-FPM setup and intelligently allocated resources through KVM hypervisor. (If you're not a hosting geek, this just means Bluehost has taken the time to optimize the low-level setup of its platform for WordPress, rather than simply making do with a standard configuration.) The company doesn't waste time by pretending to offer ‘unlimited’ resources, and instead tells you exactly what you're going to get. For the Basic plan which starts at $2.75 per month for the first term (renews at $7.99), this means 50GB SSD storage, a single website, a free domain for one year and $50 Marketing Credit. Additional features for all plans include free SSL, unmetered MySQL DB, site analytics dashboard, unlimited parked/sub domains and Bluehost Marketplace where users will have access to premium themes and plugins at exclusive prices. New Bluehost accounts will also get a free service called Blue Spark, which is designed to help newcomers with everything WordPress related. The Plus plan which starts at $5.45 per month for the first term (renews at $10.99), adds unlimited websites and website space, and additional features like spam protection, free CDN and WP staging environment. The Choice Plus plan costs $5.45 per month for the first term (renews at $14.99) and adds even more features. Bluehost also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you feel the service doesn't deliver. If you need more power, BlueHost has a managed hosting solution called WordPress Pro that has been optimized for WordPress websites, with prices starting at $17.95 per month. These plans have many additional features like unlimited everything, malware detection and removal, JetPack site analytics, business review tools and more.
Image Credit: Tsohost Managed WordPress packages can often feel overpriced. Many hosts charge significant premiums for impressive sounding claims – optimized servers, malware scanning – that are difficult to evaluate or confirm. The UK-based Tsohost isn't interested in any of that, instead focusing on providing the core WordPress essentials at a very fair price. The baseline Economy plan gives you a free domain name, will migrate your existing site, includes 50% discount on Standard SSL and has no limits on bandwidth. You get daily backups and can restore any of the last 30 days with a click. There's 24/7 support via ticket and email, and phone and live chat is available from 7am to midnight. You get a hundred 200MB mailboxes, and the plan restricts you to 100GB storage and 100,000 page views a month. If that's enough for you, the plan costs ~$4.9(£3.99) a month paid annually (the first year is ~$3.7 (£2.99) a month). If that's just too underpowered, opting for the Deluxe plan gets you unlimited storage, 500x1GB mailboxes, and unlimited hosted websites. That's significantly more capable, yet still very reasonably priced at ~$7.8(£5.99) a month paid annually (the first year is ~$4.9 (£3.99) a month). The "most popular" Ultimate plan is priced at ~$11.7(£8.99) a month paid annually (the first year is ~$7.4 (£5.99) a month) and supports unlimited storage, unlimited hosted websites, unlimited 10GB mailboxes and a free SSL certificate among other things. Tsohost doesn't offer all the frills and extras you'll get with some products. There's no talk of SiteLock malware protection, optimized WordPress add-ons or a custom CDN. But it's hard to complain at this price, and Tsohost is still delivering a capable service with more than enough power for smaller sites.
Image Credit: Inmotion Hosting Most web hosts offer only a few WordPress plans, and even these might be set up to point you in a particular direction. You'll often see an underpowered plan, an overpriced one, and a special deal on the mid-range plan they really want you to buy. That makes it easy to decide, but it also limits your upgrade options if your site grows over time. InMotion Hosting is unusual in offering six WordPress plans, covering everything from small personal blogs to resellers and big business. Figuring out which is the best product for you will take a little more thought, but at least there's room to upgrade – or downgrade – if your circumstances change. Better still, InMotion hasn't artificially limited the low-end plans by removing key features. Even the baseline WP-1000S plan – which costs $5.99 (£5.15) a month initially (1-year plan), $9.99 (£7.70) on renewal – gives you 40GB storage, unlimited bandwidth and email addresses, preinstalled WordPress, SSL, backups, automatic updates, SiteLock security, cPanel site management, and extras like BoldGrid and WP-CLI. The only significant issue is InMotion's suggestion that the plan works best for blogs with up to 20,000 monthly visits, and even that won't be a problem for many smaller sites. Upgrading your plan gets you some extras – premium themes and plugin subscriptions, a dedicated IP address, support for hosting more sites – but it's mostly about giving you more resources. For example, the top-of-the-range WP-4000S plan supports 300,000 monthly visitors across up to 6 sites for $29.99 (£23) a month initially (1-year plan), $36.99 (£28.3) on renewal. There are cheaper deals around, but in previous reviews, we've found InMotion to be reliable, professional and honest, and any price premium is likely to be worth paying. You don't have to take our word for it, though – an exceptional 90-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of opportunity to find out for yourself.
