Apple : How to watch BGT 2020: live stream Britain's Got Talent online anywhere free |
- How to watch BGT 2020: live stream Britain's Got Talent online anywhere free
- Save up to $100 with weekend Bose headphone and speaker deals at Best Buy
- 10 cancelled Netflix TV shows that are worth binge watching
- Cheap laptop deals available for up to $300 off at HP this weekend
- Best large format displays of 2020: top large screens for your business
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite vs iPad 10.2: which is the best cheap tablet?
- Verizon's iPhone SE pre-order deal gets you a rare price cut on Apple AirPods
- Nintendo may be working on a dual-screen Switch – here's why that's a great idea
- Sony patents a cute robot for keeping you company while gaming
- PS5 vs Xbox Series X: what have we learned about the key differences?
- The XPS 13 laptop gets a massive $527 price cut at Dell
- The world is ready for an Xbox Series X All-Digital edition
- Best recipe apps: the 7 finest apps for cooking inspiration
- How to stay fit and healthy during a lockdown – and have fun doing it
- How to watch The Last Dance: stream the Michael Jordan documentary online anywhere
- Best audio PC in 2020: Digital Audio Workstations and audiophile machines
- Leaked Google Card could give you another way to Google Pay
- 6 new TV shows and movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu this weekend
- Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite: is bigger really better?
| How to watch BGT 2020: live stream Britain's Got Talent online anywhere free Posted: 18 Apr 2020 10:02 AM PDT Fancy a slice of light weekend entertainment? Then ITV has you covered as the 14th series of Britain's Got Talent is now underway! Read on to find out how to watch this week's BGT auditions and stream Britain's Got Talent 2020 live from the UK - and nearly anywhere else in the world. Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden are all set to return to the judges' desk, while Ant and Dec will be back as hosts for the auditions. While the competition's early stages were all completed before the coronavirus lockdown and will air as normal, this year's live shows have been postponed by ITV - potentially as far back as the winter - due to the Covid-19 pandemic A promo clip released ahead of the new series revealed a string of hopefiuls set to appear on the show, including a daredevil motorbike riders, dancing gymnasts and a Donald Trump lookalike in pink tights. Last year's winner was 90-year-old singing sensation Colin Thackery who has gone on to release his own album and performed on The Royal Variety Show in front of members of the Royal Family. Which would-be stars will be plucked from obscurity this time round? Find out by following our guide below to stream Britain's Got Talent 2020 live online – no matter where in the world you are, we'll show how to watch BGT from anywhere and on nearly any device.
How to watch BGT live: stream Britain's Got Talent 2020 for free in the UKAs ever, Britain's Got Talent will be shown in the UK on ITV1. That means you'll be able to watch the show live via your TV aerial connection or online using the ITV Hub website. The ITV Hub app is also available for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets and will also let you watch ITV content on the go, including Britain's Got Talent 2020. And if you ever miss a few episodes, don't panic as all previous instalments will be available on catch up via the service. Viewers with a recent smart TV should also be able to find a dedicated ITV Hub option within its apps. The service is free to use - however, you will need to register with ITV before being accessing show and hold a valid TV license. Alternatively, there's also online streaming TV service TVPlayer.com, which has all of the UK's freeview channels including ITV in one place. This means you can catch the show on TV, computer, tablet and smartphone for free if you're in the UK - or subscribe to TVPlayer Plus if you want to record it and watch later. How to watch Britain's Got Talent live anywhere in the worldFor those outside of the UK that don't want to miss a second of the Britain's Got Talent auditions, your best bet is a VPN. This means that if you've mismatched a holiday or you're temporarily out of the country on worj, don't panic - you can still get your BGT fix, you just need an internet connection. Yeah, we know - a trip to Bognor sounds positively exotic right now, but normality will one day resume and who knows? You may be one of the hundreds of thousands of Brits currently stranded abroad. Once you get the right VPN you can enjoy a secure and speedy connection, even on open Wi-Fi networks like hotels, enabling you to tune in and watch BGT online for free just like you would at home. Even if you're not that tech-savvy, don't worry - getting a VPN is super simple and we've outlined how to do it in three easy steps below.
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| Save up to $100 with weekend Bose headphone and speaker deals at Best Buy Posted: 18 Apr 2020 09:50 AM PDT Bose deals are rife at Best Buy this weekend, and you can pick up some Bose speakers or headphones for up to $100 off right now. That means excellent savings on some industry-leading audio, with powerful smart features baked in and top of the class connectivity. We're looking to the Bose SoundTouch 10 (now down to just $149.99) for the cheapest of this weekend's offerings, but you can double down on that power with a $100 discount on the fantastic Bose Home Speaker 500 right now as well. Those are some standout Bose speaker deals to get dancing to, even if you're at home... alone... in your PJs. Or, if you want to keep your tunes all to yourself - and make sure nothing else gets in - you'll find some of the best noise-canceling headphones Bose has ever made on sale now. These Bose headphone deals are both $50 off, bringing two top-notch sets of cans down a peg in pricing. We're talking about the Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones, now available for $299.99, or if we're really talking we'd point you towards the Bose 700's, down to $349.99. We're running through these Bose deals in full below, but if you're not in the US, you can also find all the latest Bose speaker and headphone sales further down the page.
Bose speaker deals
Bose headphone deals
The latest Bose dealsLooking for more ear candy? You'll find all the best Bose speaker sales right here on TechRadar. We're also taking a trip through all the latest Amazon Echo deals if you're set on audio with smarts as well, or the best noise cancelling headphone deals if you're listening to something particularly embarrassing. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 10 cancelled Netflix TV shows that are worth binge watching Posted: 18 Apr 2020 09:00 AM PDT The worst thing about falling in love with a TV show is that it might be cancelled before its story is finished. Not even Netflix, with its massive production budgets and ad-free streaming model, is immune to the need to wield the axe on a beloved series before its time. While some series’ demises are made inevitable by poor viewing figures or a critical panning – no content provider can expect to hit the mark all the time – Netflix has been known to cancel shows seemingly in their prime. In fact, these days having the plug pulled by the streaming giant isn’t necessarily an indicator of failure – especially when a show gets past the three-season mark, and the production costs start to spiral upwards. Here’s a list of 10 of the best shows cancelled by Netflix – and with Jessica Jones, BoJack Horseman and Santa Clarita Diet among them, they're in excellent company. House of Cards (2013-2018)
(Image credit: Netflix) Going into House of Cards, Netflix pretty much knew their first original drama was set to be a hit – their vast bank of subscriber data had already told them that viewers liked movies directed by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey. And in its early days this US remake of a brilliant BBC mini-series was tense, gripping stuff, as morally flexible politician Frank Underwood shamelessly maneuvered himself to the top of the Washington tree. The show had started to lose its way long before Spacey’s much-publicized fall from grace prompted Netflix to decree that the sixth season would be the last. By then, however, House of Cards had already confirmed Netflix’s arrival as a major force in Hollywood. Orange is the New Black (2013-2019)
(Image credit: Netflix) While it’s not quite Supernatural or Grey’s Anatomy territory, seven seasons is such a good innings that the end of Orange is the New Black didn’t really feel like a cancellation – even creator Jenji Kohan had admitted she was “leaning towards” wrapping things up around then. Netflix pulling the plug on its hit prison drama was still symbolic, however. Over its impressive run, the show had become so much part of the televisual furniture that we’d almost come to take it for granted, forgetting how groundbreaking this female-led drama was back in 2013. Arguably paving the way for the likes of Killing Eve and GLOW, while showcasing the talents of future stars such as Laverne Cox, Ruby Rose and Samira Wiley, OITNB remains one of the most important shows in Netflix’s history. BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
(Image credit: Netflix) By the time BoJack Horseman galloped onto Netflix in 2014, we already knew there was a big market for satirical, adult-oriented animation – Family Guy, Futurama and South Park had made sure of that. But even they couldn’t prepare us for Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s thoroughbred of a series, one of TV’s most heartfelt and painful explorations of the human condition – despite the fact the lead character is a horse. You’re never given any reason to question why humans and anthropomorphized animals live together in this alternative Hollywood, as washed-up, self-destructive former sitcom star BoJack struggles to find his place in the world. Netflix ultimately decided the show’s sixth season would be its last – but not before giving Bob-Waksberg the chance to end the story on his own terms. Sense8 (2015-2018)
(Image credit: Netflix) You could never accuse Sense8 of a lack of ambition. A collaboration between the Wachowskis, the brains behind The Matrix, and Babylon 5 creator J Michael Straczynski, the series gradually pulls together eight seemingly random people from around the world, who all turn out to share a powerful psychic bond. With an impressive cast, globe-spanning storyline, and levels of LGBTQ representation that rightly won plenty of praise, Sense8 picked up an incredibly passionate audience over its short run. Indeed, the fans even helped save the show when it was cancelled shortly after its second season aired – their campaign helped persuade Netflix to grant closure in the form of a feature-length finale. Jessica Jones (2015-2019)
(Image credit: Netflix) Maybe it’s best to think of Netflix’s street-level, New York-based take on the MCU as a single 13-season story arc. After all, the events of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher and Avengers-style team-up The Defenders are so intertwined that you can’t really appreciate one without the others. Jessica Jones just edges Daredevil as the standout – Iron Fist is the only turkey – with Krysten Ritter’s turn as the cynical, super-strong PI making her the most human of the bunch. All the heroes ultimately met their match when Netflix wielded the axe on this particular branch of the Marvel universe across late-2018 and early-2019 – but Jessica Jones remains one of the best superhero TV shows ever made. Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)
(Image credit: Netflix) Everything about this macabre horror comedy is unconventional. Despite having the trappings of a suburban family drama, its central character (a real estate agent played by Drew Barrymore) becomes undead, and develops a taste for human flesh. Yet it’s not a traditional zombie drama either, because she remains self-aware, and still has to negotiate the challenges of 21st century family life. It’s a mash-up that showrunner/creator Victor Fresco exploits for maximum comedy value, making the most of the chemistry between Barrymore and screen husband Timothy Olyphant as they try to work out what the hell is going on. Sadly, a brilliant third season wasn’t enough to save it from the chop. The OA (2016-2019)
(Image credit: Netflix) Back in 2017, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings made the surprising statement that, “Our hit ratio is too high right now. I’m almost pushing the content team, ‘We have to take more risk, you have to try more crazy things,’ because we should have a higher cancel rate overall.” His commissioners were obviously taking note, because few other TV platforms would have taken a chance on a show as ambitious, weird and opinion-splitting as The OA. Telling the story of a mysterious young woman (played by co-creator Brit Marling) who dubs herself the “Original Angel”, the show’s two seasons were possibly too inaccessible to ever pick up a mass audience. Sadly, that meant Netflix pulled the plug after two seasons, leaving the show’s proposed five-year story arc frustratingly unresolved. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (2017-2018)
(Image credit: Netflix) That the ’80s/’90s cult classic made a comeback at all is so remarkable that nobody should be too upset that it only lasted two seasons in its Netflix incarnation. The reboot was itself the result of a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, so while fans were clearly out there, there weren’t quite enough of them to guarantee the show’s long-term future on Netflix. The original premise – on the Earth-orbiting Satellite of Love, mad scientists force a human and his lo-fi robot companions to watch B-movies – remains intact, with a new cast including Jonah Ray, Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt. This cancellation doesn’t necessarily mean the end of MST3K, either – another comeback elsewhere is not beyond the realms of possibility. Mindhunter (2017-2019)
(Image credit: Netflix) While Mindhunter hasn’t technically been axed – executive producer David Fincher still has the option of making a third season, and it's apparently on "indefinite hold" – but the fact that the cast have been released from their contracts suggests it's possible we've seen last of this excellent crime drama. That would be a shame, because the ’70s/’80s-set story of a pair of FBI agents studying incarcerated serial killers to help solve current cases is a brilliantly made period piece. So far so Silence of the Lambs, but the drama is given extra edge by the fact cases are inspired by real-life, with the series based on a book co-written by former Fed John E Douglas. Yes, Mindhunter tends to favour talky scenes over firefights and action, but who’s going to complain when the stories are this good? She’s Gotta Have It (2017-2019)
(Image credit: Netflix) One of the best things about living in this so-called golden age of television is the fact that the best movie directors around have made the move to the small screen. Spike Lee joined the likes of David Fincher and the Wachowskis with this TV update of his 1986 breakout She’s Gotta Have It, helming every single episode of its brief two-season run. Nola Darling (played by DeWanda Wise) is a genuinely groundbreaking lead for a TV show, a polyamorous Brooklyn-based artist juggling several relationships and jobs. As you’d expect from Lee, the show has plenty to say about the world – not least because the characters have a habit of making asides to the camera – but it’s also funny, touching and powerful when it needs to be.
