Apple : Your Samsung smart TV is now a certified personal trainer |
- Your Samsung smart TV is now a certified personal trainer
- The best iPhone 8 Plus prices and sales for April 2020
- iPhone 11 and 11 Pro deals US: get the best prices for April 2020
- Google could eliminate VPNs for millions with this new tool
- Best free blogging site of 2020
- Samsung working on 600MP camera sensors that surpass the human eye
- Best cloud storage of 2020 online: free, paid and business options
- InCountry cashes in on growing demand for data residency services in Middle East
- Best laptop for DJs 2020: the best laptops for music production
- Microsoft Surface Book 3 may be a content creation powerhouse
- Dell Technologies offers billions in financing in bid to encourage IT spending
- The iPhone SE is half price at just $199 in this incredible pre-order deal
- Intel Comet Lake release date, news and features
- AMD Ryzen 4000 release date, laptops and specs: everything we know about AMD's next CPUs
- Where to buy a Nintendo Switch: where you can still order a Switch Lite right now
- How to watch the PDC Home Tour: live stream darts online from anywhere
- The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundle deals and prices in April 2020
- Why buy a Canon EOS R5? Canon answers our questions about its next big camera
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- The 10 best phones for seniors
| Your Samsung smart TV is now a certified personal trainer Posted: 21 Apr 2020 02:28 PM PDT Starting today, watching TV can be good for your health: Samsung is rolling out six new apps to its Tizen-based smart TVs aimed at improving your health and wellness. Included in the launch are Jillian Michaels Fitness, obé Fitness and Echelon, as well as Fitplan and the popular meditation app, Calm, all of which are free to download. As part of the rollout, Samsung and its fitness partners are giving users access to 5,000 hours of free workout and meditation content at launch - which they say could help homebound consumers in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, however, you’ll still have to wait to track all of that health data - as Samsung says it won’t be bringing the official Samsung Health app it showed off at CES 2020 until later this year - but the free barre classes, guided meditations and celebrity-led personal training sessions are powerful incentives to start working out sooner rather than later. Samsung Health on Samsung TVs?Eventually, Samsung's end goal is that you'll have a synced-up Health app across all devices including your phone, smartwatch and TV. Workout using any of these devices and the health information will carry over to the next. As we said when the feature was first announced at CES, we're definitely a bit concerned about how that data is shared and stored - as smart TV operating systems have proven easy to hack in the past - but a Samsung representative at CES told us that everything is encrypted and isn't stored locally on any device. The other issue is that, according to Samsung, only TVs from 2018 and beyond will get the apps and the eventual Samsung Health app – if you have a TV from 2017 or earlier, you probably won't see these apps available and won't receive the Samsung Health update. That might change later, but for now you'll need a fairly new TV to get in that daily burn*. (We're using that phrase colloquially, DailyBurn is yet to be supported.)
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| The best iPhone 8 Plus prices and sales for April 2020 Posted: 21 Apr 2020 02:12 PM PDT The iPhone SE is officially available to pre-order today and the budget phone is replacing the iPhone 8 in the Apple store. This means that you'll be able to find amazing deals right now on the iPhone 8 Plus. To help you sort through all the offers we've listed the best iPhone 8 Plus prices and sales that are available online. The iPhone 8 Plus features a 5.5-inch screen and an impressive camera that continues to get better with iOS 13, even if doesn't have the extra lenses of Apple's leading phones. It's still not the cheapest handset, so you'll definitely want to peruse all the iPhone 8 Plus deals that you'll find here - but at less than half the price of the leading iPhone 11 Pro, it's the best compromise between iOS value and power in the iPhone range. We've listed all of the buying options below, whether you want to buy an iPhone 8 deal from a mobile carrier on a contract or purchase it unlocked from a retailer, we've listed the best deals and contracts that are currently available.
The best iPhone 8 Plus deals from US CarriersIf you want to shop for newer iPhone models you can see the best iPhone XR deals and the best iPhone 11 and 11 Pro prices and deals. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| iPhone 11 and 11 Pro deals US: get the best prices for April 2020 Posted: 21 Apr 2020 01:05 PM PDT The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro were released in 2019 and are available to order from all major carriers and retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. To help you wade through all the different plans, we've listed the best iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro prices and deals that are available in the US today. The Apple iPhone 11 features a 6.1-inch LCD display, while the iPhone 11 Pro comes with a Super Retina XDR OLED display in either a 5.8-inch or 6.5-inch size. The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro both have updated camera hardware with a Wide and new Ultra-Wide camera on the back of the iPhone 11 and Wide, Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras on the iPhone 11 Pro.
iPhone 11 deals from US carriers:iPhone 11 Pro deals from US carriers:iPhone 11 Pro Max deals from US carriers:The iPhone 11 Pro Max, the bigger version of the 11 Pro, is priced at $1,099 from carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon. Sprint is offering the Pro Max for $45.84 on a Sprint Flex 18-month lease, and Verizon is offering up to $500 off with select trade-in and Unlimited. AT&T is offering up to $700 off when you switch to AT&T and port-in your number, or up to $500 off without port-in. Learn more about the newest iPhone with our hands on iPhone 11 review, iPhone 11 Pro review, and iPhone 11 Pro Max review. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google could eliminate VPNs for millions with this new tool Posted: 21 Apr 2020 11:57 AM PDT As the number of remote workers has surged as a result of the global pandemic, Google Cloud has launched a new security tool designed to allow users to access their company networks remotely without using a VPN. The company's new cloud-based security solution is called BeyondCorp Remote Access and it is actually based on the zero-trust approach that the search giant has used internally for almost a decade. With BeyondCorp Remote Access, a business' employees and extended workforce can access its internal web apps from virtually any device at any time without a traditional remote-access VPN. Over time, Google plans to offer the same capability, control and additional protections for almost any application or resource a user needs to access.
The reason the company has decided to launch its new tool is due to the fact that traditional VPN infrastructure can often be difficult for IT teams to deploy and manage for a large number of new users in a short period of time, as has been the case during our current situation. VPNs can also be complex from the user perspective and this is especially true for those who have not used one before. Things get even more complicated when organizations try to roll out VPN access to their extended workforce of contractors, temporary employees and partners. BeyondCorp Remote AccessWhile Google is now rolling out its new tool to users, the company actually begin working on implementing a zero-trust access approach back in 2011. The search giant created BeyondCorp with the goal of enabling its employees and extended workforce to be able to successfully work from untrusted networks on a variety of devices without the need for a client-side VPN. However, BeyondCorp offers much more than a simpler, more modern VPN replacement. The new tool ensures that only certain users have access to the information they need in the right context. In a blog post announcing BeyondCorp Remote Access, Google Cloud's Sunil Potti and Sampath Srinivas provided the following examples of some policies that can be enforced, saying: “My contract HR recruiters working from home on their own laptops can access our web-based document management system (and nothing else), but only if they are using the latest version of the OS, and are using phishing-resistant authentication like security keys.” Or: “My timecard application should be safely available to all hourly employees on any device, anywhere.” For a large company, rolling out a traditional VPN solution can often take weeks or even months while Google Cloud's BeyondCorp Remote Access can be set up in just a few days. The new tool has already been “battle-tested” in production by thousands of Google Cloud customers and interested businesses can sign up here to gain access to it.
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| Best free blogging site of 2020 Posted: 21 Apr 2020 11:30 AM PDT Free blogging sites have come a long way in recent years, and it’s now easier than ever to create a professional-looking blog to share a hobby with likeminded people, express your opinions, and establish an online presence. These free blogging sites are aimed at hobbyist bloggers – blogs are created and managed online, and hosted on the blogging platform’s own servers. If you want to create a self-hosted blog, the downloadable version of WordPress is an excellent option, with total flexibility, support for third-party plugins, and as much storage as your hosting plan allows. If you're interested in making a static website rather than an online journal, take a look at our guide to the best free website builders.