Image Credit: 1&1 IONOS Web giant 1&1 IONOS seems to have a hosting product for every possible need, and WordPress is no exception. Novice users can try out its service for a nominal $3 (£2.4) a month, yet the plan still outperforms many competitors. The bundled 25GB of storage means you won't be running out of space in a hurry, for example. There are no bandwidth or visitor limits, and you can set up as many email accounts as you need. 1&1 IONOS offers the core WordPress management functions that you would expect: a setup wizard, preinstalled plugins, automatic updates and 24/7 support (including by telephone). Also, you get a personal consultant free of charge. All this is built on a capable platform – NGINX, PHP 7.2, OPcache, up to 2GB RAM guaranteed – to enhance your blog's performance. There's SSL included and even a free domain thrown in, which is a ridiculously good value at this price. If you're a WordPress novice, it might be worth taking out the plan for an initial year, claiming your free domain and taking the time to learn how the blog works. When you time is up, renew if you're happy, or if you're not, use your knowledge and experience to find a better plan. 1&1 IONOS isn't just about newbies, though: there's value for more demanding users, too. In particular, the Unlimited plan gives you unlimited Wordpress sites and storage space, unlimited databases (1GB max), and unlimited email accounts (2GB each). Bonus features include a Wildcard SSL, a CDN and SiteLock malware scanning, as well as RailGun content delivery network, and the price looks good at $18 (£14.6)
Image Credit: HostGator Choosing the best WordPress hosting package can seem like a complicated business, with a stack of low-level details and issues to consider. But it doesn't have to be that way. If you don't have special requirements then opting for a reliable company will get you capable mid-range products that can handle everything most users need. HostGator generally delivers powerful hosting plans for a fair price, and its managed WordPress range is no exception. Its Starter product may only cost $5.95 (£4.25) ($3.98 with our promo code) per month for three years, $9.95 (£7.10) afterwards, but you still get a free site migration, an SSL certificate, automatic malware detection and removal, unlimited email addresses and unmetered storage and bandwidth, and it can handle up to 100,000 visits a month. Ramping up to the high-end Business plan gets you more CPU power, support for up to three sites and 500,000 visits a month, yet still costs only $9.95 (£7.10) ($9.18 with our promo code) a month for the first three years, $22.95 (£16.40) a month afterwards. Smart caching and a CDN are on hand to enhance your website's performance, 24/7 support helps keep your site up and running, and surprise bonus features include free domain privacy to protect from identity theft and reduce annoying spam. We've had good experiences with HostGator's service, but if you're not so lucky, there's a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. As with other hosting companies, this won't cover any domain registration fees, but it's still a better deal than you'll often find elsewhere. You might also want to check out our other buying guides:
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| AMD could be launching budget Ryzen processors to challenge Intel Comet Lake Posted: 20 Apr 2020 10:44 AM PDT Word on the street right now is that Intel Comet Lake-S could be announced in the very near future, but AMD could be cooking something up to challenge Intel's next-generation desktop processors. However, rather than pushing its Ryzen 4000 lineup to directly compete with the top-end of the Comet Lake spectrum – which will likely involve a 10-core, 20-thread Intel Core i9-10900K – we could see a couple budget-friendly Ryzen 3000 processors, according to a tweet from renowned hardware leaker @momomo_us.