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| Cheap laptop deals available for up to $300 off at HP this weekend Posted: 18 Apr 2020 08:22 AM PDT Cheap laptop deals are offering some stunning HP laptop configurations for some equally spectacular prices. You'll find super charged machines sporting the latest 10th Gen i7 processors, lightning-fast SSDs, and bags of RAM for less this weekend, making it the perfect time to snag a steal. We're seeing everything from cheap and cheerful HP laptops starting at just $329.99 all the way through to the hugely popular HP Envy, now available in some mind-blowing configurations from $849.99. In the middle, you'll easily find a cheap laptop offering top-quality power for $500 - $700, like this HP Pavilion with 16GB RAM and a 256GB SSD on sale for $579.99 right now. You can save up to $300 with these cheap laptop deals from HP this week, and with so much on offer you're sure to find the perfect machine for whatever you need to get done. We're tracking all the latest HP laptop deals in the US, UK, and Australia further down this page - or head over to the best cheap laptop deals we've found this week for the full run down. Today's best laptop deals at HP
More HP Pavilion and HP Envy laptop dealsNot set on HP? Check out all the latest cheap laptop sales we've found from all your favorite retailers this week. Or, if you're looking for something ready to run Crysis, check out the best gaming laptop deals of the last few days. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best large format displays of 2020: top large screens for your business Posted: 18 Apr 2020 08:12 AM PDT The best large format displays (LFDs) are ideal for businesses. These large screens can be used to display adverts or information, and can make any shop, office or business place feel modern and vibrant. Large format displays aren't just giant monitors. They range in size from 32-inches to over 100-inches, and they often have super-thin bezels. Not only does this mean that single LFDs can display videos and still footage without any distracting surrounds, it also means they can be linked together to create an (almost) seamless giant display. Buying the best large format display for your business can be a tricky process, so let us show you the top LFDs on sale in 2020. Sure, most of the best large format displays aren't cheap, but they offer a premium experience that brings out the best of content thanks to dazzling panels, a wide range of connectivity options and useful integrated online services. We picked out the best large format displays for companies that won’t want to compromise, and for those that do, we’ve also thrown in a few budget or two.
Best large format displays - at a glance
Spanning 85 inches, this mammoth large format display is pretty while also costing a pretty penny. It justifies its premium price tag as it uses the latest 8K screen tech, which flaunts four times the number of pixels as 4K and 16 times that of a regular 1080p TV. This stunning display is optimized for professional display applications and uses Sony is X1 Altimus image processor combined with 8K X-Reality PRO to display high-contrast HDR images packed with detail, rich color and exceptional contrast. It runs Android 8.0, so you can display content from other devices using its inbuilt IPTV service or integrated Chromecast capabilities.
Boasting a giant 98-inch display, this model opt for a more sensible 4K resolution, rather than 8K, which lends it a greater degree of compatibility with content that’s out in the wild. Designed for use in control rooms or large training rooms where ultra-high definition is required, it is also compatible with a range of NEC solutions. They include the company’s NEC MultiPresenter Stick, its wireless presentation solution for NEC Displays, and it also supports multiple simultaneous connections on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
If you are looking for a large format display that doubles down on image quality, this sizeable screen sports high color gamut coverage which makes it ideal for streaming video services. The secret sauce here is its high dynamic range (or HDR), which expands the contrast ratio and color pallet to display a more realistic and natural image. With a maximum brightness of 400 nits, it’s not going to blow you away, but it’s more than adequate for showing content in anything but the brightest of rooms.
LG has been making top-tier displays for years, many of which have appeared on smartphones and, more recently, virtual reality headsets. This 84-inch 4K large format carries over that quality to deliver high-contrast, true-to-life images. The display totes high-color-gamut coverage, which combined with HDR is ideal for streaming a range of video services. The 84WS70B also packs impressive sound which can be fine-tuned for the environment, allowing you to choose from Standard, Music, Cinema, Sports and Games modes. There aren't many large format displays that have multitouch, which makes the NEC MultiSync E905 SST an interesting option. It's hardly a small screen at 90-inches across the diagonal, but it can be interacted with up to 6 simultaneous touch points thanks to NEC’s ShadowSense technology. An advanced optical position sensing technology, it uses high-performance sensors to provide high performance, stability, and accuracy. The display also sports an anti-reflective coating to reduce reflections to a minimum, which makes content displayed on it easier to read. Samsung’s QM85D is a large format display that sports an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, which makes movements across the display - whether that’s dragging windows and other content or watching a video - appear much smoother while reducing stutter. This model also packs UHD upscaling, which is useful for displaying full HD content in 4K. Another handy feature is the QM85D’s ability to divide the entire screen into four quadrants using PIP (Picture-in-Picture) mode, allowing you to share content from up to four different devices. This ProLite model is a large format display with a sharp 4K resolution. It features a slim design with hardly any noticeable bezel, which allows content on its IPS LED panel to shine when combined with its exceptional colors and image performance. Plus, it comes with iiyama’s iiSignage content creation and management software, which is a boon for businesses who want to get their messages across to clients. Its built-in expansion slot supports the Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) standard, which simplifies the installation of a plug-in PC for digital signage applications.
A far more affordable large format displayed than others on our list, this BenQ model is much smaller at 43 inches while still packing an ultra-sharp 4K display. A well-rounded package suitable for small business and corporate settings, it combines a number of features including 4K resolution for enhanced engagement, an eye-catching slim design, and BenQ’s X-Sign software that makes content creation and management a cinch. Our favorite feature, however, is this display’s integration with video conferencing software Zoom, which lets you instantly chat to teams and clients without requiring computing hardware. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite vs iPad 10.2: which is the best cheap tablet? Posted: 18 Apr 2020 08:00 AM PDT While Samsung and Apple seem locked in head-to-head combat over the high-end tablet range, with the former's Galaxy Tab S6 and the latter's iPad Pro 2020 close competitors, Samsung's Galaxy Tab A devices haven't really challenged the base-line iPads much. Likely looking to fix that, Samsung put out the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, a more affordable version of the non-Lite device with specs, and a low price tag, that make it a direct competitor to the iPad 10.2 from 2019.
The iPad 10.2 is a member of Apple's (relatively) low-end line of tablets below the iPad Air, Mini or Pro, aimed for people who want a new tablet for general tasks without breaking the bank. That's also what the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is trying to do. So which of these cheap tablets is best for you? We'll run you through the various specs and features of both so you can make up your mind. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite vs iPad 10.2 price and availability
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite If you want to spend the least amount possible on one of these tablets, the iPad 10.2 costs $329 / £349 / AU$529 for its 32GB option. That's not much storage though, and you can get 128GB for $429 / £449 / AU$689. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite costs a touch more for most at $349 / £349 (roughly AU$690) but that's actually for 64GB, so you get a bit more storage for your money. There's also an LTE version in some regions, available for £399 (roughly $410, AU$790). One important thing to mention is that while the Samsung tablet comes with an S Pen stylus for note-taking, doodling and drawing, the iPad 10.2 requires you to buy the Apple Pencil separately for $99 / £89 / AU$145. So it seems you might be paying a little more for the iPad 10.2, especially if you want to make the most of all its features, but given high prices are a characteristic trait of Apple devices, it's almost surprising that the cost difference isn't bigger. Design and displayThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has dimensions of 244.5 x 154.3 x 7mm, whereas the iPad 10.2 is 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5mm, so they're not hugely different. Similarly, their weights, at 467g and 483g respectively, aren't noticeably different either (not many people would be able to feel a 16g difference). You won't feel many differences in build material, as both have glass fronts and aluminium sides and back. That doesn't mean the devices necessarily look alike though, as the iPad 10.2 has thicker bezels and a physical home button, unlike the Galaxy Tab. In addition, the iPad's back feels a little more rounded in the hand.