Wix makes it dead easy to design and realize your blog, and you can do a lot more besides Wix has a range of paid-for subscription plans, but also a free offering, although it’s best to note upfront that this has some caveats. With the free product, your site will have Wix branding, and you’ll be limited to 500MB of data transfer per month, so it’s not for heavily trafficked sites. You also only get 500MB storage, too, so bear that in mind. You are, however, free to build a blog with an unlimited number of pages, and where Wix really shines is with its powerful blog functionality. The editor may be simple, but you get access to all the stuff you need – from image galleries through to videos and music – and there are a ton of ways to customize a post. There’s also a lot of flexibility in the way you can schedule posts, and neat touches like being able to set things up so that posts are automatically pushed to Facebook when they’re published. For instance, you have a feature called WiX Bookings, that allows customers to schedule appointments and classes right on your website. And what makes Wix truly compelling is on top of this, you get the run of the rest of what this website builder offers aside from blog support. That includes using Wix’s ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) editor to make building your site a snap even for novices, plus impressively diverse support for various different types of media, and quality customer support to boot (yes, even on the free plan). As of recently, Wix introduced Wix Turbo, which increases the speed and performance of websites considerably. When you consider what you’re getting for nothing, the bandwidth and data limits don’t seem like such a heavy set of shackles. And you can always upgrade at a later date if you want to break free of them in the longer run. Try it online: Wix
Powerful and highly customizable, WordPress is a brilliant platform for blogs of any size, and bloggers of any level of experience. Creating your first blog is very straightforward, with a simple wizard that guides you through the process of choosing a name and suitable theme. You can leave it there and begin writing posts immediately, but the real fun lies in the more advanced editor, which lets you customize virtually every aspect of your blog’s appearance. Unlike some blogging sites, WordPress isn’t a drag-and-drop affair, and you’ll have to familiarize yourself with its system of menus. It’s well worth the effort, though, and enables you to create something truly personal. The editor also lets you create static pages – like a writer’s biography, for example. The post-writing interface is much like an ordinary desktop word processor (though some options are presented in a toolbar at the top, while others are in a menu at the side, which can be a little confusing at first). Again, time spent getting to know the interface is rewarded with advanced features like customizable social media sharing buttons, geotagging, and the ability to pick a custom style for individual posts. Sometimes you might want to create a photo gallery, for example, and other times a more text-focused style would be more appropriate. You can also view and edit the HTML source. As your blog grows, WordPress lets you track its stats, including page views, visitors, likes and comments over time. You can also see how readers reach your site, which content they viewed, and where they are in the world, so you can tailor your content accordingly. Your site is hosted on WordPress servers, with an address in the format yoursite.wordpress.com. Users of the free service don’t get email or live chat support, but the WordPress community forums are very active and questions are usually answered within a few minutes. Additionally, privacy protection for domains that are registered at WordPress.com is free. WordPress displays ads on free blogs, but provided you can live with that, it’s a top-notch solution for a free blogging site. Try it online: WordPress
Blogger has been around for many years, but has kept up with current trends and technology, including responsive blog templates Blogger is another superb blogging platform. It’s not quite as powerful as WordPress, but more accessible for new users, which comes as no surprise when you learn that it’s owned by Google. Blogger offers an excellent selection of templates, all of which include mobile versions optimized for smaller screens – a very sensible addition with so many people accessing online content through smartphones. Blogger’s post-editing tool is much like WordPress, but offers fewer options. As a result, its toolbars are less confusing – a trade-off between power and usability. One of Blogger’s best features is its integration with other Google apps and services. For example, it uses your Google Drive account to store images and other files for your blog. Google Drive gives you 15GB of space free, so Blogger is a good choice if you’re planning to share a lot of high-res photos. Spam comments are a big problem on blogs, so Blogger’s automatic spam filter can help save your sanity. You can monitor comments via Blogger’s dashboard, which also lets you see visitor stats. There are some handy visualizations here, including a world map to show the global distribution of your readers. Your blog will have an address in the format yoursite.blogger.com, and, like all Google services, will include ads. Support is available through the Blogger user forum, which is very active but has a strange layout that can be a little off-putting. In all other respects, Blogger is brilliant – one of the best free blogging sites if you prioritize ease of use over flexibility and are a fan of the Google ecosystem. Try it online: Blogger
Weebly takes a modular approach to blog building, with a drag-and-drop editor that lets you choose which elements to add to your site, and where. Pick a basic template, then plonk various types of content onto the page, including social media links, text, images, maps, and sections of code. It’s a refreshingly simple way to build a blog that feels unique to you, but doesn’t require any messing about with menus. It’s worth noting, however, that certain content blocks can only be positioned in certain areas; it isn’t a total free-for-all. This makes sense – forcing you to stick within the confines of your chosen template stops the page looking messy – but you might find it limiting. Blog posts are made in the same way: drag text boxes, picture frames, buttons and page breaks into position, then click to edit them. One particularly nice feature is the ‘secret draft link’, which lets you preview your unpublished post, and even share it with others via email before releasing it into the wild. Weebly has some other interesting tricks up its sleeve too, including an area for pasting in Google Analytics tracking code (though it doesn’t offer analytics itself). You’re only given 500MB for uploaded content, so photographers might want to look elsewhere. Weebly puts an ad in your site’s footer, but it doesn’t obscure any of your content. Try it online: Weebly
Penzu is a personal blogging tool that lets you create your own private diary Whereas the other free blogging sites are designed to get as many eyeballs on your posts as possible, Penzu is the equivalent of a locked diary stashed in a safe. Penzu is a journal platform that makes your posts private by default and locks them down with at least one password (even after you’re logged in, you need a second one to read or edit your posts). That’s because it’s designed for private thoughts and personal reflection. There are free apps for iOS and Android that enable you to update your Penzu diary anywhere, but the contents are for your eyes only. Penzu isn’t a tool for self-promotion, so although it’s far from ugly, it understandably focuses on function rather than looks. Custom colors and backgrounds come at a price – currently $20 (about £14, AU$25) per year. It’s a shame that 128-bit AES encryption is also limited to the paid-for version, and there’s a fair amount of pressure to upgrade. Extra options are often dangled under your nose then yanked away, but the core offering is a good one, and if you simply want a place to record your thoughts and practise writing, Penzu could be just what you need. Try it online: Penzu
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| Samsung working on 600MP camera sensors that surpass the human eye Posted: 21 Apr 2020 11:16 AM PDT In an official blogpost, Samsung has hinted that it has started work on image sensors with resolutions as high as 600MP, which is sharper than the human eye can perceive. The Korean technology giant was among the first to manufacture and use 108MP ISOCELL camera sensors in smartphones, which appeared in the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra's main camera. That's still below the supposed 500MP resolution of our eyes, Samsung EVP Yongin Park explained in the company blog post, but a 600MP sensor could change that. To get there, Samsung is developing ways to pack a high number of megapixels in small sensors. The company has been using ‘Nonacell technology’ which employs a 3×3 pixel structure compared to a standard 2x2 array. Translation: while other phones use the latter method (called 'pixel binning' or 'quad pixel') to combine four pixels to function as one, the Nanocell method combines nine, which could allow nine 0.8μm pixels to work like one 2.4-μm pixel. This increases the amount of light absorption that the pixels are capable of while also improving low-light performance of the sensors.
Sensors for taste and smellBeyond high-megapixel sensors, Samsung is also researching sensors that can detect wavelengths beyond the human eye’s capability: using ultraviolet light, for instance, to detect cancer cells, or infrared sensors for dark light photography. Those applications seem far more capable than using light waves to detect oxygen levels in blood, like the Withings ScanWatch does. Furthermore, the company also indicated that its research scientists would be working on sensors that can register smell or taste. They didn't hint at how, for instance, though this isn't the first we've heard of the concept – a patent suggests a future Apple Watch may be able to detect body odor. Of course, we assume Samsung's 600MP camera will be headed for smartphones, but the company is expecting to expand its sensors into more devices, per the blog post. It could provide camera sensors for autonomous vehicles, drones, and other IoT (Internet of Things) devices in the future – though exactly when is unclear.
When can be expected?Samsung hasn’t actually detailed a road map as to when we could see these sensors or how it would overcome the challenges towards achieving such high megapixel counts. However, it reiterated that the high MP count trend will continue through 2020 and beyond. It is also possible that 600MP sensors might not be used in smartphones at all as there is nothing in the blogpost that actually suggests such a possibility. This bit of news comes amidst reports that we could possibly see a 256MP camera by the end of this year itself.
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| Best cloud storage of 2020 online: free, paid and business options Posted: 21 Apr 2020 11:00 AM PDT Businesses and consumers are increasingly reliant on cloud based storage solutions instead of in-house, on-premise local storage hardware. Your files are stored in the cloud, which is a simplified view of what is essentially someone else's infrastructure (data center, server, hard drive, connectivity etc). Ever since Amazon popularised storage online with S3 (Simple Storage Service), 13 years ago, Google data shows that interest for "Cloud Storage" alone has increased by 40x over the past decade. So much so that people less frequently refer to it as "online storage". Given the multitude of cloud storage providers out there, one has to wisely choose a provider who will offer the maximum amount of low-cost storage and bandwidth, while still keeping your data safe. This list represents our top picks for cloud storage: most offer a free tier allowing you to see if they're right for you before handing over any hard-earned cash. And it's iDrive that leads the way thanks to how fast, thorough and easy to use it is. Also consider these options:
Business users will need to consider carefully what their needs are as terms and conditions as well as quality of service is likely to differ significantly from their consumer alter ego. Go straight to your desired option through the jump links below: Best cloud storage of 2020 at a glance:
IDrive secures servers, desktop system and mobile devices with equal aplomb (Image credit: IDrive) IDrive offers continuous syncing of your files, even those on network drives. The web interface supports sharing files by email, Facebook and Twitter. Cautious or click-happy users will be pleased to hear that files deleted from your computer are not automatically deleted from the server, so there's less danger of removing something important by accident. Up to 30 previous versions of all files backed to your account are retained.
Another thing to note is that IT admins have access to IDrive Thin Client application, which allows them to backup/restore, manage settings, and more for all their connected computers via a centralized dashboard. For photos, you have a neat facial recognition feature that helps you to automatically organize them as well as syncing them across all your linked devices. IDrive also offers IDrive Express which sends you a physical hard disk drive if you lose all your data, allowing for the swift restoration of all your backed up files. That applies to the newly introduced disk image backup feature. A business version exists and offers priority support, single sign-on as well as unlimited users and server backup. Furthermore, IDrive Cloud, an enterprise-class cloud object storage is also available.
pCloud delivers an affordable Cloud storage facility with a selection of apps (Image credit: pCloud) While some bandwidth limits apply, there seems to be no limit to the size of files you can upload, so feel free to sync large media files with pCloud. The service is available for all desktop and mobile platforms – users can also log in via the website. The company itself is registered in Switzerland which has strong privacy laws and you can also pay a premium of $4.99 a month for pCloud Crypto to lock (and unlock) individual files with passwords. Note that it is one of the very few cloud services that offer lifetime subscriptions. The latter come with 30 days trash history and unlimited remote upload traffic (you only need the URL of the file); you are - as expected - limited on the download link traffic: 500GB for the Premium package and 2TB for the Premium Plus package.
Image credit: Zoolz There are lots of things to like about Zoolz Cloud Backup for both personal use and business deployment. It offers an easy to follow interface with excellent web management options, and the ability to combine cloud operations with local external storage. This UK-based company leverages Amazon’s Glacier infrastructure to deliver a compelling price/performance ratio, with prices far cheaper than the competition. With 20PB of data stored for three million users for more than a decade, Zoolz is also not as ephemeral as some of its rivals.
Image credit: Degoo Swedish outfit Degoo is not a household name, and therefore it comes as a surprise that it has managed to carve itself a niche inside the ultra-competitive cloud storage market. With only two offerings, this outfit has managed to attract more than 15 million users globally since its inception earlier in 2019 – an estimated 20,000 people join Degoo every day. It is one of the few cloud storage companies worldwide that encrypts stored files and disperses them across four different continents. It also supports two-factor authentication via the Google sign-in.
Image credit: Mega With an insanely generous free tier and a simple drag-and-drop interface, New Zealand-based Mega is one of the cloud storage heavyweights. There's a handy mobile app to allow you to upload files and photos, as well as sync clients with desktop machines. The company also has business tailored plans. Mega claims that all data stored in its cloud is encrypted on your device before it reaches the firm’s servers. As the company has released the source code to its sync client, experts can check that there are no vulnerabilities. Price: 50GB free. 400GB for $6 a month (£4.50, €4.99, around AU$7.50). 2TB for $12 a month (£9, €9.99, around AU$16). 8TB for $23 a month (£17, €19.99, around AU$30). 16TB for $35 a month (£26, €29.99, around AU$46).