According to this leak, we may be seeing an AMD Ryzen 3 3100 and an AMD Ryzen 3 3300X, both of which would be 4-core, 8-thread entry-level 65W processors. This would make a lot of sense, as we haven't seen a Zen 2-based Ryzen 3 processor on desktop yet, as the Ryzen 3 3200G is based on the 12nm Zen+ architecture. With the large boost to IPC performance that AMD Zen 2 brings to the table, single core performance sees a huge jump, which may be why AMD may be saving these entry-level products for Intel's new chips. Intel's processors typically beat AMD when it comes to single-threaded performance, and as one of the most common uses for these high-volume entry-level processors is for budget gaming PCs, Intel Comet Lake potentially provides a much more substantial challenge to AMD. Still, we don't even know when Intel Comet Lake processors are actually coming, what the real specs are going to end up being, or how AMD plans to respond. This is a pretty lightweight leak, so it's best to take it all with a grain of salt. We'll find out sooner or later what Intel and AMD are planning soon – the original date for Computex 2020 is rapidly approaching, after all. The budget battleSome of the most popular PC games on the market right now are still pretty lightly threaded. Games like Fortnite tend to rely on much fewer CPU cores than tech powerhouses like Battlefield V as this approach keeps the barrier of entry lower for folks who may not have a 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X to slot into a gaming PC. If Intel does pad out its Core i3 lineup with budget-friendly processors sporting strong single-threaded performance, it could end up putting AMD in an interesting position. As much as we love talking about the Core i9s and Ryzen 9s of the world, it's impossible to overstate just how important budget-level silicon really is. Whenever Intel does finally come out and reveal its Comet Lake lineup, we doubt AMD will rest on its laurels. Whether Team Red comes out with some cheap processors or just drops prices on its existing chips is anyone's guess, but the market for processors is about to heat up. Via PC Gamer
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| Best business VPN providers of 2020 Posted: 20 Apr 2020 10:26 AM PDT Given the current exceptional situations worldwide, using one of the best VPNs is extremely important for any modern business which has a flexible and mobile workforce. As a VPN helps you protect business data by keeping a secure company network and internet connection. Which in turn, allows you to ensure and maintain high levels of privacy and security. This is especially helpful in the world of small businesses, which usually have limited resources to devote to managing security. Fortunately, there are business VPNs out there which are a breeze to set up and manage, plus they can be scaled to fit the organisation’s needs as it grows. Business VPN vs Consumer VPN: the main differencesWhile business VPNs perform a similar function like consumer VPNs, there are some key differences. For starters, they are designed to protect the privacy of the whole business and they add additional protection against surveillance and hacking. Consumer VPNs are generally used for individual preferences like unblocking a website or service, while business VPNs are used for business security and data protection. In addition, business VPNs provide a dedicated IP address with a dedicated server, while the IP for the consumer VPNs might be shared with other users and can change every time you connect to the service. This also means that the servers are specially designed for business users. One of the main differences is that the business VPN is designed for multiple users. It basically means the employees will use one universal account with the account manager having full control. Also, some providers have a minimum user requirement before they offer a business VPN service. An important notice is that the company will know what websites their employees visit when using a business VPN. Even the installation is different, although the actual installation will vary depending on the service but the company will usually get help from the VPN provider and their security experts.
Best business VPN in 2020
Perimeter 81, offers a great business VPN experience for users who work across multiple devices and switch from one to another frequently. It’s a powerful service with many features and benefits. Their zero-trust network service will always ensure secure, zero-trust access to web applications. This will increase efficiency and security, help with mitigating data loss, as well as reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) for IT security by replacing disconnected point products with a single, consolidated security platform. The software-defined perimeter (SDP) is used to restrict network access and provide customized, manageable and secure access to networked systems. Perimeter 81 uses its own SDP solution to offer simple cloud migration security, and secure access to cloud environments such as IaaS, PaaS, and more. The provider also uses some advanced security features which proactively protect employees from dangerous public Wi-Fi threats, regardless of where they are working from. The two-factor authentication is also available for extra security. Also, since Perimeter 81 is cloud-based, you can scale your network as you go without the need for external hardware. Another bonus is that you can easily manage team settings and view employee network access all in one place. The provider has well-designed clients for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, is compatible with Linux, Linux X64 and Chromebook, and includes a single-click web management console. While the server coverage may be slightly limited, it didn’t bother us as we got above-average speeds in our performance tests. The provider upholds a strict no-logging policy. Perimeter 81 supports IKEv2, OpenVPN, L2TP and PPTP security protocols, WireGuard connector, features automatic Wi-Fi security, DNS filtering and business clients enjoy priority support around the clock. Perimeter 81 has three business plans to choose from, depending on the number of users needed – including a custom plan if required. The packages available are:
NordVPN Teams is NordVPN's solution for businesses and corporate users benefit from the same sterling levels of security and reliability the provider is known for, alongside the added bonus of getting a dedicated account manager for business account holders. Companies also get a dedicated business VPN server for internal use, and each VPN account is assigned a fixed dedicated IP address regardless of the location, network or device. Since this is a plug and play, cloud-based business VPN, companies of any size can onboard within hours. With the number of servers constantly growing, NordVPN is one of the better VPN providers when it comes to server numbers. It’s not the fastest network out there, but it’s fast enough – and more importantly, the NordVPN Teams is consistent in terms of its performance. This provider offers lots of security features, including double data encryption, a kill switch, and much more. NordVPN is privacy-focused, keeping no logs of user activity and requiring no company details to purchase. There are three plans available: Basic, Advanced and Enterprise. For the Enterprise plan, you'll need to reach out to their sales team for a quote although prices start as little as $7 per user per month.