The iPad 10.2 On the back both tablets have their single rear camera to the top left (if you're holding it portrait), and unlike many smartphones nowadays both tablets have a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite comes with a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, but the iPad 10.2 uses Apple's proprietary Lighting cable. In terms of screens, you're getting a 10.2-inch panel in the iPad 10.2 (hence the name) but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a 10.4-inch screen, so it's a touch bigger. The panel of the latter is slightly longer too, with a 5:3 aspect ratio instead of the 4:3 of the iPad. The iPad's screen is a touch more high-resolution at 1620 x 2160, better than the Samsung tablet's 1200 x 2000. It's rare for Samsung to lose in a screen head-to-head, but this could be a sacrifice that had to be made to keep the price low. Camera and battery lifeCameras often aren't very impressive in tablets, because you're not going to be using your device for portable photography due to its size, but there are various uses you might find for a slate snapper. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and iPad 10.2 both have 8MP rear cameras, and due to an also-identical micron size we're inclined to say they'll offer a similar experience. We've yet to use Samsung's device, so we can't know that for certain. On the front of the Samsung slate is a 5MP sensor, while there's only a 1.2MP one on the iPad, so videos you shoot of yourself on the Galaxy Tab will be higher resolution.
In terms of battery size, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a 7,040mAh power back while the iPad 10.2 has a 8,827mAh equivalent. Due to the latter's smaller screen size and bigger battery capacity we'd expect it lasts a little bit longer before needing a charge. We don't actually know the iPad 10.2's charging speed; it comes with a 12W charger but found other chargers with higher wattage powered it up quicker. In comparison the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has 15W fast charging. The Samsung slate will be quicker for most people, but if you've got tech from a recent iPhone you might be able to get better speeds from the iPad. Features and specsA feature that's important to some people is unlocking, and while the iPad 10.2 has Touch ID letting you use your fingerprint to unlock the device, you have to rely on password or pin protection for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. That's far less convenient for people who want to quickly access their device. The iPad 10.2 has Apple's A10 Fusion chipset which isn't the most up-to-date from the company but it's still a powerful processor, comparable to top-end smartphones from a few years ago. That's paired with 3GB RAM. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite on the other hand comes with the Exynos 9611 processor which, as with Apple's A10, is a decent processor. We've typically found Apple's chipsets provide quicker processing speeds than Samsung's Exynos ones. However, the 4GB RAM is a touch better than the iPad's.
Looking at software, the iPad 10.2 has iPadOS, a fork of iOS 13 with a few tweaks to make it better optimized for tablets. Some of these tweaks, however, seem designed to make the tablet function as a psuedo-laptop, which some users may not find useful. On the other hand the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has Android 10 with Samsung's One UI laid over the top - Android has yet to prove itself as a decent operating system for tablets, and One UI can be quite divisive due to its looks, but people who use Samsung phones will be used to it. Some tech users love Android devices, others iOS and its ecosystem, and this alone might be enough to sway some people who are loyal fans. TakeawayChoosing between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite or iPad 10.2 may just be as easy as looking at the phone you're using. If it's an iPhone or Android device, you've already probably made up your mind to stick to the same ecosystem. There are probably only a select few people on the fence still. The iPad 10.2 has a more high-res screen and a better processor, so if these are important factors for you then it's worth looking to the iPad. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a higher resolution front-facing camera, a price that's cheaper when you factor in the S Pen, and more RAM. So depending on the reason you're looking for a new cheap tablet, check out which of the slates fits that function better, as it's likely that's the best device for you. Or, maybe wait until we've fully reviewed the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for our full verdict. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Verizon's iPhone SE pre-order deal gets you a rare price cut on Apple AirPods Posted: 18 Apr 2020 07:45 AM PDT Apple's latest phone, the iPhone SE, is now available to pre-order with an affordable starting price of just $399. Verizon's current iPhone SE deal waives its activation fee with your pre-order purchase and gives you a 10% discount on Apple's latest model AirPods. Starting now through April 23, Verizon is waiving its activation fee when you pre-order the iPhone SE online or from the My Verizon app. The carrier is also discounting the Apple Airpods with charging case, bringing the price down to $143.99. You'll see the offer applied once you add the earbuds to your cart.
Learn more about Apple's budget phone with all you need to know on the iPhone SE 2020 release date, price, specs and more. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Nintendo may be working on a dual-screen Switch – here's why that's a great idea Posted: 18 Apr 2020 07:30 AM PDT Rumors that a Nintendo Switch Pro is on the horizon have been floating around for a while now. Leaks suggest this new Nintendo Switch could boast upgraded hardware with improved graphics and processing power, providing a premium version of the console for avid gamers. Nintendo hasn't confirmed a Switch Pro is in the works, and the company has ruled out any hope of a new Switch console releasing in 2020. So, hungry for a morsel of information, dataminers have dug into the Nintendo Switch's new firmware, and it looks like there could in fact be more than one new Nintendo Switch console on the horizon, including one with a dual-screen. That's right, we could see a new Nintendo Switch with a dual-screen, much like the 3DS had. And, while this hasn't been confirmed by Nintendo, a dual-screen Switch would be the logical next-step for Nintendo and a brilliant one. Let me tell you why.
What the datamine actually uncovered
Now, lets get this out of the way first, Datamining isn't always reliable, and - in laymen terms - involves tech-savvy fans digging into software to find clues about what a company may have cooking. In this case, dataminers dug into the Nintendo Switch's firmware version 10.0.0 and posted their findings on Resetera. JershJopstin on Resetera found some titbits on a docked-only console (codenamed 'Calcio') and some sort of non-mobile device (codenamed 'Copper'). However, Twitter user @hexkyz also datamined the firmware and found that it adds preliminary support for a new hardware model called 'nx-abcd'. For reference, Nintendo allegedly gives all its consoles model names alongside codenames. So, for example, the Switch Lite was 'Hoag' or 'nx-abcc', while 'Copper' and 'Calcio' are 'nx-abcb'. Dataminers claim they can identify the form factors these names tend to take - well they think they have. The theory is that whatever the codename begins with translates to what type of hardware the device will be, with 'I' standing for integrated (hybrid), 'C' standing for console and 'H' for handheld. So the original Switch's codename is 'Icosa' while the refreshed Switch is 'Iowa'. With 'nx-abcd' being a new form factor, without a codename, it seems like no one is quite sure what type of hardware it could be quite yet. However the datamine did reveal that, whatever this new hardware is, it looks like it'll have a secondary display of sorts added exclusively to the model. Leading some to speculate that this new hardware may be a dual-screen Switch - and I hope that's the case. A true 3DS successor
The Nintendo Switch is great and all but, since it was released in September 2019, I've always preferred the Switch Lite. For one, I never dock a Switch and am drawn more to the Switch's portability than anything else - it's something I don't get with my PS4 or Xbox One. So when the Switch Lite came along, I was thrilled. Finally my small hands could actually hold a Switch comfortably, without elbowing others on public transport. The compact size is a feature I've always loved about handheld consoles - and typically a given - and, as innovative as the hybrid Switch is, it just wasn't small enough. But, the Switch Lite still only has one screen, and cramming everything onto its small screen can sometimes prove a bit of a pain. In games such as Breath of the Wild, I find myself squinting to see the map in the corner. I can't help but think it would be easier if the mini-map, menu and other cluttering features were perhaps out of the way - on another screen perhaps. The 3DS did this brilliantly through its dual-screen (even if the 3D nature of it was a bit rubbish), allowing you to focus on the game on one screen, while your map and inventory etc were on the other screen. It also allowed for a smaller device that small-handed folk like me could easily carry it around - it even fit in a pocket. Clam up
There's speculation that this rumored dual-screen Switch model may inherit the 3DS's clam-like design, allowing you to fold up the console easily and stow it away. It would make sense, keeping with Nintendo's history of these types of handheld consoles. And, regardless of whether the company actually made the Switch smaller, if this foldable dual-screen was implemented in the Switch Lite, it would essentially make the screen the console already has bigger - while likely only making the device slightly bulkier. However, I can't see how this would work with the original Switch. But, before I get carried away, it is worth noting a couple of things that somewhat burst this 3D successor bubble. For one, Nintendo hasn't confirmed any new Switch consoles are in the pipeline. Secondly, there's no evidence this dual-screen hardware will exist or that it's even a handheld console. But perhaps the biggest obstacle to a dual-screen, 3DS-like Switch is that it would be a major hardware revision. It would likely require developers to make a port for either the dual-screen version or the single-screen version, as making a game for both would probably be too labor intensive and the interface for both consoles would be very different. If Nintendo chose to make dual-screen exclusive versions of games, it would would splitting the Switch player base. So unfortunately the only realistic way a dual-screen Switch could be introduced is if the Switch is phased out and the dual-screen version acted as the true next-next-generation Switch, beyond even a Nintendo Switch Pro. And for that reason, unless the Switch is phased out and that's the true next-NEXT generation Switch, beyond a Pro, I can't see it happening... and it probably won't. The fact that the console codename doesn't fall into the form factor that other Switch devices have has lead some to speculate that the rumored new hardware is neither a handheld device or a console - maybe something else entirely like VR or AR. But I'm still holding out hope that I'll be able to comfortably fold up a new Nintendo Switch device and store it in my pocket - someday.
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| Sony patents a cute robot for keeping you company while gaming Posted: 18 Apr 2020 07:30 AM PDT Sony has form for cute little robot companions, and it looks as though the tech company could be working on another invention – specifically a gaming buddy robot that sits with you on the couch. That's as per a newly published patent spotted by IGN and available to view at the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). We wouldn't pay too much attention to the accompanying sketches though, which are no doubt just a guide. What we have here is a "feeling deduction unit" that will sense your feelings and react accordingly: cheering you on when you reach a new level, perhaps, and offering commiserations when you don't.