Image credit: Microsoft OneDrive is integrated into Windows 10's File Explorer. You don't have to download an additional app – it's there to use out of the box, which is obviously very convenient for those who have made the jump to Microsoft’s newest operating system. Microsoft's Photos app can also use OneDrive to sync pictures across all your devices. As of late March, Autodesk AutoCAD has been integrated with OneDrive which is good news for anyone using the software's drafting tools. In addition, you have a feature called Personal Vault, which gives you an added layer of protection. There's an app for Android and iOS devices, and there's even one in the App Store for Mac users (although it has received mixed reviews). Price: 5GB free. 100GB for $1.99 a month (£1.50, around AU$2.9). 1TB for $7 a month (£5.99, around AU$11). Unlimited (as part of Onedrive for Business) for $10 a month (£7.99, around AU$14)
Image credit: Apple If you want to back up your iPhone to iCloud, you'll need more than the free 5GB allowance Apple gives you, but compared to rivals iCloud prices are very reasonable. The Mac Finder app integrates iCloud Drive, where you can store any files you wish. Documents created in the iWork office suite are also saved to iCloud and can sync across your devices. Windows users can also sync their files with iCloud Drive using the official client, and access the iWork apps on the iCloud website. Price: 5GB free. 50GB for $0.99 a month (£0.79, AU$1.49). 200GB for $2.99 (£2.24, AU$4). 2TB for $9.99 (£8, AU$13)
Image credit: Google Google Drive is a natural choice for owners of Android devices as it's already integrated, but users of other platforms may appreciate the generous free storage too. You can also store high definition photos on your mobile phone with companion app Google Photos, and make use of Google's own office suite (now known as G Suite). Also, upgrading to paid Google Drive plans is now called Google One (although it might not yet be available, depending on the region). Downsides include the fact that the web interface isn't very easy-to-use, although Windows and Mac users can download a desktop app to drag-and-drop files easily. Price: 15GB free. 100GB for $1.99 a month (£1.59, around AU$2.50). 200GB for $2.99 a month (£2.35, around AU$4.10). 2TB for $9.99 a month (£8, around AU$13). 10TB for $99.99 a month (£74, around AU$130). 20TB for $199.99 a month (£148, around AU$260). 30TB for $299.99 a month (£236, around AU$426).
Image credit: Box Box's website currently seems to be pushing its Business plans as clicking ‘sign up’ takes you to the pricing page where for $15 per user (£11, around AU$19) you can benefit from advanced collaboration options and unlimited storage. But there is a 10GB free option, too. As Box has been around for a while, it is supported by a number of mainstream apps such as Google Docs and Office 365. It's also integrated with G-Suite, which means Docs, Sheets and Slides are automatically saved and managed in Box. Additionally, like OneDrive, it's also been integrated with AutoCAD. Box is also integrated with Slack and Microsoft Teams. The Box Sync client is available from the Downloads page for Mac and Windows, plus there's also an official Android client. Price: 10GB free. 100GB for around $10 a month (£7.50, around AU$13)
Image credit: NextCloud NextCloud isn’t an online cloud storage provider itself, but offers free software to download and install a cloud storage service on your own server. Using a server on your home network for cloud storage is much faster. You can also enable encryption and make sure the information never leaves your home network, which is far safer. If you've no server or IT experience, you can even purchase a preconfigured NextCloud Box (if you can find one) which comes with a 1TB hard drive and will work with an inexpensive Raspberry Pi board to keep your data synced. Unfortunately, NextCloud Box is sold out but you can check out the alternatives on their website Price: Free to install and use. Self-hosting so storage costs vary.
Image credit: SpiderOak SpiderOak is part of a new trend of zero knowledge cloud storage providers. The website claims that after installing the client your data is encrypted before syncing. Unfortunately since SpiderOak hasn’t made the client source code public, there's no way to confirm this. The SpiderOakOne client is available for Windows, Mac and Linux as well as Android and iOS (although, both Android and iOS are read-only apps, meaning you can only view files, and can't upload or sync anything). You can also log in via the web interface but privacy lovers may prefer not to as it exposes your password to SpiderOak employees. Price: 21-day free trial. 150GB for $6 a month (around £4.5, AU$8.25). 400GB for $11 a month (around £8.4, AU$15). 2TB for $14 a month (around £10.7, AU$19.25). 5TB for $29 a month (around £22.1, AU$39.9)
Best free cloud storage
Image credit: Google Free storage allowance: 15GB (expandable) If you're a Google user, you already benefit from Google Drive integration, such as the ability to save email attachments from Gmail. However, anyone can sign up for the free cloud storage, even if they don't have a Gmail address, by creating a new Google account. Google is also in a process of releasing Google One as a sort of substitution for Google Drive, although depending on your region it might not be available yet. With 15GB of space for new users, Google Drive is one of the more generous cloud offerings, and there are occasional ways to boost this capacity free of charge. The catch is that this Google storage space is also shared with a user’s other Google services including Gmail and Google Photos. Mobile apps are available to allow easy access for iOS and Android users, and Google’s Backup and Sync desktop app lets you synchronize files from your PC to the cloud. Google Drive also includes online office tools for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations which can makes sharing files with others effortless.
Image credit: pCloud Free storage allowance: 10GB (expandable) You might not recognize the name, but if you're looking for a decent chunk of cloud storage free of charge, pCloud could be just the ticket. To kick things off, you're given a fairly generous 10GB to play with, and there's a bandwidth allowance of 50GB of downlink traffic per month. While we're primarily interested in the free version of pCloud, note that you can upgrade to 500GB of space for a monthly plan of $4.99 (£3.70), or 2TB for $9.99 (£7.50) a month – both of which are great deals for storage. You also have annual and lifetime plans, which are a cheaper option in the long run. The initial 10GB free offering can also be expanded up to 20GB via an additional 4GB for completion of offers, as well as referrals that add 1GB each. It’s also worth noting that pCloud offers well-designed desktop and mobile apps that supplement the website for seamless integration into a user’s workflow. With no limit on file sizes, and simple sharing options, pCloud is a great way to send large files to friends and colleagues – it's even possible to share with people who aren't using the service themselves. Add in decent streaming options and a neat online interface, and pCloud is well worth a look.
Image credit: Microsoft Free storage allowance: 5GB Coming from Microsoft – a company with plenty of money to throw at the cloud – it's a little disappointing to find that OneDrive doesn’t include more space free of charge. Free users get a mere 5GB of storage, although it's relatively inexpensive to increase this to 50GB. If you have Office 365, you'll automatically get boosted to 1TB of space, but not everyone wants an Office subscription. Like Google Drive's appeal to Google users, OneDrive will be a good fit for anyone who is committed to using Microsoft's services. There's neat integration with Outlook.com, for instance. It's also integrated with non-Microsoft services like AutoCAD. OneDrive also ties in nicely with Windows 10, and there is a selection of reasonable mobile apps to facilitate access on the move. It's possible to share files with other people even if they aren't OneDrive users (complete with customizable permissions), and the ability to edit files online without downloading them is a welcome touch.
Image credit: Dropbox Free storage allowance: 2GB (expandable) Dropbox is a stalwart of the free cloud storage world, with a web interface that remains streamlined and easy-to-use. Despite its popularity, Dropbox actually has one of the least generous free packages for new users (just 2GB), but there are various ways to boost this space without paying, including inviting friends to join (you get 500MB per referral up to 16GB), completing the Getting Started guide (250MB) and contributing to the Dropbox forum (which elicits 1GB per 'Mighty Answer' provided). DropBox really comes into its own when you start delving into the service’s extra features. There's a great collaborative working tool called Dropbox Paper that acts as a group workspace, and – if you install the desktop app – you can back up photos automatically. The File Requests feature also allows you to request another user to upload a file to your Dropbox account. Additionally, a feature called Dropbox Rewind lets you restore folders or your entire account to a specific point in time. There are desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, and mobile apps including Android, iOS and even Kindle. This gives Dropbox broad appeal, as does the support for third-party apps and services. The web version of Dropbox lets you edit files without needing to download them, and really the only thing that counts against the cloud storage service is that most alternatives offer more space to free users.
Image credit: MediaFire Free storage allowance: 10GB (expandable) MediaFire has been around for over a decade, and those years of experience really show. You're given 10GB of free space initially, but you can boost this by an extra 40GB through activities like referring friends and following MediaFire's social media accounts. Few people would disagree that 50GB of free cloud storage is impressive. Free accounts carry ads, but this is a small sacrifice to make. There's support for large files up to 20GB, and the sharing options are very impressive, even allowing sharing with non-users. The web-based interface is excellent too, and MediaFire offers mobile apps for convenient uploading and downloading on iOS and Android. These make it easy to access files you're storing in the cloud, and include convenient features such as automatic photo syncing.
Best business cloud storage
Image credit: SpiderOak SpiderOak is a collaboration tool, online backup and file hosting service founded in 2007. The platform allows users to access, synchronize and share data using a cloud-based server. The company places a strong emphasis on data security and privacy. They offer a cloud storage, online backup and sharing service which they claim uses a ‘zero knowledge’ privacy environment. This means the client is the only one who can view all stored data. Not even SpiderOak themselves have access to your data. SpiderOak’s main focus is on privacy and security. As a result, the tool itself has a very basic design. This makes the admin console and all central device management very straightforward to use. They also include a handy drag and drop feature for organising files. From the centralized device management dashboard, users can access settings for all applications such as backup selection and sharing. The dashboard also allows users to manage their accounts, set group permissions and gain insight into usage. Prospective business clients will need to contact SpiderOak’s Sales Team directly to obtain a quote. 500 users minimum is required. Online commentators have observed that SpiderOak lacks many of the collaboration tools available from other cloud storage providers.
Image credit: Tresorit Tresorit is a cloud storage provider based in Hungary and Switzerland. It was founded in 2011. The provider emphasizes enhanced security and data encryption for businesses and personal users alike. If you are concerned with ensuring that your stored data is kept safe online then Tresorit is the service for you. This provider allows you to keep control of your files through ‘zero-knowledge encryption’ meaning that only you and the chosen few you decide to share with can ever see your data. Your Tresorit account can also be secured by two-factor authentication login and you can choose where to keep company data with Data Residency Options. Furthermore, you also have features like Document Scanner which securely scans and uploads documents directly to Tresorit. Tresorit’s ‘Small Business’ Packages starts at $25 (£19.60) per month (or $20 monthly for the annual plan) for teams with 2-9 users. This includes 1000GB encrypted storage, secure access on up to 10 devices and synching of existing folder structure. Tresorit’s ‘Business’ plan begins at $30 (£23.30) per month (or $24 monthly for the annual plan) for businesses with over 10 users. This comes with extras such as digital rights management, remote wipe and phone support. At the time of writing there is a 50% discount on "Business plan", so you can pay as low as $12 (£9.4) per month For Enterprise solutions, users will need to contact Tresorit directly. Extras included in this are personalized staff training, admin API and on-premises deployment. All tiers come with a 14-day free trial. The extra security offered by Tresorit makes it relatively expensive compared to other cloud backup solutions. However most users will probably appreciate the greater piece of mind and extra features offered by Tresorit.