Encrypt.me Business VPN is a great choice for smaller teams who frequently use multiple devices. This is because the provider supports an unlimited number of devices which isn't something you see often. Apart from that, the provider offers very solid performance and it's quite simple to use. Encrypt.me works on all major platforms, including iOS, Android, MacOS and Windows, and it's available via Amazon as well. Each employee will have to download the app and they'll be ready to use it in minutes. Security is very good with several interesting features available. You have DNS protection, Auto-Secure function, Content filtering, and private endpoints, so employees can connect to the office network remotely. As for privacy, there is some session logging though, so this might not be ideal for every business. The pricing is flexible and it's based on how much team members you need. The price starts at $15.98 per month for a minimum of 2 members.
While ExpressVPN doesn't have a dedicated business plan, it's the best consumer VPN out there, which makes it a perfect choice for remote workers and single business users. The performance is great and their server coverage is quite adequate, so you'll have no problem finding a good server. One of the first things you notice with ExpressVPN is that their app is compatible with so many platforms. Apart from the usual platforms, the provider has a client for Linux, Kinde Fire, Chromebook, Nook and more. They are all easy to set up too. In addition, there are browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome. With ExpressVPN you also get top-grade security and encryption. All the standard encryption and security features are there with some additions like split-tunneling or the fact that ExpressVPN protects your internet traffic by using its own DNS servers. The privacy protection is favorable as well, with a clear no-logging policy. One small complaint would be the pricing as it is a bit more expensive than usual, but it might be understandable considering what you get. The packages available are:
[Save 40%] Get 40% off VyprVPN's annual plans. VyprVPN is a fast, highly secure VPN without third-parties, all for as little as $36.00 for the first year. Get VyprVPN here. (25% Off) Exclusive VyprVPN Deal: TechRadar readers get 25% off VyprVPN annual plans ($45 USD for 1 year). VyprVPN is a fast, highly secure VPN without third parties. Get VyprVPN here VyprVPN manages all of its own servers which definitely shows when it comes to performance levels. In our tests, we found our download speeds more than doubled compared to our normal rates with the VPN turned off – it doesn’t come any better than that. Vypyr provides you with easy-to-use and intuitive software for overall account management, as well as apps for all major platforms. In addition to OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP/IPsec protocols, VyprVPN offers additional security features like a NAT Firewall and its own Chameleon technology (which got upgraded to 2.0 version) for preventing deep packet inspection (DPI), VPN blocking and throttling. 24/7 live chat support is in place for when you need assistance. Interestingly, there isn't much information listed on the website regarding the business plans. To find out more about them, and discover the exact pricing, you have to apply for a free trial or contact customer support. There are two of these plans pitched pretty closely together, starting from $299 and $349 respectively. The packages available are:
Hotspot Shield delivers a consistently fast VPN with competitive pricing for consumers, and its business offering is no different. In performance terms, our tests showed a significant increase in download speeds with a slight increase in upload speeds compared to our normal rates, and barely any change in latency. On the downside, this business VPN doesn’t offer any management software so you only have native apps at your disposal. The privacy policy is favorable, not keeping any logs, and on the security front you get all the usual protocols. Additional features include private browsing and virtual locations, among others. There’s dedicated customer support in case you run into any hiccups. You can choose from three plans, and they are quite affordable with the lower-end plan being a laudably cheap option for small businesses (although it might be that these prices aren't accurate anymore and you'll have to contact the company for exact information). The packages available are:
TorGuard certainly has a huge selection of servers, meaning you should never have a problem finding a reliable connection. That said, our testing revealed only average levels of performance, with some spikes in latency. Still, the speed trade-off might well be worth it as you get tons of options to set up your VPN experience on any OS. Every TorGuard business VPN account comes with a 24/7 dedicated account manager and access to a dedicated VPN management portal. Security-wise, TorGuard takes care of business (ahem) with all the regular protocols, 256-bit AES encryption, and a ‘Stealth VPN’ option that avoids deep packet inspection. There are three business price plans plus a custom option. Each gets you unlimited access and support, the only difference being the number of users covered, and dedicated IP and email addresses. The packages available are:
How to choose the best VPN for businessObviously, protecting sensitive business data is the main priority here, so you need a VPN with the beefiest levels of security. Since you’ll be handling multiple accounts at once, for multiple staff members, quality management software or a dedicated account manager are important considerations. Having access to plenty of server locations is always a good thing, particularly when it comes to a mobile workforce, and nippy performance is handy for transferring large files or perhaps partaking of HD videoconferencing. Another important factor is the number of connections available and supported devices, which must suit the size of your firm and the hardware your employees use.