The thinking is that a joint gaming experience is more fun and more encouraging than a solo one, even when your partner is a robot made by Sony. This could even extend to watching movies as well as playing games, the patent says.
You and your gaming buddy. The filing explores the idea of tracking your heart rate and sweat rate to get an idea of how you're feeling. The robot will also be able to pick up on other prompts – such as how kindly you talk to it. As well as offering encouragement and companionship, the robot might also be able to play some games with you, and even push you to go to bed at a sensible hour. Overall wellbeing and health should be boosted as a result. The patent leaves open the idea that the buddy could be a "pet-type robot" or a virtual avatar that only exists in the games you play. It might even end up being both. As always with patents, this is only a guide to what Sony is exploring, rather than any actual confirmation of a real product – it's an intriguing idea, but don't expect gaming bot to be out in time for the PlayStation 5. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| PS5 vs Xbox Series X: what have we learned about the key differences? Posted: 18 Apr 2020 06:31 AM PDT There's a lot of information to digest when it comes to the PS5 vs Xbox Series X competition. And, with both next-gen consoles releasing at the tail-end of this year, there's going to be plenty more on the way in the coming months – but there's also a lot being dropped right now. Sony gave us a good look at the PS5 specs (though sadly not the console's design) in a live stream held by PS5 system architect Mark Cerny on March 18 – who had lots to say about the console's SSD drive and backwards compatibility, even if it seems like the Sony console won't have quite the power of the next-gen Xbox console. This was followed up in April with the reveal of the console's DualSense controller, which at least gives us some indication of what the console might look like. Microsoft has been very forthright with Xbox Series X information, revealing the next Xbox's design, name and some upcoming Series X games. We've also got the lowdown on a number of features such as Smart Delivery, which will let you play the "best possible version" of a game you've bought on the Xbox One, without having to purchase it again. Despite any differences in internal capabilities, their release dates are likely to be at the same time – in the same week, that is – so they'll be going directly head-to-head, most likely splitting gamers once again into camp 'Xbox' or 'PlayStation'. The upcoming console launches represent big stakes for both manufacturers, with Sony's lead in the current console war up for grabs as new high-powered hardware hits the market. But can the Xbox Series X take the crown, and what will the new consoles actually do differently from the older Xbox One and PS4? We've put together this Xbox Series X vs PS5 guide to put both next-gen consoles under the microscope, and gauge whether what we know about their pricing (definitely expensive), release date (late 2020), and hardware capabilities (lots) can tell us about the future of console gaming. Xbox Series X vs PS5: key facts
Image credit: Sony
Xbox Series X vs PS5: specs so farThough it was Sony to make the first move, giving the first concrete details about its PS5 back in April 2019, Microsoft’s E3 2019 showcase showed that both companies appear to be singing from the same hymn sheet with their new machines’ internal specs. The PlayStation 5 will run off a custom-built version of the third generation AMD Ryzen chipset, packing in 8 cores with the company's new Zen 2 architecture and Navi graphics. The CPU will run at 3.5GHz. The GPU offers 36 compute units running at 2.23GHz and offering 10.28TFLOPs. Those parts are paired with 16GB of GDDR6 with a bandwidth of 448GB/s. It’s a system that will be able to support ray tracing – a performance-intensive lighting technique that has previously been the reserve of expensive high-end PC GPUs, and which we now know will be "built into the GPU hardware" for the PS5. Sony has also talked of the console setting a new “gold standard” in immersive, 3D audio, particularly for those using a headset whilst playing. (Some leaked patents, too, show off some intense ventilation design for handling all that processing power.) We've learned that Sony is delivering this audio through the Tempest Engine, which can handle hundreds of sound sources, for a more realistic audio environment. The PS5 will also support screen resolutions of up to 8K – far higher than the standard 1080p HD of most people’s televisions, let alone that of the increasingly popular 4K. It’ll also work at 120Hz refresh rates, allowing for super-smooth movement in games. These are incredibly performance-intensive specs, so we wouldn’t expect a game to hit these standards regularly (not to mention requiring an expensive TV that will support them), but it’s good to see what Sony is aiming at. Perhaps the most interesting element of the Sony build is its commitment to using SSD storage. The solid state drive in the PlayStation 5 will again be a custom-built piece of hardware, offering up 825GB of storage with a raw 5.5GB/s throughput (and up to 9GB/s worth of compressed data). Sony has already been showing off its technical prowess with a demo of its existing Spider-Man PS4 game. On PS5 hardware, the game is able to race around an incredibly-detailed New York City at incredibly high speeds without any delay in geometry loading or texture streaming, something that would never be possible on PS4.
We've seen the reveal of the console's controller, too, which drops the DualShock name for DualSense. As you'd expect, the new name has been reflected in the controller's new design which is quite different from anything we've seen from PlayStation before. As far as technology is concerned, the DualSense controller will use haptic feedback, replacing the DualShock 4's rumble technology. Simulating touch, haptic feedback means the controller will output vibrations or movements to replicated a real-life touch experience thereby improving feedback and immersion. Haptic feedback simulates touch, meaning the controller will output vibrations or movements to replicate a real-life touch experience. This aims to improve the controller's feedback and therefore player's immersion. The PS5 controller will also feature adaptive triggers which Sony says have "been incorporated into the trigger buttons (L2/R2)". These adaptive triggers will allow developers to program the resistance of the triggers to simulate actions more accurately. It'll also still have a headphone jack and will include a built-in microphone which Sony says will make it possible for players to talk to their friends online more easily.
Although we haven't seen the PlayStation 5's design just yet, we think the DualSense could give us a pretty good idea. Generally, controllers are some reflection of their console so we're expecting the PS5 to be futuristic and sleek, perhaps even with that two-tone black and white design like the DualSense controller. The Xbox Series X, meanwhile, is looking incredibly impressive on paper. It too will use custom AMD internals using the same Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architecture of the PS5, making it 4x more powerful than the Xbox One X – this generation’s most technically-impressive gaming hardware. We now know that the Xbox Series X GPU boasts 12 teraflops of compute performance, with 3328 shaders allocated to 52 compute units. It will run at a locked 1,825MHz, and unlike most GPUs, won't fluctuate between speeds. Instead, it will deliver the same clock speed regardless of the temperature of the unit or the game you're playing. The processor is a customized AMD Zen 2 CPU, with eight cores and 16 threads. Interestingly, developers can choose to disable simultaneous multithreading (SMT) to reach a peak speed of 3.8GHz, or hit a base speed of 3.6Ghz when it's enabled. It will be able to run content (if not games) at an 8K resolution, and it will also support 120Hz refresh rates at 4K. The Xbox Series X will match the PS5 by offering DirectX ray-tracing capabilities, and it’ll have a super-fast internal NVMe SSD (which can be expanded with a propriety NVMe card), and can be utilised as virtual RAM to lift load times by up to 40x. Standard RAM will be of the GDDR6 variety, with the Xbox Series X including 16GB - a pleasing upgrade over the Xbox One X's 12GB GDDR5. These specs show a slight lead for the Xbox Series X over the PS5 in terms of raw performance, but we'll have to see how that translates to real-world performance in games. Microsoft hopes to make latency a thing of the past on Xbox Series X, with forward-thinking features such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), communication improvements to the Xbox controller, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support taking advantage of TVs with HDMI 2.1 support. The next Xbox will also be backwards compatible with the Xbox One’s supporting hardware accessories, meaning that you won’t have to rush out and buy new pads and headsets to accompany the console at launch. The Xbox Series X controller will include a few new features, though, such as a dedicated share button and textured bumpers and triggers. Microsoft has also teased that existing Xbox One games like Gears 5 could be enhanced for the Xbox Series X to take advantage of the console's new power. And, if you’re a sucker for buying boxed games over making digital purchases, it’s already confirmed to have a physical disc drive included. Just like the PS5, that will be a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive.
Microsoft did pull back the curtain on a few features in February 2020 too. Those features included Smart Delivery, which allows current-gen gamers to play the "best possible version" of purchased games on future consoles. So you can buy a game like the Cyberpunk 2077 for Xbox One, safe in the knowledge you'll get to play the souped-up version on the Xbox Series X at no additional cost. Microsoft also announced a Quick Resume feature that will let you have multiple games paused on the console at once, and pick up where you left off "from a suspended state almost instantly, returning you to where you were and what you were doing, without waiting through long loading screens." We'll be getting Variable Rate Shading (VRS) to "prioritize individual effects on specific game characters or important environmental objects" too. It’s worth mentioning that rumors surrounding Xbox Series X have also involved the possibilities of there being another disc-less console on the horizon codenamed Project Lockhart. The theory here is that the Xbox Series X will be a high-end machine, while Lockhart would be a budget option focusing on streaming (possibly in the vein of the Xbox One S All Digital Edition). At this stage however, they remain merely rumors, as Microsoft is yet to confirm or deny the existence of a duo. If you're concerned about being eco-friendly then the Xbox Series X may not be the best choice. While Sony has claimed the PS5 will be much more energy efficient than its predecessor, the PS4, analysis by Digital Foundry suggests Series X will be pulling twice the power of the Xbox One X – and putting out more heat as a result. Overall, the Xbox Series X is looking like the more powerful console on paper but there's also the matter of ease of development. In an interview with Vigiato, Crytek rendering engineer Ali Salehi pointed out that the Series X is actually a more complicated console to work with which makes hitting that 12 teraflop theoretical peak can be difficult, while reaching the full potential of the PS5 is easy. All of these specs, though, won't mean a whole lot until we can get our hands on the consoles and test them for ourselves. Xbox Series X vs PS5: games we expect to see
It’s early doors for the new next-gen consoles, but already we’re getting a picture of the sort of experiences you can expect to see on the Xbox Series X and the PS5. Let’s kick off with the Xbox, as Microsoft has been a little more open with its line up upfront. First off, Microsoft has confirmed that Halo Infinite, aka Halo 6, will be a launch title for Xbox Series X. The Halo franchise is a unit shifter for Microsoft, a big-budget FPS series that will have been left on a bit of a cliff hanger for five years come the ‘Holiday 2020’ release of Halo Infinite. This is a very big deal. In addition, we also know Senua's Saga: Hellblade II will be releasing for Xbox Series X. Perhaps just as much of a big deal as Halo is the fact that Xbox Series X will be backwards compatible with all existing Xbox platforms from launch. If you have games for the original Xbox, the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One, there’s a good chance they’ll work on Xbox Series X – especially your Xbox One library. How deep Microsoft goes on the libraries of the other generations remains to be seen, but it’s been relatively generous in their support during the Xbox One’s lifetime. We currently don't know any of the PS5's launch titles but we do know the likes of Watch Dogs: Legion and Godfall will be making their way to Sony's next-gen platform. Sony has also confirmed that its PS5 will be backwards compatible, at least with your PS4 game library. How far back it will support the PlayStation family’s game history remains to be seen, but it’s been a little less supportive in this regard during the current generation, aside from within its paid-for PlayStation Now streaming service. Which brings us onto the conversation surrounding game streaming. With Google entering the gaming fray with its Google Stadia game streaming platform, Microsoft and Sony have actually entered a partnership to share and collaborate on game streaming technologies for the next generation. Exactly how this will play out remains to be seen. But with Sony already hosting PlayStation Now, and Microsoft pumping cash into its Project xCloud, don’t be surprised if a good chunk of your game playing time is streamed in over the web during the next generation. As for other titles? We can make some educated guesses that some of the more ambitious games that are currently slated as swansongs for this present generation of consoles will make their way over to the newer machines in "remastered" or "definitive" editions. We're expecting a lot of games that are currently in development, and due for release next year, will be cross-generation titles. That means we're expecting to see the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us: Part 2 on both current and next-gen consoles.