Image credit: Egnyte Egnyte was founded in 2007. The company provides software for enterprise file synchronization and sharing. Egnyte allows businesses to store their data locally and online. All types of data can be stored in the cloud, whilst data of a more sensitive nature can be stored on servers on-premise. This makes for better security. Business teams can work how and where they want with an easy to use collaboration system through Egnyte’s content services platform. Egnyte integrates with popular industry applications such as Office 365 or Gmail. This allows both remote and internal employees to access all files with ease. Egnyte’s ‘Office’ plan starts at $8 (£6.21) per employee per month. This covers 5-25 employees, 5TB of storage and 10GB max file size. The ‘Business’ packages starts at $20 (£15.7) per employee per month. This includes 25-100 employees, 10TB online storage and 10GB max file size. In order to take advantage of their ‘Enterprise tier’, which includes over 100 employees, 25GB max file size and unlimited storage, you will need to contact Egnyte directly. Egnyte offer a 15-day free trial for all packages. Users have observed that some files, such as photos, can take a long time to load.
Image credit: Dropbox Dropbox is one of the oldest cloud storage providers. It was founded in 2007. To date it is one of the simplest storage providers to use. Dropbox can be installed on most computers or devices and syncs easily between apps. The app can store almost any kind of file while never having any issues with compatibility. You can drag and drop files into the desktop app with ease. You can also share files with other users easily through links. These can be shared with users who don’t have a Dropbox account. Also, teams can make use out of Dropbox spaces, which transforms folders into collaborative workspaces. Furthermore, with Dropbox Transfer you can send up to 100 GB of files in just a few clicks. As Dropbox has been around for a long time it integrates with most other apps such as MS Office and Slack. All files and folders can be shared with other users even if they are not part of your account. These users will be limited to their own plan's storage limits. Dropbox Business can be connected to your personal account so you can access all your files in once place. Personal account feature "automatic camera upload" is now also available to Business accounts, as of November 2018. The dashboard is simple and easy to use. From here, admins can see how many team members they have as well as any pending invites. You can restrict sharing, and allow/block commenting as you see fit. The dashboard allows you to access settings and to monitor usage. Dropbox offers a 30-day free trial which asks for your payment details. Your plan will automatically upgrade after the trial at which point your card is charged. The ‘Standard’ plan starts at $12.50 (£9.71) per user per month starting at 3 users and includes 3TB storage. The ‘Advanced’ package begins at $20 (£15.70) per user per month with unlimited storage. In order to subscribe to the ‘Enterprise’ tier, users will need to contact Dropbox directly. Some users have commented on the lack of online editing tools.
Image credit: Box Box is a cloud content management and file sharing service for businesses. It was founded in 2005. Box offers strong management capabilities and security features. The interface is made for ease of use and is simple to navigate. The dashboard allows access to settings, files and folders. Admins can manage all users, monitors activity and control sharing. As Box has been around for a while, it is supported by a number of mainstream apps such as Google Docs and Office 365. The Box Sync client is available from the Downloads page for Mac and Windows. There's also an official Android client. Box also has integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams. In March 2020, additional features have been added like Premium support and Dropbox Rewind. Box offers a 14-day free trial for all packages. Their ‘Starter’ plan is priced at $5 (£3.88) per user per month. This includes 100GB secure storage, 2GB file upload with a maximum of 10 users. The ‘Business’ plan starts at $15 (£11.80) per user per month which includes unlimited storage, 5GB file upload and no maximum number of users. The ‘Business Plus’ package is $25 (£19.60) per user per month and comes with unlimited storage, 5GB file upload and unlimited external collaborators. In order to subscribe to Box’s ‘Enterprise’ plan, users will have to contact them directly for a quote. If you choose to share files external users are limited to read-only access.
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| InCountry cashes in on growing demand for data residency services in Middle East Posted: 21 Apr 2020 10:55 AM PDT To cash in on the growing demand to address data sovereignty issues in the Middle East, San Francisco-based tech startup – InCountry – has opened its Middle East headquarters at Abu Dhabi’s Hub71. Samer Kamal, Vice-President of Product at InCountry, told TechRadar Middle East that data protection and data privacy have been hot topics globally for enterprises as well as consumers. The introduction of GDPR in 2018 has had a significant impact on personal data protection and the demand for privacy expertise exploded after that. The rise of data breaches has forced many cloud providers to have data centres in each country to comply with data residency laws. More than 80 countries have now adopted comprehensive data protection laws. “Enterprises are expanding and going to more than one country and we help them comply with data residency regulations, especially in emerging countries. We have a data residency-as-a-service platform that securely stores and processes data in the country of origin,” he said. Moreover, he said that enterprises don’t need to move the complete stack or rebuild the entire stack when moving to another country. “Once it is set up in one country, it works around the world,” he said. InCountry is backed by Caffeinated Capital, Felicis Ventures, Arbor Ventures, Ridge Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, Charles River Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Parade Ventures, Mubadala Ventures and MState. The startup has a presence in more than 70 countries and Kamal said that they plan to have a presence in about 100 countries by the end of the year. Understanding local requirementsThe advantage of InCountry, Kamal said is that they not only provide technical solutions but also have people on the ground in legal and in the regulatory framework in all these countries to understand exactly what the local requirements are. “Many local companies do not know what the local data residency laws are and we clearly know what is going to come. So, enterprises can focus on global expansion without hiring compliance staff or rebuilding their entire solutions in multiple countries,” he said. InCountry works with hyperscale cloud providers such as IBM, AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure in the Gulf countries and with Saudi Telecom Company (STC) in Saudi Arabia. In countries which do not have hyperscale providers, Kamal said that they work co-location service providers. “We will be announcing a partnership with a local vendor that has partnerships with governments and healthcare ministry in Abu Dhabi and where we will allow customers to work with them. If a customer prefers to work with some other cloud providers, it is not an issue for us and we can work any cloud providers,” he said. Salesforce operates in only six data centres around the world but in partnership with InCountry, Kamal said that they now have a presence in 70 countries. Strategic growth areaInCountry’s customers are in the highly regulated industries such as public sector, government entities, healthcare, banking and finance. “We see the Middle East as a very strategic area right now. We are barely one-year-old but we are seeing tremendous growth,” Kamal said. When asked who is to be blamed if a breach happens, he said that it is a “shared responsibility”. “We let our customers know where our responsibility lies and where the cloud provider’s responsibility also come in and, at the same time, the customer is also responsible for a lot of things,” he said. He added that InCountry supports regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Service Organisation Control 2 (SOC 2) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI).
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| Best laptop for DJs 2020: the best laptops for music production Posted: 21 Apr 2020 10:37 AM PDT What makes the best laptop for DJs? The best laptop for music production, which is essential if you’re a musician or a professional DJ, must tick a few particular boxes. That means that not all powerful laptops are ideal candidates. Still, finding one is worth it to speed up your production process so you can focus more on your creative one. There are a few things to consider when choosing the best laptop for music production. Having lots of power to handle the digital audio workstation (DAW) software you use is priority, so you need plenty of fast RAM and one of the best processors. You’ll also require one with a fast and spacious storage drive – or a dual drive with both an SSD and a hard drive should be plenty – to save your massive music files in. And finally, if you’re on the road a lot, you might even need a laptop that's rugged as well as light and thin like an Ultrabook so that it can take a beating or two and is extremely portable. Let us help you find the best value for you, no matter your budget. Your options for best laptop for music production may not be limitless, but you’ve got quite a few choices out there. We put together a list of the best laptops of your music production needs, whether you want the MacBook Pro or considering one that runs Windows 10.
While we’re sad that the 15-inch MacBook Pro is no more, we’ve welcomed the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) with open arms. As thin, light and sleek as ever, you wouldn’t think this was a 16-inch behemoth. Yet, you’re getting that extra real estate on that stunning display, as well as the latest and greatest components behind it. This is, without a doubt, the best laptop for DJs, as well as content creators, designers and other creative professionals. With amazing (and loud) speakers and a much, much better keyboard to boot, music production has never been this good. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
The Dell XPS 13 (2020) has been a regular in our best laptops list for years, and it also earns a well-deserved spot in our best laptops for DJs list. It keeps everything we've come to love from Dell's flagship 13-incher, from the gorgeous and light design, to the powerful modern components that power it. For 2020, however, it now rocks 10th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and a bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display, which means the Dell XPS 13 (2020) is a brilliant performer, while remaining thin and light. There’s a wide range of customization options as well. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13
Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition is crafted for creative professionals and content creators. If you think Razer laptops are only for gaming, then the new Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition is here to prove you wrong. Razer takes its ever popular Razer Blade 15, fits it with even more impressive specs and turns it into one of the best mobile creative workstations has to offer. This powerhouse has been crafted for creative professionals and content creators, and is therefore ideal for musicians as well. You’ll be spending a lot of money to take this laptop home. But, make no mistake, it will be one of the smartest investments you’ll ever make. That is, if you can afford it. Read the full review: Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition
With the third version of the Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft has made its best laptop yet. While it's not a huge leap over its predecessor, the Surface Laptop 3 does improve on almost every aspect. Best of all, with the 15-inch version you now get a choice of either Intel or AMD hardware. These are some of the most desirable laptops in the world that don't have a logo of an apple on them, with a new aluminum body that gives it a premium feel, while protecting it from knocks and drops when you’re on the road. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Apple’s thinnest and lightest MacBook is back in 2020 with a vengeance. Not only has it fixed a lot of the complaints with its predecessors – namely, that problematic keyboard is now gone, replaced by a drastically improved keyboard. But it also comes with new and more powerful internal components, even more storage space options, and a lower price of entry - making it ideal for musicians and DJs who are only starting out. There are a couple of things we’d do better, like the muted screen and the average battery life, but this model of the MacBook Air is better than anything we’ve seen from the line to date. Read the full review: MacBook Air (2020)
The seventh iteration of Microsoft’s award-winning product may not be the generational leap many Microsoft tablets have been waiting for, but it offers some improvements from its predecessor. This 2-in-1 tablet aimed at pros has received impressive gains in power, making it more capable than ever as laptops for musicians and DJs. Also, it now boasts a USB-C port and Wifi 6 connectivity. And, of course, it offers that same level of portability that many Windows tablet users crave. The best part is that it has a few configurations, which means you can choose how much power and storage space to get depending on how much you need. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 7
The Dell XPS line just keeps getting better every year, and 2019’s 15-inch model is no exception. The webcam, which is smaller than ever, is back in its rightful place, and that optional 4K touch display is as stunning as ever. Better yet, this boasts the more powerful 9th-generation processors as well as up to 64GB of memory, which makes it ideal for handling those demanding DAW applications. And with up to 2TB of storage, you’ll have enough space to store your music files in. Unfortunately, those speakers are bottom-facing, but you’re better off using your audiophile headphones or speakers anyway.