Also consider1. Jungle disk: It is an easy, secure VPN access for small businesses supporting SSL and IPsec including remote access and site-to-site. There's no hardware purchase, no setup fees, all pay-as-you-go monthly, in a fully managed provider. 2. ibVPN : Their VPN is best for securing your company’s data with military grade encryption while working remotely and to access business tools while traveling or when connected to public WiFi. They claim that they "provide the most complete business VPN solution offering fast VPN servers, SmartDNS and Proxies to make sure it suits all your company's needs", adding "for easy access we have developed VPN clients for major OS (Windows, Mac, iOS and Android) so even the less techie can connect in seconds with a simple click."
3. Hide.me : This VPN is geared towards "any company which wants to give its employees the geographical freedom to work without compromising on their security, any company which wants to make sure that their employees are always secure even while using public Wi-Fi connections, any company which does not want to spend a lot of time on administrating its VPN solution and any company which does not want to spend a lot of money on their VPN solution." Hide.me’s Business VPN offers a flexible Windows SDK to control the VPN connection over an API. You can bundle the SDK into your existing application or just build your GUI on top of it. With their API, you can automatically create, delete, disable, and enable VPN accounts. They don't ask you to pay upfront and offers a monthly consolidated billing option so that you pay only for accounts that have been active.
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| Canon EOS R5 release date, news and features Posted: 20 Apr 2020 10:00 AM PDT The Canon EOS R5 is what happens when Canon finally releases the handbrake on its mirrorless cameras. This full-frame powerhouse still hasn't been fully launched, but Canon has teased us with a succession of specs announcements that together give us a pretty clear picture of what to expect – and that's a game-changing camera for both stills shooters and filmmakers. A full launch is unlikely to happen until Summer 2020, but Canon has now confirmed many of the EOS R5's video powers. That news from its Virtual Press Conference in April followed previous development announcements and confirmed one big thing –the EOS R5 will be 8K mirrorless camera with very few compromises or direct rivals. On top of in-body image stabilization (IBIS), the EOS R5 will offer treats like shooting 8K video at 29.97fps using the full width of its sensor, along with Dual Pixel autofocus in all video modes and frame-rates. For both pro filmmakers and aspiring directors, it's a very exciting camera indeed.
Not that there aren't plenty of features for stills photographers too. The EOS R5 will have next-gen autofocus, including the Animal AF that will detect and track birds, dogs and cats. You'll also get burst shooting powers that rival the Canon 1DX Mark III, it's pro sports DSLR. In short, the EOS R5 represents Canon finally putting down its famed 'cripple hammer' and loading a mirrorless camera with the kind of power that could seriously outmuscle the likes Nikon, Panasonic and Fujifilm. Want to know more? Here's everything we know about it so far.
Canon EOS R5: pricing and availabilityOne of the big gaps in the Canon EOS R5's development announcement was its price tag and release date. We still don't know either of these for sure, but recent rumors mean we can make some informed predictions. Despite some speculation to the contrary, Canon Rumors is confident that the full EOS R5 announcement won't be delayed by the global pandemic. Right now, it's still expected to be fully unveiled around the end of May or early June 2020. This doesn't mean shipping would start immediately. The EOS R5 is expected to ship from July in limited numbers, following the rumored availability of the Canon EOS R6 in June. Given the current global situation, though, it's fair to this is a rolling situation and it's far from certain at this stage. While July might seem like a long wait, it's pretty much in line with what Canon did with the EOS 1DX Mark III – the official development announcement was made in October 2019 with shipping of the camera having begun only in February 2020. As for the price tag, we can only presume it would be competing with the 45.7MP Nikon Z7, or perhaps even the 61MP Sony Alpha A7R IV. If that's the case, be prepared to shell out something well over the $3,500 / £3,500 / AU$4,500 mark.
Canon EOS R5: designWhile we haven't yet seen a working Canon EOS R5, we have now seen one in the flesh – and it's clearly very much based on the original EOS R. Still, there are few differences. The contentious multi-function bar on the back of the camera hasn't made the leap to the new camera – instead, it'll have a more traditional scroll wheel. Talking about the button layout on the rear – we were curious to see whether the Smart Controller introduced in the EOS 1DX Mark III (to speed up focus point selection) had made its way to the R5, but it sadly hasn't. That's a shame, as we reckon it's a brilliant bit of innovation from Canon. Otherwise, the EOS R5 has a pretty deep grip, which will be useful when using it with longer lenses like the incoming Canon RF 100-500mm, and the same top-plate controls as the EOS R with a model dial and secondary display for quickly checking your settings. In short, the EOS R5 is very much a mirrorless version of Canon's 5-series DSLRs. We don't yet know how hi-res its viewfinder will be, but you can read more about its design features in our first look below.