Xbox Series X vs PS5: price expectations
At this point, talking about the Xbox Series X price or the PS5 price is an exercise in speculation. It’s simply too early to tell, and there are too many missing factors in their make up for us to make an informed decision on the specifics of their final price. There have been plenty of supposed leaks of the prices for the consoles from online retailers and a couple of PS5 leaks have put the console in as high as $1043/ £837 and as low as US$396/£318. We don't think these leaks can be trusted, not least because Sony and Microsoft are yet to announce any official RRPs. But what we can say for certain is that the specs teased above don’t come cheaply. These are going to be high-end machines at launch, and will have significant price tags attached to the Xbox Series X pre-order as well as the PS5 pre-order bundles as a result. What we can also do is look back at the comparative pricing of the Xbox One and PS4 at launch. One of the reasons the PS4 proved the more popular console during this generation was the fact that it launched at the more attractive price point of $399.99 / £349.99. That was a relative steal compared to the $499 / £429 Xbox One, which at launch had to factor in the cost of its ill-fated (and relatively short lived) Kinect motion tracker. The Kinect was initially hailed as one of the key differentiators between the consoles, but proved unpopular with both developers and gamers, leading to Microsoft slowly phasing it out in an effort to drive the price of the overall package down with later console revisions. Microsoft will not want to make similar mistakes again – its launch pricing (along with its strange initial focus on entertainment capabilities over gaming software), were key factors to its initial struggles, which it’s spent this entire generation fighting against. A recent report from Bloomberg said that Sony will not be making as many PlayStation 5 consoles for launch as it did for the PS4's launch back in 2013, despite no delay to production or on sale date being expected. Bloomberg's sources are anticipating shipments to max out at six million consoles through to March of 2021, whereas the PS4 sold 7.5 million over the same post-launch time period. It seems that Sony is simply anticipating less demand, potentially because of what is expected to be a higher asking price for the PS5 than the PS4 launched with—could Sony be the one with the higher price tag this time around? One company will inevitably undercut the other, but with specs at this stage looking similar enough, don’t expect it to be so dramatic a difference this time around. Gut feeling
Image credit: Sony There’s so much yet to learn about the PS5 and Xbox Series X. But at this stage, the similarities between the two consoles are striking. Sony and Microsoft's joint commitment to SSD tech suggests a parity across both consoles for third party developers to work with. Both consoles will be the result of great efforts to offer deep backwards compatibility across their archives. And the astonishing fact that they’ll be sharing streaming technologies is the sort of collaboration that would once have been unheard of. Microsoft and Sony have clearly been listening to their fanbases – people don’t care about inter-company politics, they just want the best gaming experience possible. But there’s still a tribalism among the fans, and so, as ever, first party gaming content is going to be perhaps more important than it’s ever been. With so many ways to play, from remote access to streaming, the hardware becomes far less important than the experiences they offer – especially when the two platforms are looking increasingly similar. Microsoft is the first out of the gate to announce a platform exclusive title with Halo, but Sony absolutely destroyed the competition in the PS4 generation with its exclusives. Hope for, and expect, nothing less in the console wars to come.
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| The XPS 13 laptop gets a massive $527 price cut at Dell Posted: 18 Apr 2020 06:05 AM PDT If you're looking to upgrade your machine and save money, then you're in luck. Dell's laptop sale includes a massive $527 price cut on the powerful XPS 13 laptop. That brings the cost down to $1,299.99, which is the best price we've seen for the top-rated 4K touch screen laptop. Shop more of Dell's best laptop deals below that all qualify for free standard shipping. These offers are limited-time promotions, so you should take advantage now before it's too late. Dell laptop deals:See more laptop sales with the best cheap laptop deals: prices start at just $129 today. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The world is ready for an Xbox Series X All-Digital edition Posted: 18 Apr 2020 06:00 AM PDT With the Xbox Series X launch on the horizon, it’s worth noting just how far Microsoft has come in its gaming division since the troubled launch of the Xbox One back in 2013. Here was a company riding high on the success of the generation-defeating Xbox 360, looking to extend its lead against Sony’s PlayStation range after a lackluster PS3 lifespan. But the Xbox One couldn’t have got off to a worse start had Microsoft plugged a controller into a cornflakes box with Bill Gates’ face painted on it. From its pricing to its ill-judged focus on acting as a home entertainment hub, Sony quickly gained the lead in the current generation with the PS4’s gamers-first focus and more affordable price point. It was a gap that Microsoft couldn’t make up this generation. Early scepticism around the Xbox One grew in large part thanks to confusion around Microsoft’s game sharing policy. Initially, it appeared as if those who had bought a physical copy of a game would not be able to share them with friends or trade them, with titles locked to an individual console by copy protection. There was an uproar, and Microsoft backtracked. But fast-forward to 2020, and this concern seems not only archaic, but so far removed from the current gaming landscape that an Xbox Series X All-Digital edition not only seems likely, but attractive.
Digital dalliancesMicrosoft was forward thinking in 2013 – just a bit too much so for gamers to be comfortable with at the time, and a step ahead of the services Microsoft needed to abate any fears. Microsoft was right – this was the always-on generation of consoles, seeing an exponential rise in digital downloads, the concept of games-as-a-service, and the blooming of game streaming. From free games added to sweeten Xbox Live Gold and PS Plus subscription offers, to deep discounts offered by regular digital sales, we’re now happy to buy a digital title whether we can share it and sell it or not. You can point to a few things that have greased the wheels over the past decade to make this shift in consumer practices possible. Firstly, there’s the improvements in download speeds and the lower cost of hard drive storage – we can now, for the most part, affordably download large games at high speeds and store them in capacious drives without breaking the bank. The digital-only nature of smartphone and tablet apps has strong-armed us into become accepting of applications and licenses we’ll never be able to share, swap or even truly own, while the switch-on-and-play convenience of Netflix has shifted attitudes in media towards instant gratification over long-term ownership of the entertainment we love. Spotting these trends, Microsoft has slowly made its Xbox family a powerful match for the attitudes of the times we live in – attitudes it predicted going mainstream a few years too early at the Xbox One launch. Xbox Game Pass, for instance, has proved revelatory. It’s the best deal in gaming, by miles – for a reasonable monthly fee, you get access to a 100+ gaming title library, ready to download at your pleasure to your console. This includes triple AAA titles worth individually five times the monthly fee, and day-and-date release onto the service of Microsoft’s in-house developed games (the likes of Gears of War and Halo, some of the biggest franchises on Xbox any way). Yes, aside from the first-party games, this is a rotating catalogue, meaning you’ll eventually have to buy the games you love – but many sit on the service for months, giving a player easily enough time to finish a game. If not, Microsoft has a captive audience to offer a digital purchase to, with games featured on Game Pass offered up at a discount for those looking to purchase them outright. All without a disc in sight, and with the option to extend the subscription to a PC gaming library, too. Then there’s Project xCloud. Though it’s still in its infancy, it’s among the most promising of all game streaming services. Without the need for installation, and with very little impact on gameplay in the way of lag (providing your internet connection is stable enough), you can stream AAA titles to low-powered devices such as a phone or budget laptop. Microsoft’s extensive networking expertise comes to the fore with a seamless experience that we’re greatly anticipating ahead of it becoming a fully-fledged service.
By comparison, Sony’s PlayStation Now game streaming option feels weak, not only in terms of its so-so catalogue, but by its network performance which rarely feels of a standard suited to anything more than casual play. Sony’s Share Play initiative, allowing for ‘virtual’ couch co-op sessions with friends or streaming to second screen devices like tablets and the ill-fated PS Vita, is laudable, but undercooked – a great idea lacking the polish to make it used regularly. And so Microsoft goes into the next generation better prepared than Sony in terms of its streaming and games-as-a-service propositions. Going digitalOf course, Microsoft has already dabbled in discless consoles. The Xbox One generation was capped off with the Xbox One S All-Digital, sold without a disc drive and encouraging players to make digital purchases and subscribe to Game Pass instead. It was a cheap entry point for gamers, while offering Microsoft the all-but-guaranteed monthly drip of subscription fees into its coffers.