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| Microsoft Surface Book 3 may be a content creation powerhouse Posted: 21 Apr 2020 10:33 AM PDT Microsoft is expected to launch the Surface Book 3 in a matter of weeks and a new leak suggests it will offer a major spec upgrade under the hood. The leak, courtesy of tipster Roland Quandt, all but confirms that the Surface Book 3 will feature Intel 10th-generation Comet Lake processors, with the 13-inch model and 15-inch variants set to pack Core i5-10210U and Core i7-10510U CPUs, respectively.
Further, a 3DMark listing suggests that Microsoft will offer the Surface Book 3 with the GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q and GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q graphics, positioning the laptop as a specced-out machine aimed at content creators and professional users. Quandt believes these Quadro GPUs will only make their way to the Surface Book 3 15, specifically SKUs with 32GB of RAM and at least 512GB of storage. According to this latest leak from Quandt, the Surface Book 3 will be available from $1,699 (around £1,385, AU$3,318), which will get you a 13-inch i5 model sans dGPU with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Microsoft’s top-spec 15-inch Core i7 model with 32GB RAM and 2TB storage will set you back a hefty $3,399 (around £2,770, AU$6,640). The Surface Book 3 is widely expected to make its debut in May, alongside a revamped Surface Dock and the so-called Surface Go 2. Many formsThe tipster also notes that Microsoft is planning more, as yet undisclosed variants of the Surface Book 3. Given last year’s Surface Laptop 3 was offered in both Intel and AMD versions, we wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft was also planning to add an Team Red variant to its Surface Book lineup. Hardware leaker @_rogame recently discovered AMD Ryzen 4000 benchmark that showed the Zen 2 APU inside a mysterious Surface device, speculating that the device, which sports a custom Ryzen 7 CPU with integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics, could be the incoming Surface Book 3. This all means that the Surface Book 3 could be utilizing a wide range of different hardware so both casual and professional users can get a model that will be perfect for their actual needs. Whether you need the professional graphics power that a Quadro GPU offers or whether you just need something that can run Photoshop, these Surface Book 3 leaks suggest everyone will get what they need.
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| Dell Technologies offers billions in financing in bid to encourage IT spending Posted: 21 Apr 2020 10:05 AM PDT In an effort to help its customers and channel partners during this trying time, Dell Technologies has launched a new Payment Flexibility Program that includes zero percent interest rates for infrastructure solutions and up to 180-day payment deferrals. The company's financial arm, Dell Financial Services announced the new program which will also make $9bn in financing available this year to help fund its customers' critical technology needs. In a blog post announcing its Payment Flexibility Program, president and general manager of Dell Financial Services, Bill Wavro explained that the company is here to help its customers, saying:
“This is our commitment to help you run your business, take care of your people and access essential technology. Dell Financial Services (DFS) has been a reliable partner for the last 23 years and will be here to support you, especially during times of uncertainty.” Payment Flexibility ProgramTo help businesses access the equipment and technologies they need during the global pandemic, DFS is introducing zero interest rates for Dell Technologies' server, storage and networking solutions with no up-front payment required. The company is even deferring first payments for up to 180 days on all data center infrastructure and services in order to help its customers and partners manage their cash flow. Dell will also offer short-term options for remote work and distance learning solutions with six to 12-month terms as well as refresh options for laptops and desktops. Finally, the company has added a one year term to flexible consumption offerings in its Dell Technologies On Demand program. Customers can scale usage of Dell's converged, hyperconverged, hybrid cloud, storage and data protection solutions and only pay for what they use. As part of its Dell Technologies on Demand portfolio, Flex on Demand is also available from three to five-year term options.
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| The iPhone SE is half price at just $199 in this incredible pre-order deal Posted: 21 Apr 2020 10:03 AM PDT The 2020 iPhone SE is officially available to pre-order, and Xfinity Mobile is offering a $200 price cut when you activate a new line and transfer your number. This is a fantastic deal if you're looking for a new phone carrier and want to snag the all-new iPhone for just $199. See more of the best iPhone SE pre-order deals: the best prices and plans available right now This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Intel Comet Lake release date, news and features Posted: 21 Apr 2020 09:48 AM PDT The Intel Comet Lake mobile processors are now out in the world. Announced in August 2019, Intel’s 10th-generation processors first made their way into Ultrabooks in late 2019. And now, they’re on their way to gaming laptops and workstations, bringing the fight to AMD Ryzen 4000. There’s already a mouthful of information out there about Intel Comet Lake, but it can be a bit confusing. Keeping track of Intel’s releases is already hard enough – looking at you, Cannon Lake. But with its 10th-generation Comet Lake processors, Intel has really taken things to a new level. These processors have not only been designed alongside Intel’s Ice Lake processors for laptops, but they were also released around the same time, the two series altogether making up Intel’s 10th-generation Core lineup. The only major difference between these two is the manufacturing process, with Ice Lake being the first 10nm processors Intel has put out in the mainstream and part of Project Athena, and Comet Lake being yet another iteration of the 14nm Skylake architecture. Besides mobile processors, there have also been rumors about Intel's Comet Lake-S for desktop. In fact, some benchmarks have already leaked online, showcasing some of the chips’ single-core performance prowess. If other leaks are accurate, these next generation desktop range will include a 10-core flagship capable of 5.3GHz boost as well as a 6-core, 12-thread chip with a 4.5GHz boost clock speed. To help you make sense of the Intel Comet Lake range, we’ve broken things down for you. Let’s dive into everything Comet Lake, and talk about any rumors about future desktop parts. Keep this page bookmarked, as we'll update it with any new information that comes our way. Cut to the chase
We still don't know when we'll actually see Comet Lake-S desktop chips. Intel Comet Lake release dateIntel pushed out its 10th-generation Comet Lake processors for laptops back in August, with the actual laptops filtering out over the following months. On top of those, Intel has announced early April the full lineup of Comet Lake-H processors, which will be the high-performance chips that will be found in gaming laptops this year. That means we will be seeing those chips out in the wild in the next few months. We still don't know when we'll actually see Comet Lake-S desktop chips, though their prices have already been leaked. They were previously rumored to hit the streets in the first quarter of 2020, but even at CES 2020, Intel disappointingly made no mention of them. There’s still a big chance we’ll see them soon, however. According to Spanish news outlet El Chapuzas Informatico, Intel will unveil its 10th-generation Comet Lake-S processors for desktop on April 30. We have also seen some leaked product roadmaps that suggest that Intel Comet Lake-S processors will come out in 2020, so that's definitely where our money is. Though it’s also possible that if the Intel Core i9-9900KS release date of October 2019 was any indication, we might not see Intel releasing its latest flagship mainstream desktop processors before Q4. In fact, a leaked slide points to Comet Lake-S desktop processors being delayed. Still, we’re hoping that some of the other Comet Lake-S processors will trickle out before then. We already caught a glimpse of the Intel Core i3-10300, a hyperthreaded entry-level chip from the lineup, and the Intel Core i9-10900 and Core i5-10500 processors have recently been spotted in the 3DMark database as well.
We might not see Intel launching its latest flagship mainstream desktop processors before Q4. Intel Comet Lake priceNow that the Comet Lake processors for laptops are out, the price tag for each chip is also finally available. We’ve listed them out for you below so you can decide whether or not to upgrade. These are Intel’s recommended price for every Comet Lake chip:
With laptop pricing, though, it’s important to keep in mind that these aren’t prices that consumers will ever see. Instead, it’s a suggested price that Intel gives to its distributors, which can charge above or below this price to laptop manufacturers. These prices will generally be worked into the overall price of the laptop, but these numbers can still give a decent idea of which segment of the laptop market each chip falls into. As far as Intel Comet Lake-S pricing, obviously we don’t have official information on that yet. However, Comet Lake-S prices have recently been leaked, and they are as follows:
We can also do a bit of speculation based on previous generations of desktop processors. Coffee Lake Refresh saw the prices go up a little bit from Coffee Lake, but the differences were pretty negligible – just $20 (£30, AU$135) from the Intel Core i7-8700K to the i7-9700K. Below, we went ahead and listed the pricing of Coffee Lake Refresh’s desktop offerings, but we could see prices go up or down (probably up) when Comet Lake is actually announced.