Canon EOS R5: sensor and processorCanon has kept the sensor resolution of the EOS R5 a closely guarded secret but rumors do suggest it will be 45MP. All we know for sure, though, is that Canon is going to use a "newly designed CMOS sensor" in the new shooter. We also know for sure that the camera is capable of 8K video capture (more on that later), meaning the camera would require a sensor with 7680 x 5120 pixels. That puts the sensor's resolution in the 40MP ballpark. We'll have to wait and see, though. Canon has confirmed that the upcoming camera will be capable of shooting stills at 12fps bursts when using the mechanical shutter, while matching the EOS 1D X Mark III's 20fps continuous shooting speed when using the silent shutter or shooting in Live View. That's a pretty speedy camera, making it faster than the Sony Alpha A7R IV's 10fps burst speed and the Nikon Z7's 9fps, and quick enough to be used for sports and wildlife photography. We're expecting the EOS R5 to make use of the new Digic X processor that debuted in the pro sports DSLR recently. This hasn't been officially confirmed by Canon, but given the EOS R5 offers Dual PIxel AF in all video modes and at all resolutions, it will likely need the impressive power that the Digic X offers.
Canon EOS R5: video specsThis is the headline act: Canon has confirmed that the EOS R5 will be able to capture 8K video using the full width of its sensor. This is the first time such high resolution recording ability has made its way to a consumer-level snapper (matching the newly-announced Samsung Galaxy S20's video prowess), while it's already available on some of Canon's premium cine cameras. According to Canon, having the ability to shoot in 8K will allow users to extract oversampled 4K video and pull "high-resolution still images from video footage". That's not the whole video story, either. Some new announcements at its Virtual Press Conference in April revealed that the EOS R5 will also be able to shoot 4K at 120fps, for those looking to shoot professional slow-mo footage, and both 8K and 4K in 4:2:2 10-bit using Canon Log (H.265) or HDR PQ. The ability to shoot 10-bit internally is a real boon for colorists, as it gives you more color data and depth to work with in post-production. Even better, Canon announced that Dual Pixel AF will be available in all video modes, at all resolutions and frame rates. While many professionals will prefer the extra control of manual focusing, this is still an impressive boon, particularly for stills photographers who fancy using the EOS R5 to dabble in high-quality video shooting. The adoption of 8K video capture, which you can also shoot in uncropped Raw at 30fps, indicates a sea change happening at Canon. It was one of the last camera makers to make 4K recording the norm in its consumer-level shooters, but now it's the first one to adopt super-high resolutions for movies. The processing power that will be required to record 8K movies would generate a huge amount heat though, and it's as yet unclear how the R5 will handle this. From what we've seen so far, there doesn't appear to be a heatsink built in, like the one on the Panasonic Lumix S1H.