And so the next-generation, the Xbox Series console line, seems now certain to have a digital-only variant, backed up by these robust digital services. Rumor of this being the ‘Project Lockhart’ machine shows no signs of quieting. And, in a generation that at this stage seems set to be defined by the high-end internal hardware of the consoles (almost definitely resulting in high price tags for the machines), may come as a welcome respite by cash-strapped gamers looking to get onboard in an affordable manner. Indeed, Microsoft already offers a payment plan for those unable to buy a console outright. Xbox All Access offers a console, a Game Pass subscription and an Xbox Live Gold online play subscription for one monthly fee. Crucially, it also now offers the opportunity to upgrade to an Xbox Series X console once available and once a gamer has fulfilled 18 monthly payments on the Xbox One generation offer. It’d be a safe bet to imagine that, before long, that upgrade offer will be to an as-yet-unannounced, discless Xbox Series X All-Digital console. And by our reckoning, gamers will lap it up.
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| Best recipe apps: the 7 finest apps for cooking inspiration Posted: 18 Apr 2020 06:00 AM PDT Bored of the cooking the same four meals every week? We know the feeling. Well, we did until we started researching and testing the best recipe apps around, which we've handily boiled down into the simple menu below. Why bother with a recipe app when you've got a shelf full of inherited cookery books? Well, the latest apps feature handy extras like step-by-step videos, digital shopping lists and mouth-watering photography. Many apps also have huge online communities, which not only contribute recipes from all over the world, but add useful features like user-generated tips to help you tweak each recipe to taste. So before your stomach rumbles any louder, let's dive into the delicious cake mixture that is our round-up of the best recipe apps around for both iOS and Android... Paprika
If you have recipes from all over the internet, whether it's from the random food blog you looked up that one time or even from some YouTube cooking video, Paprika will collect them all in one place. Paprika has a browser built into the app, where you can navigate to different recipes, and will allow you to click a single button to save them into an easy-to-read recipe. It’ll even separate ingredients and directions, so you don’t need to worry about everything getting jumbled. Best part? It has an automatic shopping list built in. BBC Good Food
If you can name a dish, chances are there’s a recipe for it on BBC Good Food. Most of those listed have been culled from the pages of the venerable Good Food magazine, and have been tested and approved by the pros. User comments warn you about any potential pitfalls (though often they’re a result of amateur cooks making odd substitutions). You can save favorite recipes to your personal binder to access offline, and everything comes with instructions in plain English. There’s even an accompanying Alexa skill for when your hands are caked in flour. The only recipe book you’ll ever need – and it’s free. Kitchen Stories
If you’ve been craving a polished recipe app with simple instructional videos, this is it. Kitchen Stories has been around since 2014, when it launched as a kind of cross between a recipe book and your favorite cookery-themed YouTube channel. Since then its recipe archive has grown considerably – and while not all of them have step-by-step videos, those without moving images do instead have clear, helpful photos. The recipes are mostly from Kitchen Stories’ in-house chefs, with the emphasis on simple dishes with few ingredients. Though if you’re en route to the supermarket, you can always add the ingredients to the handy in-app shopping list. Tasty
Taking the more crowdsourced approach to cooking wisdom is this app from Buzzfeed, which accompanies its Tasty website and YouTube channel. Tasty calls itself the “world’s largest food network”, and with over four billion YouTube views and counting, it’s certainly got a claim to that title. The app condenses its hundreds of recipes into a slick, intuitive experience with a focus on community, with each recipe getting a user-generated rating and tips section for recommended tweaks. You can also filter the app according to your tastes, for example by hiding meat-based dishes if you’re vegetarian. Yummly
Half of the cooking battle is deciding which recipe to go for – and if you’re struggling, then Yummly is a helpful ally. It’s more of a hub for existing recipes that can be found on sites like the BBC and Allrecipes, but Yummly’s special sauce is how personalized it is. Once you’ve navigated the setup process, which asks you about preferred cuisines and your least favorite foods, it then tailors its recipe suggestions to your answers. While it’s persistent pop-up messages can be a little annoying, the app certainly feels a bit more personal than the more common ‘giant cookery book’ approach. Oh She Glows
One of the few paid-for apps in this list is also, naturally, one of the most polished. Oh She Glows is a great companion for anyone who is either vegan or fancies dabbling in some tasty, plant-based recipes. The app is an extension of the popular blog of the same name, which dates back to 2008 and has produced several cookbooks. You don’t get quite as many recipes as the website – at the time of writing the app has 161 recipes – but there’s plenty of variety, from pumpkin chocolate muffins to cauliflower Thai curry. The photography is high-quality and consistent, and the recipes have a personal touch too thanks to being written in first-person by the blog’s founder Angela Liddon. Allrecipes Dinner Spinner
If you’re looking for a quick, tasty way to use up the remaining ingredients in your fridge, then Allrecipes most likely has the answer. The recipes come from Allrecipes’ community of millions of home cooks rather than an A-list chef, but this gives them a real approachable feel, while the archive of over 50,000 recipes serves up unrivaled (if sometimes paralyzing) choice. The app is free, which means it does contain somewhat intrusive adverts, but the ability to search recipes by ingredient makes this a fine choice if you have a leftover artichoke and no idea how to turn it into a tasty dip. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to stay fit and healthy during a lockdown – and have fun doing it Posted: 18 Apr 2020 05:00 AM PDT Working out is great for both physical and mental health, and you might be finding it tough if you're suddenly unable to get pumped at the gym, take your bike for a spin on the streets, or lace up your running shoes and hit the trails. Staying safe at home doesn't have to be lonely or boring though, and there are lots of options to make working out indoors more fun, avoid boredom The great outdoors, simulatedA treadmill or exercise bike can give you a great cardio workout at home, but staring at a tiny screen as the numbers gradually tick up is no substitute for getting out on the open road. Whether your usual workouts involve roaming the city streets or exploring the countryside, experiencing the sights and sounds of the world around you is part of the joy of running, walking and cycling that makes the time fly by. Thankfully, there are options available that do a surprisingly good job of simulating the effect of getting outdoors from the comfort and safety of your garage, lounge or kitchen. For runners, one of the best (and most affordable) options is the Zwift RunPod. This neat little device is a simple cadence sensor that attaches to your shoe, but it really comes to life when connected to the Zwift app, which gives you an avatar that matches your pace as you explore a variety of routes, interacting with other athletes from around the world as you go. It works best with a tablet propped on your treadmill (there's so much info, it can be tricky to take it all in on a smaller screen) but it's far more absorbing than you might expect, and really brings treadmill running to life.
Virtual running with Zwift Prefer cycling? There are plenty of virtual options available to you, too. Again, Zwift is one of the best around provided you have a suitable trainer (there's an extensive guide to choosing the right one). Don't want to invest in any extra hardware? No worries – hundreds of YouTubers equipped with action cams have kindly published first-person footage of their runs and rides so you can enjoy the scenery while sweating at home. We particularly like Indoor Cycling Videos, which hosts beautifully recorded clips of various lengths with energizing music to keep you in the mood for riding. Streamed workoutsThe gym might be shut, but you can get a great workout at home led by a professional personal trainer – for free. Fitness and nutrition coach Joe Wicks (aka The Body Coach) has become legendary for his daily PE With Joe workouts. The sessions are aimed primarily at kids while schools are closed, but they're a fun aerobic challenge for anyone. They're easy to follow, often themed, and Joe's enthusiasm is infectious. Interested? We're embedding each day's video in this page, along with previous workouts so you can easily catch up with any you've missed. Alternatively, you can find them all on the Body Coach YouTube channel.
PE with Joe If you fancy something more intense, Saucony ambassador James Thie is hosting two circuit training sessions a week on YouTube, specifically designed to help runners improve their performance for later in the year. Check them out on the TeamThie YouTube channel. There are also some excellent personal trainers sharing workout videos on Instagram. Starks Fitness is sharing bite-sized home workout videos every day, presented by the gym's personal trainers. Missing your regular spinning session? The best known home alternative is Peloton, which usually hosts live classes with professional instructors pushing you to your limits in real time. It's recently had to suspend live sessions, but there's an enormous catalog of pre-recorded classes available at the touch of a finger. Peloton's spinning classes require the company's special bike, but there are lots of other options if you can't make that kind of investment right now. The company's excellent workout app covers a range of other exercises, including some that use no equipment at all.
Working out with the Peloton app Looking for something different? There are so many fitness apps available for both Android and iOS, it can be hard to pick the right one, so we've rounded up our pick of the very best options from Google Play and the App Store. Whether you're looking for an intense weight workout or some mellow yoga, all the apps in this list are led by professional teachers who will guide you through each movement and help make sure you're using proper (and safe) technique. Some are video-based, while others rely on audio instructions so you can put down your phone or tablet and focus entirely on your body.
The Asana Rebel yoga app Keep on trackIt might seem like a strange time to buy a fitness tracker, but it can actually be a great motivation to keep moving, and avoid breaking the rules on outdoor exercise where you live. Some countries have imposed a limit on how long you can spend outdoors, while others have restricted citizens' movement to within a certain distance of home. A fitness tracker will help in both cases. For example, if you're only allowed out for an hour, set a timer for 25 minutes before heading out, and you can be sure you'll have plenty of time to get back home again, even if you're a little tired on the return leg. If you have to stay within a certain distance of home, a fitness tracker with built-in GPS (like the new Fitbit Charge 4) will let you plan a route that will keep you safely within the lines, and avoid always running or walking the same way. You might be surprised how many different courses are possible.
Fitbit Charge 4 Even the most simple fitness tracker (even if it's little more than a pedometer) will give you an incentive to keep moving throughout the day. Building up your step count and active minutes is surprisingly rewarding, and will push you to spend more time on your feet than you would otherwise. A moment for mindfulnessClose your eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. Naturally it's important to keep abreast of what's happening right now, with the situation changing by the hour, but the 24-hour news cycle is relentless and can leave you feeling worn out. Thankfully, there's a great selection of apps and other tools available (both paid and free) to help you take some time to yourself and focus on your own wellbeing. One of our favorites is Calm – a meditation app that's hugely popular, and for good reason. Although there's a premium tier available, most of its best features are available free, including introductions to meditation and guided breathing exercises. If you feel like giving the premium features a try but don't want to commit, there's a seven-day free trial available to give you a feel for what's on offer. The Daily Calm is particularly nice – a daily focused meditation to get your day off to a more pleasant start.