Now that the Comet Lake processors for laptops are out, the price tag for each chip is also finally available. Intel Comet Lake specsComet Lake is yet another iteration of Intel’s 14nm manufacturing process. This means that there isn’t much improvement in the way of power efficiency, and thermals will probably start to ramp up. We haven't got a chance to test each of these processors yet, but we expect the difference over 8th-generation Whiskey Lake chips to be pretty minor – aside from the Intel Core i7-10710U, of course, which boasts is a 6-core (12-thread) processor with a boost of up to 4.7GHz. We've got all the specs of the Intel Comet Lake Mobile chips here:
These may look very similar to Whiskey Lake, but with some higher clock speeds. The biggest differences here, though, are the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6 compatibility and Thunderbolt 3 on the die. As far as desktop processors go, we already have plenty of rumors to fuel some speculation. One of the most common threads among Comet Lake-S rumors is the fact that we’re going to see up to 10-core 20-thread desktop chips. We’re going to go ahead and assume that if this is true, this 10-core 20-thread processor will be the follow up to the Intel Core i9-9900K, with a 10-core single threaded chip taking over the Core i7-9700K’s slot. A much recent benchmark leak hints that this successor, the Intel Core i9-10900K, shows that it will deliver an almost 30% leap in performance. Unfortunately, another recent rumor seems to suggest that this 10-core flagship is a power-hungry beast. According to this leak, the Core i9-10900F (F means there’s no integrated GPU) draws 224W in terms of PL2 while flooring it in a stress test scenario, with an all-core boost of 4.6GHz. If this is to be trusted, users will be needing some serious cooling solution. On the mid-range side, leaked specs of the Intel Core i5-10600 has already given us a taste of how these might compare to AMD Ryzen 3000, which shows that Intel will have to offer some competitive prices for its Comet Lake-S chips to keep up with AMD. More recent leaked benchmarks for the i7-10700K, i5-10600K and i5-10600KF show off their single-core performance, unsurprisingly outmatching their respective AMD rivals. Some leaked slides from Intel appeared on Informatica Cero showing a broad lineup of desktop processors. Here are the Comet Lake-S processors that were leaked, along with their single-core Turbo speeds:
Beyond that, we'll just have to wait and see what 10th-generation desktop chips are going to look like. The good news is, Intel is already looking to bring out the big guns, which are necessary with AMD pushing high-core count and high-performance chips. Images Credit: TechRadar
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| AMD Ryzen 4000 release date, laptops and specs: everything we know about AMD's next CPUs Posted: 21 Apr 2020 09:45 AM PDT There’s no stopping AMD Ryzen 4000 from demolishing Intel. With Team Red already sitting on top of the CPU world, selling 40% more processors than its rival, these big flagships are going for the knockout, with the Ryzen 4000 processors for laptops already nearly as fast as their desktop counterparts. After giving us a sneak peek at sneak peek at AMD Ryzen 4000 processors for laptops at CES 2020, these mobile processors are already out, delivering hugely improved performance across the board. As evidenced by the compelling Asus Zephyrus G14, they’re delivering desktop-class performance in a lightweight laptop, changing the gaming laptop scene forever. It doesn’t stop there – AMD may also be preparing to add a new flagship APU, Ryzen 9 4900U, to the lineup. Of course, laptops aren't the entire scene. We've heard plenty of whispers about the AMD Zen 3-equipped Ryzen 4000 processors for desktops, which could be coming in October. And, these will be based on a 7nm+ manufacturing process. That means that they could potentially push clock speeds high enough to really make Intel hurt, especially if Team Blue stays stuck at 14nm on desktop. Although it’s also entirely possible that rather than pushing its Ryzen 4000 lineup to compete with the top-end Comet Lake chips, AMD could roll out a couple of budget-friendly Ryzen 3000 processors. With so much information and gossip regarding the next generation of Ryzen for laptops and desktops, we gathered all the most important bits right here to help you stay ahead of the Ryzen 4000 curve. Be sure to bookmark this article and keep checking in, as we’ll update it with all the latest news that comes our way. Cut to the chase
AMD Ryzen 4000 release dateRight out of the gate, the next-generation of Ryzen processors for desktop haven’t seen an official release date. We know that Lisa Su said AMD Ryzen 4000 for desktop will be coming in 2020. And, a new rumor suggests that they are set to go on sale in October 2020, alongside the RDNA 2 graphics cards. Last year, AMD took its Ryzen 3rd Generation processors to Computex 2019 for a preview, and announced more details later at E3 2019. Back at CES 2019, AMD announced Zen 2, the microarchitecture that would later be behind Ryzen 3rd Generation, Threadripper 3rd Generation and Epyc 2nd generation. We expected Team Red to follow suit by announcing Zen 3 with some vague details at CES 2020, but that didn't happen. While E3 2020 has been cancelled, Computex 2020 has simply gotten a later date: September 28-30, 2020. If all goes well, we could see AMD giving us a sneak peek at the desktop chips at the conference, like last year, before rolling them out in October. We did get something at CES 2020, at least, when AMD CEO Lisa Su unveiled the AMD Ryzen 4000 processors for laptops. Prior to their release, the much-anticipated 7nm mobile processors have since shown up in product listings on Amazon for multiple Asus gaming laptops in China and Canada. Now, these chips are out in the wild and ready to power a new generation of thin and light laptops that boast incredible performance and impressively long battery life. The newly-released Asus Zephyrus G14 is leading that charge. We should start seeing more laptops rocking AMD Ryzen 4000 processors by the end of Q2 2020 across both ultraportables and gaming laptops.
AMD Ryzen 4000 PriceAs far as the laptop chips, the prices of the processors themselves are not relevant to most people, as laptop manufacturers will absorb the price and repackage them. Still, we will probably see prices increase over last-generation AMD laptops, due to the fact that AMD's processors will be behind flagship-class laptops like the upcoming Lenovo Yoga Slim 7. We'll probably see Ryzen 3 laptops starting around the $600 mark, with laptops rocking the Ryzen 7 4800H or 4800U hitting the premium market above $1,000. However, we can be a bit more specific with our speculation on the desktop lineup. AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation saw higher prices than Ryzen 2000, largely due to the introduction of Ryzen 9 processors with up to 16 cores. However, the Ryzen 7 3700X did launch at the same $329 (£319, AU$519) price point as the Ryzen 7 2700X that came before it. Due to the success of chips like the Ryzen 9 3900X and 3950X, however, we fully expect AMD to follow suit with the Ryzen 4000 lineup. For reference, we included the pricing of AMD Ryzen 3000 processors below. We expect the pricing to stay roughly the same for the next generation.
AMD Ryzen 4000 SpecsRight now we know the most about the AMD Ryzen 4000 mobile lineup, so that's where we're going to start. These will be the first 7nm processors to make their way to laptops, and with that they bring some huge benefits. The biggest of these is, just like Ryzen 3000 desktop before it, core counts. Even with ultraportable laptops, which have previously been limited to 4 core/8 thread configurations, you're getting 8 cores and 16 threads. This is a huge improvement, and even though clock speeds are limited to 4.2GHz - or a bit higher with 25W configurations – users should see massive gains in productivity workloads. If recent leaks are any indication, AMD Ryzen 4000 mobile chips really won't be much slower than the desktop processors. However, what's odd is that only every other SKU has hyperthreading. For example, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U has 8 cores and 8 threads, whereas the 4800U has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both of the announced H-Series chips for mobile have hyper-threading however, along with higher base clock speeds. One of the key features of this AMD Ryzen 4000 series for laptops is going to be the integrated graphics performance. Now, we haven't had a chance to test this yet, of course, but AMD is promising a boost of up to 28% over Intel's Ice Lake when it comes to graphics performance. These chips will not be in gaming laptops, however, but when you just want to get in a quick Overwatch match on your lunch break, it will make a major difference. We went ahead and listed the core specs of each of the laptop processors.
We know far less about desktop, however. Beyond the fact we know it'll be revealed in 2020, Zen 3 is largely an enigma wrapped in mystery. It will be based on a refinement of the 7nm process found in Zen 2, but any more specific information is purely in the realm of rumor. Benchmarks for a desktop-based variant have shown up online recently, but that chip is a Zen 2-based Renoir APU. That means that it won’t deliver the same level of performance as the high-end SKUs. There are rumors that it will be based on TSMC's new 7nm EUV (extreme ultraviolet) process, similar to what's rumored to be seen with Nvidia Ampere. If this is true, the processors could be much more power efficient, which could see clock speeds see a sizable bump - which could seriously threaten Intel's chips in the gaming scene. Another thing that could make Intel start sweating is the rumor that with Ryzen 4000, AMD may introduce more powerful hyperthreading, with each physical core having four simultaneous processing threads, as opposed to the two found on today's silicon. This is a rumor we'd definitely take with a grain of salt, but if it's true it could even further widen the gap between AMD and Intel when it comes to multi-threaded workloads. It's unlikely that we'll see huge core count bumps with this generation, like we did last year. Instead, AMD will probably use the EUV process to boost performance while cutting power consumption. This does mean that there likely won't be much of a reason to upgrade if you already have a Ryzen 3000 chip. Still, we won't know what AMD Ryzen 4th Generation processors will look like until we see them announced by Team Red. We'll be sure to update this article as soon as we hear more about AMD's next desktop chips and once we've been able to actually test the laptop models.
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| Where to buy a Nintendo Switch: where you can still order a Switch Lite right now Posted: 21 Apr 2020 09:34 AM PDT If you're looking for where to buy a Nintendo Switch, you probably won't be surprised to learn than you're far from the only one. The flagship console is now impossible to get hold of, with stock across the world dropping and Nintendo announcing a delay in the shipping of new units. That said, you can still grab a Nintendo Switch Lite, the handheld-only console released last year for a lower price, but even that is selling absurd numbers right now, particularly in North America. Why is the Switch selling out? Below, we'll explain how the stock shortage happened, and offer our predictions on when stock will return based on our history of covering the Nintendo Switch. We'll also explain where to buy a Nintendo Switch once retailers get stock back in. Check out our Nintendo Switch bundles and deals page for an around-the-clock update on how the console's supplies are doing, but you're much more likely to find a Switch Lite out there right now than the base Switch. Where to buy Nintendo Switch now: here's the last remaining Switch and Switch Lite stockIf you're looking for the full, dockable Nintendo Switch console in the US, UK and Australia, you may have a little longer to wait. Stock has completely dried up, and what's left is hard to find at a reasonable price. However, if you're looking for where to buy a handheld-only Nintendo Switch Lite, you may be in more luck. There's still a little stock across US, UK and Australia for you to take advantage of, but grab one now if you want it. Why is the Nintendo Switch selling out?