Canon EOS R5: image stabilizationCanon has, historically, shied away from adding in-body image stabilization (IBIS) to its cameras, relying on lenses that have in-built stability. Which makes the R5 unique is that it will come equipped with IBIS that "will work in combination with the lens stabilization system" when using glass that comes with built-in stability. Canon Rumors reported in January that the R5's IBIS would lend 5 stops of stability on its own, but would get bumped to "7-8 stops of correction when used with in-lens stabilization". If true, that would make handheld shooting with the R5 a dream and we can't wait to try it out for ourselves. Canon EOS R5: connectivityWith both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth available in pretty much every modern camera, the R5 will definitely have both on board, with rumors suggesting the snapper will support 5GHz Wi-Fi for faster transfer speeds. We’re unsure whether the R5 will support just 5GHz wireless or whether, like the Sony Alpha A9 II, it will support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz – having both might appeal to the pros still hanging on to older gear. While we don't even know if Canon will employ the latest Bluetooth 5.1 standard for wireless connectivity, the company has announced that users will be able to upload images in original resolution and quality directly to Canon's new Image.Canon cloud platform that will be available starting April 2020. The EOS R5 will also feature dual card slots. Canon has announced that one of these will be CFexpress, while the other will be SD UHS-II. This differs from the 1DX Mark III, which offers dual CFexpress slots, but means you get the option of the lightning fast data transfer speeds, but aren't forced to exclusively use those very pricey cards for less demanding shooting. Canon EOS R5 first look: why it could be the supercar of mirrorless camerasThe EOS R5 isn’t just the most powerful full-frame mirrorless camera we’ve seen from Canon – it’s one of the most capable we’ve seen, full stop. It has in-body image stabilization (IBIS), shoots 8K video with no crop, and rattles off photos at 20fps in burst mode. For everyone from wildlife shooters to wedding photographers, it could be the photographic supercar they’ve been waiting for. While we haven't yet seen a working Canon EOS R5 in action, we were able to see one in the flesh at Canon's UK head office. This helped us tease out a few extra details for this first look with a camera that promises to upgrade Canon from mirrorless also-ran to genuine trailblazer… Golden childAs you’d expect, there are a lot of physical similarities between the Canon EOS R5 and the company’s original full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R. The button layout on the top plate is identical, including a top-plate LCD screen that we enjoyed on the EOS R. And while the body is certainly thicker, it’s not as big a difference as you might imagine, considering the EOS R5 also has in-body image stabilization (IBIS). It’s the rear of the R5, though, that reveals that this is a Canon 5-series camera. Canon’s 5D DSLRs evolved into popular all-rounders, without forgetting their core fanbase – and the EOS R5 has a comfortably familiar array of rear controls.
These include a dedicated ‘rate’ button (for picking out images as ‘keepers’ while you’re still out on shoot), a similar control wheel to the one found on the 5D Mark IV and, most interestingly, an AF joystick. This replaces the EOS R’s controversial M-Fn (multi-function) touchbar, which received something of a mixed response. In other ways, the EOS R5 appears to be a blend of the best bits from a 5D Mark IV and the EOS R. Unlike the latter, you get dual card slots (although we’re not yet sure what type), while a boost over the 5D Mark IV is the inclusion of a vari-angle touchscreen. This is, then, very much a mirrorless interpretation of Canon’s DSLR cameras, with some comfortably familiar controls mixed with modern features and, no doubt, a very high-resolution EVF. In fact, it could well be the best of both worlds. New Canon tricksWe haven't yet seen a working Canon EOS R5 in action, so it's difficult to make too many conclusions about its performance. But Canon has recently started talking about its features in a little more detail. One of the main ones is video. Canon's 5-series – most notably, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II – did a lot to push video forward on DSLRs, but on the flipside the company also garnered a reputation for placing frustrating limitations on the video functionality of its mirrorless cameras. So much so, this practice has become known as Canon's 'cripple hammer'. This time, Canon has made an almost indignant defense of the EOS R5's 8K video powers. A recent Canon press release said it was "shutting down speculation" that some specs are supposedly impossible, by confirming that the EOS R5 will be able to shoot 8K/30p video using the full width of the sensor (in other words, with no crop), with Dual Pixel AF in all modes. Even if some details still aren't known – such as if the Animal Eye AF will also be available in video as well as stills – this is hugely impressive and makes the EOS R5 a genuinely exciting prospect for both videographers and stills photographers. With professional snappers increasingly expected to be able to offer both high-quality stills and video, this makes a lot of sense. Talking of stills, the EOS R5 is capable of burst shooting at 12fps with the mechanical shutter or at 20fps when using the electronic shutter in Live View. The latter matches the shooting power of the far bigger Canon 1DX Mark III, marking the EOS R5 out as a genuine option for sports shooters too, assuming the autofocus can keep up. On that front, Canon is promising a new Animal Eye AF mode that can apparently recognize dogs, cats and birds (which is a rather large category) by their eyes, faces and body shapes. This sounds suspiciously like it's built on the Deep Learning AF tech that was introduced on the 1DX Mark III, but Canon couldn't confirm this yet.