Using the Calm app Many fitness trackers (such as Fitbits) also come with timed breathing exercises, and you can even set reminders to take a few moments for yourself throughout the day. It's a great way to avoid letting stress build up and make sure you're looking after yourself, even if you've never tried meditation or deep breathing before. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to watch The Last Dance: stream the Michael Jordan documentary online anywhere Posted: 18 Apr 2020 04:35 AM PDT The NBA may be on hiatus due to the coronavirus, but that doesn't mean there isn't loads of great stuff for basketball and general sports fans to watch right now. This weekend, one of the most eagerly anticipated documentaries of all-time is set to land on TV screens around the world - here's how to watch The Last Dance online and stream the new Michael Jordan documentary wherever you are. Originally scheduled to air in June to coincide with the NBA Finals, The Last Dance's release date was brought forward to April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's directed by veteran sports filmmaker Jason Hehir, the man also behind the critically acclaimed Andre the Giant documentary, and charts the final championship run of the 90's Chicago Bulls dynasty and its mercurial leader, Michael Jordan. With six NBA titles to his name, Jordan isn't just the best basketball player of all time - sorry not sorry, LeBron fans - but arguably the greatest athlete in the history of US sports. Only Tom Brady and Tiger Woods even get a seat at the same table. But far from being a puff piece, The Last Dance's highlight reel footage of Jordan is balanced by candid new interviews and previously unseen footage. The 1997/98 NBA season is explored in such a way that draws attention to Jordan's domineering personality just as much as it does his epic dunks. It was to be his last year with the Bulls and the culmination of a return odyssey that started back in 1995 when the legend decided to furlough his ambitions as a professional baseball player in the MLB. To compile all of this, an NBA Entertainment film crew went behind-the-scenes with the Bulls throughout the campaign, having gained the approval of Jordan, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and head coach Phil Jackson. And in addition to reminding us why we were desperate to 'be like Mike' in the 90s and would queue for hours for the latest pair of Air Jordan sneakers, the documentary also hones in on other key members of the Bulls team - fellow Hall of Famers Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, as well as sharp-shooter Steve Kerr (now head coach of the Golden State Warriors). Luc Longley? Sorry Aussies, he doesn't feature so much...but you do get a glimpse of Perth's most famous export. With all that in mind, here's how to watch The Last Dance online - stream the new Michael Jordan documentary from anywhere in the world with our guide.
How to watch The Last Dance in the USIs The Last Dance on Netflix?For a great many people, this is a firm yes! Netflix is ESPN's global distribution partner for The Last Dance and new episodes of the miniseries are set to drop on the popular streaming service just after they air on the cable channel - around 3am ET or 12am PT every Monday in North America, or 8am BST in the United Kingdom, where it will likely find itself among the best Netflix UK shows sooner rather than later. Netflix Australia and Netflix Canada will also be offering the series for streaming after it first airs on ESPN in the US, so read on and we'll explain how to watch The Last Dance wherever you are.
How to watch The Last Dance from outside your countryAlready got a streaming service like Netflix to watch The Last Dance? It's all straightforward until you find yourself abroad, when annoying geo-blocking restrictions will likely cut you off from your normal streaming provider. Admittedly, - most people aren't going anywhere anytime soon right now. But global travel will one day resume and, in an absolute worse case scenario, you may even be stuck abroad. Fortunately, there's an easy solution to geo-blocking. Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream The Last Dance no matter where you are. This simple bit of software changes your IP address so that you can access episodes live or on demand as they become available, just as if you were lying on the couch trying to teach the kids how to spell 'self-isolation'.
How to watch The Last Dance: stream the documentary in the UK
Stream The Last Dance online: how to watch in Australia
How to watch The Last Dance in Canada
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| Best audio PC in 2020: Digital Audio Workstations and audiophile machines Posted: 18 Apr 2020 04:01 AM PDT If you're looking for the best audio PCs and laptops, then you've come to the right place. On this page, we've listed the top machines that are ideal for music production. Every PC and laptop in this list of the best audio PCs are ideal for running Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software, such as Image-Line FL Studio, PreSonus Studio One and Cubase. These are essential tools for music producers, and they can be rather demanding when it comes to specs, so every device in our best audio PCs list has enough power to run DAW software without a hitch - no matter how many tracks you're working on. As well as having cutting edge components, the best audio PCs and laptops must be able to allow you to plug in multiple musical instruments, have a large enough hard drive to store your projects and uncompressed audio files, and have top-notch onboard audio quality (and the ability to plug into external speakers and monitors). That's quite a demanding wishlist, and it means that many of the best audio PCs and laptops are quite expensive. However, they are well worth the money, and on this page you'll find our built-in price comparison tool, which scours the internet to bring you the best prices for these devices.
Apple has a great reputation amongst audio professionals, and with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, you can see (and hear) why that is. Apple took everything we loved about previous MacBook Pros, and made them even better, upping the screen to 16-inches, which gives you plenty of room to work on DAW software. It's incredibly powerful, as well, which means it can run audio production apps with ease. Its built-in speakers are absolutely fantastic as well, which means if you don't have external speakers, you can happily use the ones included here. The only downside of the MacBook Pro 16-inch for audio professionals is the lack of ports. It comes with four Thunderbolt ports, which means you'll need to buy adaptors to plug instruments and older peripherals into it. However, data transfer speeds are excellent, so it's great for moving big audio files to and from an external hard drive. This is truly the best MacBook - and laptop - for content creators, designers and other creative professionals. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
The iMac has long been one of the cheaper ways to get into the macOS ecosystem, and we’re glad that hasn’t changed. Though what has changed, we also appreciate. The new iMac is packing with 8th- and 9th-generation desktop-class processors, letting this stylish all-in-one reach that fabled 8-core performance. This performance, by the way, makes it the best audio PC money can buy, as it can handle music production software with ease, while allowing you to plug in musical instruments and more. It's all combined in Apple's famous stylish all-in-one design and top-notch build quality. Read the full review: iMac (27-inch, 2019)
While the regular Razer Blade laptop is famously a gaming laptop, Razer has taken its sheer power and turned the whole thing into one of the best mobile workstations for audio professionals. As we've come to expect from Razer's laptops, the Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition is packed with some of the very latest components, which means no matter what sort of DAW software you're running, this laptop will handle it with ease. On top of that, if has a powerful graphics card and a gorgeous, factory-calibrated 4K display. It's expensive, but it's also the best Windows-based alternative to the MacBook Pro when it comes to audio production. Read the full review: Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition
The Surface Studio 2 is a great alternative to Apple's iMacs, and if you'd rather use Windows 10 over macOS, then this all-in-one from Microsoft is an excellent choice. Sleek, stylish and capable of handling DAW software with ease, along with a bright and vibrant built-in display, this is an excellent audio PC that would look great in anyone's studio. It's not quite as powerful as the latest iMac, however, so if you want pure power, go for Apple's all-in-one. Still, this is an excellent performer, that's ideal for creatives. Read the full review: Surface Studio 2
Mac mini fans, rejoice! The Mac mini has finally been upgraded with modern hardware, ushering Apple’s smallest Mac to the modern age, and it's easily one of the best audio PCs money can buy. It's a lot more affordable than many of the other devices on this list, but thanks to some upgraded components, including new processors and large amounts of RAM, the new Mac mini is a great tool for audio producers. Its compact size means you can fit it into any studio, and it's got plenty of power - but if you need more, you can actually hook up multiple Mac minis to share their processing power! Read the full review: Mac Mini 2018
The formidable Acer ConceptD 7 is capable of handling complex and demanding tasks such as audio production. Clearly designed specifically with creative professionals in mind, it boasts that sheer power you’ll only find in workstations and gaming laptops. Beyond that excellent performance it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Obviously, it’s still pretty pricey, but no professional’s tool comes cheap. If you’re looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for audio production, this is a fantastic choice. Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7
Lenovo’s latest all-in-one offering isn’t as powerful as Apple’s premium AIO, the iMac Pro, or even the recently updated iMac, which now offers a 9th-generation Intel Core configuration. After all, the 8th-generation chips and Radeon RX 560 graphics are aging at this point. However, it is still plenty powerful to meet the needs of creative professionals out there who are not entirely impressed by Apple’s pricey machines. On top of that, the Lenovo Yoga A940 has a few aces up its sleeves, including 100% Adobe RGB support and Dolby Vision, a set of Dolby Atmos speakers, a port offering that’s more generous than Apple’s all-in-one, and a stylus included in the box. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga A940
Professionals and creatives need something that can handle any workload they can possibly throw at it. If you’re one such user, the iMac Pro isn’t just one of the best Macs for you; it’s the only Mac to consider. Not only does it have a vibrant 27-inch 5K display with a P3 wide color gamut, but it also boasts some of the most powerful hardware Apple could get its hands on. It’s extremely expensive though, so it’s really only meant for folks who have deep pockets and need that unbridled power to get through their daily workloads. Read the full review: iMac Pro
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| Leaked Google Card could give you another way to Google Pay Posted: 18 Apr 2020 03:30 AM PDT Google is taking on the Apple Card with its very own Google Card, according to reports – giving you a physical debit card connected to your Google Pay account that you can use in the normal way online or in stores. TechCrunch has obtained imagery and other details about the Google Card from its sources, and explains how an app linked to the card will let users track purchases, look up their balance, or lock their card if it gets lost or stolen. You might remember Google tried this before with the Google Wallet card, that lasted from 2013 to 2016. Well, it looks like it's going to try again.