It's a combination of a few factors: the global pandemic has led to a rush of people buying the console to fill their hours indoors, which isn't surprising. At the same time, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has released, a long-awaited game and a massive crossover hit that's captured the imaginations of a wider, mainstream audience. The Switch has been regularly selling out for a while now. This has just exacerbated the issue. In addition, back in February, Bloomberg posted a report warning that a potential bottleneck with component supplies coming out of China (caused by coronavirus) would see stock dry up as soon as April. If the reasoning mentioned in that report was correct, it looks like they were pretty on the money with the timing, except stock looks like it'll be gone even faster than that. "Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the US, but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience," is what Nintendo told THR in a statement. So, more stock is on the way. But when will you you be able to buy a Nintendo Switch? When will the Nintendo Switch be back in stock?The situation is hard to predict given that Nintendo has reportedly faced supply line issues over the current health crisis, but Nintendo intends to make 10% more consoles than it did in 2019 to help meet the increase in demand (assuming its supply lines can keep up_. A Nintendo representative told Nikkei, though, that it can't be sure how many Switch units will be supplied as it procures parts for the console. Our prediction? The Switch will be hard to get hold of all year, but we'd be surprised if we see many more new units released as parts of the world are in lockdown. We're hopeful we'll see the Switch more readily available in the summer months. Again, this is just our best guess, but you can be guaranteed that when the Switch does come back, folks will be rushing to claim the new consoles. It's very likely to sell out again. In the meantime, our advice is to avoid being gouged by third-party sellers who are inflating the price. $299.99/£279.99/AU$469 is the MSRP/RRP for the regular Switch, while $199.99/£199.99/AU$329 is the price for the Switch Lite. Paying above that isn't worth it unless you're picking up a bundle with games and accessories. Where to buy Nintendo Switch when stock returnsAs soon as those consoles hit that warehouse, retailers are going to want to get them on the shelves. And you can bet they'll be flying into delivery trucks just as quickly. If you hear word that the Nintendo Switch is back in stock in the US, Amazon and Walmart will be your best bet. With massive warehouse inventories, speedy delivery, and quick checkout processes, these retailers are primed to pick up your Nintendo Switch order ahead of the queue. Plus, in all our time covering Nintendo Switch bundle deals, these stores have consistently won out in value, meaning you're more likely to grab some extras for your cash.
In the UK, Currys and Game are likely to offer the first bundles of the pack, though don't underestimate the power of Argos same day delivery if you want your console now. We'll likely see the best prices come out of Currys, who are normally reluctant to increase the cost of the console as demand reaches its peak, and if you're looking for the fastest checkout times to secure yours before everyone else, you'll want to keep an eye on Amazon as well. If stock has already been wiped clean at these retailers by the time you get there, you'll still be left wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch. Luckily, plenty of non-tech retailers stock the Nintendo Switch as well, so you'll have luck with John Lewis, Jacamo and Studio among others. In Australia, Amazon is likely your best bet, though it's worth keeping an eye on other online stores, such as Kogan and eBay. While it might take a while, big retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Big W are also likely to receive new stock, and game retailers such as EB Games and The Gamesmen are also expected to get more units soon. Don't leave yourself wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch on the day, get prepped now and you have every chance of bagging one when the masses flock to the shelves. Right now, you're more likely to find a Switch Lite than you are a regular Switch, but stock is still selling out fast. Here's a quick price comparison chart for the Switch Lite: And here, you'll find a quick price comparison chart for the Switch itself. We'll keep you updated on the Switch's stock levels. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to watch the PDC Home Tour: live stream darts online from anywhere Posted: 21 Apr 2020 09:31 AM PDT Fans of live sport haven't had a great time of late, unless you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel and enjoying Belurissian Premier League football. That's all set to changing over the coming weeks, though, as virtual sport really finds it feet with a number of major events. Here's how to watch one of the first, the PDC Home Tour - live stream the darts from anywhere with the help of our guide. Featuring some of the game's top darts-throwing men and women's trailblazer Lisa Ashton, the PDC Home Tour darts is formatted as a round-robin competition. Four players compete against each other every night (best of nine legs), after which the winners of each group advance to the next round, which may or may not be played virtually depending on the coronavirus situation this summer. Some of the big name shooters vying for glory in this virtual darts at home competition include world champion Peter Wright, wunderkind Niels Zonneveld, and two-time Grand Slam of Darts winner Gerwyn Price. However, the unpredictable nature of darts has already been underlined with 'Snakebite' Wright eliminated on the first night and Price also having bowed out. So far, Jamie Lewis, Luke Woodhouse, Dave Chisnall and Geert Nentjes have all won their groups, but the action's only just getting started - here's how to watch a PDC Home Tour live stream from anywhere, including for free.
How to watch the PDC Home Tour: live stream the darts online for freeThe PDC's online streaming service is your one-stop-shop for watching all the darts action - and best of all, it's free! All you need to do is register your details and you're good to go. The action starts at the syndicated time every evening of 7.30pm in the UK and Europe, which means it'll be on-air from 2.30pm ET/11.30am PT in the US. If you can't access the PDC's website for whatever reason, we suspect that geo-blocking might be to blame. But there is a solution. Just use a reliable VPN such as ExpressVPN - which currently tops our review roundup of the best VPNs - to relocate yourself back to where you would normally watch PDC darts online. It's that simple!
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| The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundle deals and prices in April 2020 Posted: 21 Apr 2020 09:24 AM PDT Nintendo Switch deals are still running incredibly thin on the ground. Though we've had some movement in stock over the past few days, any stock that does find its way to a virtual shelf is quickly snapped up across the US and UK. We'll be bringing you all the latest stock as it comes in, so be sure to check back regularly for the latest. However, until then, we're seeing some fantastic Nintendo Switch Lite bundles available in the UK, with the US slowly picking up stock as well. We don't know when stock will return, but until then, we're also taking a look at the best retailers to check when those console do land on the shelves again. We're keeping a watchful eye on the situation, so bookmark this page as we'll be updating it throughout the week if we get even a sniff of a Joy-Con hitting store shelves. So, if you're after Nintendo Switch deals you may be waiting a little longer. If you're in the UK and want to get your hands on Nintendo's catalog of excellent titles, however, there are plenty Nintendo Switch Lite bundles available for delivery right now. You'll find it difficult to get your hands on a Nintendo Switch console right now, and while the Switch Lite is still very much available, if you're looking for big-screen gaming there are some fantastic Xbox One and PS4 deals going right now. We're listing all of the best Nintendo Switch sales right here and we're always on the lookout for the best bundles with extra games, controllers and other accessories so we can share them with you while they're hot. Scroll past the bundles on this page and we'll show you prices on extra Joy-Con and Pro controllers and Nintendo Switch memory cards too. If you want to play online multiplayer and get other benefits like free games you'll want to pick up a Nintendo Switch Online subscription deal. We also have a dedicated page of Nintendo Switch prices for our Australian readers. The latest cheap Nintendo Switch dealsWant to know where to buy a Nintendo Switch? Check out our comparison charts and the latest bundle highlights with extra games and accessories below for the best deals. On its own, the MSRP/RRP Nintendo Switch price is $299 in the USA and £279 in the UK. At the moment, though, you may be paying a premium to get your hands on such an in-demand console. You won't find a Nintendo Switch on sale in the US right now - the stock has been completely wiped out. You can now pre-order a pricey bundle from GameStop, but the value does check out and there's still time to put your name down for an April 30 delivery. There's also a spattering of Nintendo Switch Lite stock still available, but you'll have to be fast.
The Nintendo Switch Lite was recently released at just $199.99/£199.99. That's $100/£80 less than the original Switch console. If you want to play games on the TV as well, you should go for the standard Nintendo Switch instead as the Lite is only playable in handheld mode. The Nintendo Switch Lite comes in multiple colour options. You can pick one up now in turquoise, gray and yellow. There will also be a special edition Zacian & Zamazenta Edition released on November 8 to celebrate the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield. It doesn't come with the game, but doesn't cost anything extra either. If you want to learn more about the console and see prices for every individual color and bundle, check out our Nintendo Switch Lite prices and deals guide. As with any new console we imagine you're wanting to know a bit more about the console before you put any money down. So in addition to finding the best Nintendo Switch bundle deals, we're going to help bring in answers to the burning questions.
How to buy the right Nintendo SwitchThe updated version of the original Nintendo Switch is now being rolled out with an improved battery. That's the only change, but prices are generally the same as the older model. The old version model number was HAC-001 and the box featured a lifestyle image with a hand grabbing the console. While the new model number is HAC-001(-01) and the box has an all-red background and no hand. What are the Joy-Con controllers?The Joy-Con controller is actually a pair of controllers that attach to the sides the the Nintendo Switch when not in use or when playing in tablet form away from the TV. When playing the Nintendo Switch on the TV, you can remove them and play with one in each hand. The left hand gets a controller with an analogue stick and d-pad, the right hand handles the one with a second analogue and the usual A, B, X and Y face buttons. Or you and a friend can use one each in multiplayer games with the d-pad doubling up as impromptu face buttons. You get a pair with the console, but you might want to buy more to allow extra players to get involved in games like Mario Kart 8, FIFA 19 and many more. Or maybe you just fancy some different colors for your own use.
What's the Joy-Con Grip controller?The Joy-Con Grip is an additional accessory that joins the two Joy-Con controllers together, forming something something a bit more solid for you to hold thanks to the extended handles and plastic block between the two sides. The square dimension form-factor may remind older gamers of the Dreamcast controller, while everyone else will mainly be thinking how it resembles an odd-looking dog face. Nintendo is providing one in the box with the Nintendo Switch, so you won't have to buy one separately. This won't charge your controller though and doesn't have a battery pack.
You won't actually need a Nintendo Switch Pro controller to play any games, so don't feel pressured in to buying one. The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is a more traditional-style pad and launched alongside the Nintendo Switch. Prices aren't cheap though, starting around $69.99/£64.99. There's no sign of a Nintendo Switch Premium Edition console with one included either. Do I need to buy extra controllers for multiplayer on Nintendo Switch?Possibly not! Remember how the Joy-Con controller splits in two? Turn them sideways and you get two basic controllers, each with their own analogue stick and face buttons - the d-pad acts as face functions on the left controller. We've seen 2K's NBA series, Snipper Clips, FIFA 19, and Mario Kart being used this way for local multiplayer in both docked and tablet modes. So you get multiplayer functionality straight out of the box with no additional purchase required. However, if you want to play four-player games, then you're going to need to invest in an extra pair of Joy-Con controllers or some Pro controllers. We'd buy the Joy-Cons as a pair (see our comparison chart above) as you'll save a bit of cash over buying them separately. Better yet, if your friends own a Switch, ask them to bring their controllers to the party! Super Mario Odyssey dealsThis has been one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch so far and an absolute must for Mario and platforming fans. Like Zelda below though, this being a first-party Nintendo title, it's taking forever to go down in price. It's slowly happening though, so we've rounded up the cheapest Super Mario Odyssey prices for you below. If you're not getting this game in a bundle, we'd strongly advise picking it up separately as soon as possible. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild dealsThe reviews have heaped huge praise upon this eagerly awaited launch title, making it an essential purchase for any Nintendo Switch buyer. As with any new console, the prices of the big games can be more expensive than usual. We've shopped around for you though and have found the best prices for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch. Take a look below. With only 32GB of internal storage, you'll be wanting to pick up a cheap memory card or two for your new Nintendo Switch for any digital purchases or the inevitable game-fixing patches. Don't fret though, they're actually surprisingly cheap, with even 64GB ones coming in at under £20/$25. What memory cards does the Nintendo Switch need? Those will be Micro SD cards also known as, depending on their size, as MicroSDHC (up to 32GB) or MicroSDXC (up to a huge 2TB soon). Nintendo also has their own branded cards, but you'll be paying more just for a label. So for now, we'd take a look at this range of cheap MicroSDXC Nintendo Switch-friendly cards. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Why buy a Canon EOS R5? Canon answers our questions about its next big camera Posted: 21 Apr 2020 09:22 AM PDT The Canon EOS R5 is fast becoming one of the most anticipated cameras of the past few years, but it's certainly not been in a rush to reveal itself. Over the past few months we've had monthly teases that have confirmed a few more specs, and most recently Canon's Virtual Press Conference focused on its video powers. You can read more about what we thought of that in our feature on the EOS R5's video specs. But how does the EOS R5 fit into the bigger picture at Canon? And mirrorless cameras in general? We spoke to David Parry, Canon's Product Marketing Specialist, to find out and you can read his thoughts below. While our interview took place before Canon's most recent announcement about the EOS R5's video powers, it's still very enlightening about who the camera is aimed at, its autofocus skills and how likely it is to be delayed by the global pandemic. So if you're wondering whether or not the EOS R5 is the spiritual successor to the ground-breaking EOS 5D Mark III, it's well worth diving into our chat to find out...