The missing piecesThere's still a lot we don't know about the Canon EOS R5, including its sensor's resolution, the extent of its weather-sealing, and its price tag. And yet it's hard to escape the admittedly premature conclusion 'they've finally done it'. With an expected price tag of around $3,500 / £3,500 / AU$4,500, the EOS R5 is by no means a mainstream camera. It will be for professional photographers of all stripes, or well-heeled amateurs who want the latest tech. But what's more exciting is what this camera represents, which is Canon finally coming out of its shell to become the life and soul of the mirrorless party, thanks to its quickly maturing RF system. That system already has ten lenses, including the 'Holy Trinity' triumvirate of f/2.8 zooms (the RF 15-35mm f/2.8, RF 24-70mm f/2.8 and RF 70-200mm f/2.8), which have the tagline "every professional assignment covered". The EOS R5 is exactly the kind of camera they were built for – we look forward to taking them for a spin together soon. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New Canon EOS R5 video specs confirm it’ll be a game-changer – here’s why Posted: 20 Apr 2020 10:00 AM PDT The Canon EOS R5 has given video directors and YouTubers a welcome boost by teasing a few more of its official specs – and the new announcements confirm that the R5 will break new ground for mirrorless cameras. Last month, Canon batted away suggestions that the EOS R5's video powers would be compromised in a similar way to previous models like the EOS R, by confirming that it will shoot 8K video internally at 30fps using the full width of its sensor. And now Canon has followed that up with some even bigger video spec announcements. One of the most interesting is that the EOS R5 will be able to shoot 4K video at up to 120fps, making it a potentially great option for shooting high-quality slo-mo footage. That mode has only previously been available on professional Cinema EOS cameras like the C200. Even better, Canon has confirmed that when shooting video on the EOS R5 "Dual Pixel AF is available in all video modes at all resolutions and frame rates". That's pretty incredible, given the Canon 1DX Mark III can't even manage that – that pro DSLR doesn't offer Dual Pixel AF when shooting in either Raw or 60p modes.
What else is new?Another bit of interesting news is the confirmation of the Canon EOS R5 video codecs. When shooting uncropped 8K and 4K, it'll shoot 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265). As we knew from a previous announcement, you'll also be able to shoot 8K Raw video internally at up to 29.97fps. There's no official news on 8-bit options for smaller file sizes, but the confirmed 10-bit recording and those codecs is welcome news for pros who fancy using the EOS R5 as a second camera alongside their main Cinema workhorse. Shooting in 10-bit 4:2:2, an option that first arrived on mirrorless cameras with the Panasonic GH5, provides more color data and depth for colorists to work with in post-production, compared to alternatives like 8-bit 4:2:0. Canon says this means the EOS R5 will be "an ideal support filming camera" that will "shoot comfortably on high-end production sets", and from the specs released so far it's hard to disagree. That said, there are still many details we don't know about, including recording limits and how exactly the EOS R5 will avoid heating issues, given it has a much smaller body than Cinema EOS cameras.
One final bit of news from concerns the EOS R5's dual cards slots – Canon has confirmed that one of these will be a CFexpress slot, with the other being SD UHS-II. Unlike the 1DX Mark III, which has dual CFexpress slots, this shows the EOS R5 has one eye on attracting semi-pros and well-heeled amateurs too. CFexpress cards offer incredible data transfer rates that are ideal for shooting 8K video and rapid-fire stills, but are significantly pricier than the more common SD alternatives. Presumably Canon feels this will help the broaden the EOS R5's appeal beyond the professional world. Why the Canon EOS R5 is a big dealSo what do these announcements all mean for the Canon EOS R5 and cameras in general? The EOS R5 certainly won't be the first small, mirrorless camera to be used by professional directors and filmmakers – the Panasonic GH5 has been a favorite of aspiring Werner Herzogs for a while now, and brought features like internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording to wider audience back in 2017. But from the specs so far, the EOS R5 is going to raise that video bar for mirrorless cameras again. For a start it's a full-frame camera, so has a far bigger sensor than the Micro Four Thirds GH5. Despite that large sensor, it promises features like uncropped 8K, the ability to shoot 4K at 120fps and, perhaps best of all, Dual Pixel autofocus in every video mode. All of this from a body that's similar in size to the Canon EOS R and has five-axis IBIS (in-body image stabilization).
On paper, it's hugely impressive stuff and promises to fix all of the strange video limitations we've seen on recent Canon cameras like the EOS R. Features that have previously been reserved for Cinema EOS cameras are getting shoehorned into a run-and-gun, mirrorless body. And while the EOS R5 isn't going to be cheap – rumors suggest it will cost in the region of $3,500 / £3,500 / AU$4,500 – it does promise more powerful features than any other camera in its weight category. Unless the Sony A7S III arrives soon to steal its thunder. Naturally, this all comes with the caveat that there are still many unknowns about the EOS R5. For example, we don't yet know anything about video recording limits, or how it will handle heat. And until we've been able to take one for a spin, we also won't know how well it handles potential issues like rolling shutter, which was a problem on the Canon EOS RP. But from the confirmed specs so far, the Canon EOS R5 is undoubtedly the most exciting camera of the year, whether you're a stills shooter or filmmaker. We'll bring you more official news as get it.
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