This is apparently part of a bigger Google push into financial services, another potential revenue stream – money might be made off transaction fees or even off banking or stock apps in the future.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Google didn't add any extra information but did say it was "exploring" partnerships with banks and credit unions in the US. That's undoubtedly where the Google Card would launch first, though other countries could then follow. It matches up with a report from the Wall Street Journal last November that suggested Google was looking at making a move into financial services beyond what it already offers customers with Google Pay. At the moment Google Pay can be used from a phone, via a Wear OS smartwatch or on the web, but it needs to be connected to a debit or credit card from a real bank. Now it looks as though Google might want to be the bank too. The Apple Card and its associated app was launched last November, giving users an opportunity to deal with Apple directly (though it's Goldman Sachs and Mastercard that provide the underpinning finance in partnership with Apple). This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 6 new TV shows and movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu this weekend Posted: 18 Apr 2020 03:30 AM PDT Every weekend, we somehow worry that streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video will eventually run out of cool stuff to watch while we're stuck inside. Pleasingly, that's not been the case so far since the global quarantine began, with months of shows backed up to keep us entertained for the foreseeable future. Below, you can read our selection of what's new on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and more this weekend. They include a great new sitcom, a weighty biopic and an utterly ludicrous-sounding reality TV show. Too Hot To Handle
Before we get into the heavier stuff, here's your latest adrenaline shot of reality TV nonsense. A bunch of young and good-looking singles head to an island for what they expect to be a summer of hook-ups. What they soon learn, though, is that no one can indulge in so much as a kiss without the $100,000 prize money going down. After Love is Blind, Netflix is doubling down on reality dating show formats that make you say "huh?" Here's what we made of Too Hot to Handle. Now streaming on Netflix BlackAF (Netflix)
Created by and starring Kenya Barris, the writer/producer behind Black-ish, one of the better modern family sitcoms of the past decade, BlackAF stars Barris as a fictional version of himself. Co-starring Parks and Rec's Rashida Jones as his wife Joya, BlackAF has drawn a lot of comparisons to Black-ish, with critics noting it's a more unfiltered take on a family sitcom than Barris' previous effort (stylistically it's very different, too, since it's presented as a mockumentary). Netflix describes it as "Black-ish meets Curb Your Enthusiasm", which makes sense, given that the show explores Barris grappling with his own real-life success and what that means. We've seen the first episode, and it's well worth checking out. Now streaming on Netflix Bosch season 6 (Amazon Prime Video)
One of Amazon's longest-running originals, the compelling police drama Bosch enters its penultimate season this weekend on the streaming service. You might want to give it a shot if you've never seen it: the show, starring Titus Welliver, is a big enough cult hit that Amazon renewed it for a seventh season before this one was even released. In this sixth season, the titular Harry Bosch has to figure out why a medical physicist was killed, uncovering a plot that has potentially disastrous implications for the city of LA. Ask a Bosch fan, and they'll probably tell you it's an underrated show. If you fancy giving this series a try, you've now got 60 episodes to enjoy. Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Here's how to watch Bosch season 6 online. Sergio
Starring Wagner Moura of Narcos fame and Knives Out's Ana de Armas, this biopic is about UN diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello, who was killed in a suicide bombing in 2003. This latest Netflix original movie explores the diplomat's relationship with his wife, and the assignment that would tragically result in his death. Now streaming on Netflix Devs (Hulu, BBC iPlayer)
Created by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation), Devs is a moody and gorgeous-looking thriller about a woman whose partner suddenly dies while working for a mysterious tech company. It features Parks and Rec's Nick Offerman in a role that couldn't be more different from Ron Swanson, and Devs swerves from being a drama about a cold Silicon Valley tech company into horror and sci-fi territory. This miniseries has just ended this week in the US, and you can stream the finale on Hulu now. In the UK, it's just begun, with two episodes to watch now on iPlayer as part of the BBC's overall deal with cable network FX. Now streaming on Hulu (US) and BBC iPlayer (UK) Mrs America (Hulu)
Mrs America is a star-studded FX miniseries set in the '70s and focused on the Equal Rights Amendment, which would've grant the same rights to women around employment and other areas of life that men enjoyed. Cate Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist who managed to block the ERA's ratification. This drama also spotlights feminists of the era who supported the amendment like Gloria Steinem, and counts Elizabeth Banks, Rose Byrne and Sarah Paulson in its ensemble cast. UK viewers, you'll have to wait for Miss America to come to BBC2 later this year. Now streaming on Hulu
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| Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite: is bigger really better? Posted: 18 Apr 2020 02:43 AM PDT In the three years since its launch, the Nintendo Switch has captured the hearts and hands of millions of players who love the hybrid console for its ability to offer on-the-go gaming and a big-screen sofa experience. As great as the original Switch is, though, Nintendo is a company that’s pretty much become the leader of dedicated handheld experiences. While the Nintendo DS line of consoles held on to the handheld crown for an impressive amount of time, it felt inevitable that Nintendo would eventually move on and release a handheld-only Switch. And in September 2019 it did with the Nintendo Switch Lite, marketed as a smaller, lighter alternative to the original Nintendo Switch. So, is the newer Switch Lite the console for you? Or are you better suited to the original? Well, we’re going to look into the similarities and differences between each model, hopefully helping you settle on which Nintendo Switch console is best for you—or simply answering any lingering questions you may have. Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite: price
Image credit: Nintendo The current Nintendo Switch model retails for $299/£279.99/AU$469, with plenty of bundle options. For that price, you get yourself the console, two joy-cons, a dock and the associated cables. Bundles tend to include massively popular games like Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, Pokemon Sword and Shield or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate—all of which are great games to get you started. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch Lite retails for the lower price point of $199.99/£199.99/AU$329.95 for the console on its own. The console is focused on handheld play so you don’t get a dock or detachable joy-cons (more on that later), but bundles with the most popular games can be found at most retailers, with the accompanying games generally adding a little extra onto the cost. Bundles aside, looking at the prices of the consoles alone shows that the Switch Lite does, as you'd expect, cost less. If you’re not very interested in the original Switch's TV output capabilities then opting for the Switch Lite is money worth saving as it could be enough to get you another couple of games.
Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite: design
Image credit: TechRadar Arguably, the Switch’s main selling point is the console’s versatility. You can use your console to conquer Hyrule in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild on your morning commute, before docking the console once you get home to play with either your detached joy-cons or the Pro Controller. It’s instant, and feels almost like magic as you transfer your game from the screen on the device to the television and back again. Nintendo has opted to forgo this hybridity to offer the cheaper Nintendo Switch Lite. It has fixed joy-cons, and can’t be docked to a TV, and while this may be a dealbreaker for many we think it could be very attractive to new customers and existing ones alike. As an example, the bright colors make it feel like it stands out. Between yellow, gray, coral and turquoise, there’s plenty of room to express yourself - albeit without swapping joy-cons to your heart’s content. The lower price is ideal for those looking for a second device for a younger child, too, or simply a console you can take on the go more readily - the more plasticky looking Switch Lite with its fewer moving parts looks a little more durable than its more versatile brother. Despite the controllers being fixed, they offer mostly the same buttons as the original Switch - except the A,Y,B,X buttons have been replaced by a D-Pad - while removing some functionality which we’ll get onto shortly. Both models also allow for wireless connectivity, bluetooth and the use of MicroSD cards to increase the meagre 32GB of console storage. Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite: display
Image credit: Nintendo The Nintendo Switch offers a 6.2 inch LCD display, with a maximum resolution of 720p. With PlayStation and Xbox chasing higher and higher pixel counts, 720p feels decidedly unambitious but the system’s raft of high-quality exclusives belie any technical shortcomings. Of course, there’s also the ability to dock the console to output at 1080p - it’s not 4K, but it’s a bit crisper when stretched across your TV or monitor of choice. The Switch Lite’s smaller price means that the system has to make some cutbacks, and while the display is still an LCD with capacitive touch functionality (and reaches the same 720p resolution), it’s slightly smaller than its older brother - measuring at 5.5 inches. Still, it’ll be ideal for younger siblings to catch fish in Animal Crossing while on the go. Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite: games
Image credit: Nintendo This is where things arguably get a little bit complex, given the discrepancy between the two console’s feature sets. Because the Switch Lite’s controllers are fixed they don’t offer HD Rumble, motion controls, or the IR Motion Camera found on the previous model’s joy-cons. This means that any game that requires any of these pieces of kit will require the wireless connection of a pair of joy-con controllers. That means Snipperclips (and the Plus version) and Mario Tennis Aces will both require additional controllers for those playing on the Nintendo Switch Lite. That isn’t all, though. Because many games require detached joy-cons, the following are unsuitable for the Switch Lite: Labo kits, 1-2 Switch and Super Mario Party. Perhaps the biggest concern is that there is a chance that games will eventually launch which aren’t compatible with the handheld mode of the Switch, thereby meaning you’ll be unable to play them on the Switch Lite. It seems unlikely, but consider a world where the next big Mario platformer requires joy-cons. Also, consider that the joy-cons charge either via connecting to the Nintendo Switch or by the charging stand. If you’ve only got the Lite, you’ll need to invest in the charging stand. Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite: software/ and interface
Image credit: Nintendo Switch Much easier to explain is the console’s interface. The Switch has offered a clean, arguably barebones UI which has only seen minor incremental updates over the last two years, and the Lite will offer the same functionality. This means you’ll have your friends list, your titles, and the eShop all a touch or a button press away. You can share screenshots, catch up on the latest Nintendo news, and access your settings just as you can on the full-fat Switch. You’ll be able to play multiplayer games like Splatoon 2 with friends regardless of which Switch model you’re using - although a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online is required. This currently costs $3.99/£3.49/AU$5.95) a month, $7.99/£6.99/ AU$11.95 for 90 days, or $19.99/£17.99/AU$29.95 per year - while a family plan with eight accounts will set you back $34.99/£31.49/AU$54.95. Whether you have a Nintendo Switch or a Nintendo Switch Lite, you’ll be able to enjoy online play, cloud saves, and exclusive offers for members. The big draw here is the ability to play NES games, while any masochists will also get access to Nintendo’s uniquely awful smartphone app too. So there you have it, two Switch models to agonise over in preparation for your next holiday. Which will you be jumping into? Thankfully whichever you choose, you’ll be able to play a huge library of excellent games.
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