Is the Canon EOS R5 body based on the EOS R? "What you can see is that it is actually slightly fatter than the EOS R across the top. In my view, it gives it more of a DSLR sort of look to it," David Parry said. Why doesn't the EOS R5 doesn't have the EOS R's Multi-function bar? "We've got the joystick on here, instead of the Multi-function bar. Everybody knows the multi-function bar on the EOS R got a mixed response – some people really got on with it, some people really couldn't get on with it at all," he said. "So maybe going with this is a safer bet – more people are used to the multi-controller." "Because this is a 5-series, more people at that kind of level will expect functions similar to what you get on a 5D." he added. So is that why this camera is called the EOS R5? "It's aimed at that level of the market. This isn't a replacement for the 5D Mark IV or anything like that. But this is a mirrorless 5-series, it's aimed at that segment of the market," he said. "Which makes sense because in film days we had the EOS 5, then with digital DSLRs we had the 5D, and now we've got the R5 now. So it's all the same sort of level." he added.
And more generally away from the specs, who is the Canon EOS R5 aimed at? What type of photographer will buy it? "This is going to be a well-rounded product in the sense that it's full-frame, it's got a high frame-rate (20fps and 12fps), it's got amazing video capability with the 8K. So it's going to be an incredibly powerful product," he said. "As the name gives away, the type of consumer who's going to buy it is going to be your 5-series user, it's going to be that sort of level of product. Someone who's using it professionally and someone who's using it semi-professionally as well," he said. "But let's not forget there are a lot of enthusiasts out there who love products at this level," he added. "It's not targeted towards any particular genre of photography, in the same way that the 5 series evolved into that all-rounder type of camera. With the 5-series you see it in every single kind of photography situation you can imagine," he added. The EOS R5 has impressive video credentials. How does it handle heat issues when shooting 8K video? "We've been doing this for a while now and we've learnt a lot of techniques to dissipate heat on other products that we have in our lineup. For example, being able to move components around, and being able to have them further away from each other," he said. "And being able to dissipate heat using different materials has been something we've been pretty proud of on other products. This is something we've learnt using both our camera and our video Cinema EOS series with that technology as well," he added. "So there's a lot of technology that we know is now coming together and giving us the ability to really step up these specifications," he said.
The EOS R5 has Animal Eye AF. Does this work in both video and stills? "We can't divulge that at the moment, but what's really exciting about that for us is that it's dogs, cats and birds – as far as I'm aware no other manufacturer has mentioned birds in their Animal AF," he said. "I'm intrigued to see how that works out in the field – because birds are obviously quite different, that's quite a broad spectrum. With dogs and cats, they've got different breeds, but they do look relatively similar, whereas birds can look completely different, from house martins right up to ostriches. That's pretty exciting," he added. Is animal autofocus based on the same Deep Learning tech that we first saw on the 1DX Mark III? "We're not divulging anything about where that tech has come from, but again all the learnings from other cameras we have do go into the next generation," he said. "I think the Deep Learning technology is very, very exciting – about being able to get it to recognize people wearing crash helmets and things like that, which has made a big difference to the 1DX."
Does the EOS R5 have full weather-sealing for wildlife photographers? "We never quote weather-sealing figures, because of the big hole in the front of the camera, but we normally quote another product that has the same level within our lineup," he said. "I don't know what the weather-sealing capabilities on this product will be, but we are aware that people do use these in pretty harsh environments, so that would be a consideration for us. I couldn't say what those figures are, but it's pretty robust I have to say," he added. And lastly, the current situation with coronavirus is obviously difficult for a lot of manufacturers. Is the EOS R5 likely to be delayed? "We're in the same situation as all the other manufacturers in that we're keeping an eye on things and seeing what we can do," he said. "It's not the same as this, but we've had natural disasters before, so we have a pretty robust system for being able to deal with things like the tsunami and earthquakes. I know this is very, very different, but there's things in place to work on this kind of thing," he added. "We can't say whether this is going to be affected or not, but let's just wait and see what happens over the next few weeks. This is going to be a really exciting camera for us. It's creating quite a stir and we want people to really enjoy this product, so the sooner we can get it out there the better really," he added.
So there we have it – the Canon EOS R5 is officially a mirrorless 5-series camera, which helps explain some of its design decisions and also gives us a hint of what it might ultimately cost. The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, for example, arrived for $3,500 / £3,500 / AU$4,500 when it launched. While we'd love the EOS R5 to cost somewhere in that ballpark, we think it's likely to be a bit more pricey, but that's still a good marker for how much you'll need to shell out. Also, if Canon's recent Virtual Press Conference is anything to go by, then it appears to be pressing ahead with the EOS R5 launch as planned, as there was no mention of possible delays. We don't yet have an exact launch date yet, but rumors suggest this will be sometime around July 2020. Until then, photographers will have to resist the temptation to buy a Sony A7R IV or Nikon Z7, and hope that the rest of the EOS R5's specs are as impressive as what Canon has teased us with so far. We'll bring you more official updates as we get them. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Stranger Things and Witcher stars team up in new Fleabag director Netflix film Posted: 21 Apr 2020 09:18 AM PDT After a dose of Stranger Things, The Witcher or Fleabag? Well, this incoming Netflix film looks set to combine parts from all three. Netflix has announced a new Sherlock Holmes movie, featuring Stranger Things' Mille Bobbie Brown and The Witcher's Henry Cavill, with Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer helming the film. It will also star Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland) and Sam Claflin (Journey's End), while the screenplay was written by Jack Thorne (BBC's His Dark Materials). Titled Enola Holmes, it appears to be based on the series of young adult fiction novels penned by Nancy Springer – and it follows the younger sister of the famous British detective. Netflix has acquired the streaming rights to the film, which was produced by Legendary Entertainment. Give me the contentWe don't have a release date for the film yet, other than the vague assurance that it's "coming soon to Netflix". There's been a lot of delays for Netflix shows this year, however, with the Covid-19 pandemic causing production to shut down for numerous shows – Stranger Things season 4 included – and not much clarity over when they might resume. We've been told that Netflix's slate of releases will continue unaffected for the next few months, though, with the fallout from halted in-production shows only becoming more apparent on the service later in the year. That leads us to assume we'll be seeing this film in the coming weeks, rather than in 2021 – why announce it as coming soon if it was one of the titles delayed, after all? At the very least, we hope it hasn't been haphazardly self-filmed in the actors' homes, TikTok-style. (You viewers deserve better.) For now, you can enjoy (or, at least watch) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows on Netflix – the sequel to the 2009 Sherlock Holmes film featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The 10 best phones for seniors Posted: 21 Apr 2020 09:13 AM PDT The best phone for seniors will help elder members of your family, or your friends, connect to the increasingly technological world. A phone is a useful tool in creating community and increasing communication, but you don't want to overburden someone with too many flashy features so it's worth picking the right handset. It can be hard to know which phone to buy a senior, and the correct answer depends on their comfort with technology (and yours, you'll likely be having to teach them after all!) While there's no one correct answer, there are a few options you should check out, and we'll run you through all your options. Thankfully, there's a wide range of phones that cater to seniors' needs that can be great for most grandparents, but if the senior you're buying a phone for is particularly tech-savvy, some of the best phones out there right now might actually be great for them. Otherwise there are a range of feature, flip or smart-phones available. Large and simple displays are a smart pick for any senior, as almost no one has eyes that grow sharper over time. However, the needs can vary from here. Where health is the primary interest, some of the best phones for seniors will feature one-touch emergency response features. Where dropping the phone may be an issue, durability or a variety of available phone cases is of critical importance. No phone comes with everything, though – at least, not yet. Whatever the situation may be, we have the top phone picks for seniors today, and we’ll make it clear what the advantages of each are.
Senior-focused phones:
The Jitterbug Flip is a basic flip phone with features made to suit seniors well. It doesn’t have any of the smartphone functionality a more tech-savvy senior might want, but it has large, easy to read interface, simple navigation, and a loud speaker. The result is a phone that’s simple for anyone to use, so there’s no steep learning curve for seniors who aren’t used to cellphones. A few extra features are made specifically with seniors in mind. The Jitterbug Flip features an M4/T4 rating for hearing aid compatibility. It also has a 5Star button so seniors can quickly get help in an emergency.
If some aspects of the Jitterbug Flip sounded good, but more smartphone features are appealing, the Jitterbug Smart combines senior-focused design with smartphone functionality. Best of all, it offers all of this at a reasonable price. The Jitterbug Smart has all the typical phone features, plus texting, email and internet access, as well as rear- and front-facing cameras. The 5.5-inch touchscreen display allows for typical smartphone navigation, but Jitterbug has used simple menus for easy navigation. Like the Jitterbug Flip, this model is compatible with hearing aids, earning an M4/T4 rating. And, it supports 5Star emergency response through a pre-installed app.
Just as its name implies, the GrandPad is a smartphone/tablet that offers easy ways for seniors to stay connected. It doesn’t require nearly as familiarity with tablet and smartphone functionality as typical Android and iOS devices require. It rocks an 8-inch, Full HD display with large, easy-to-read menu buttons for simple navigation, and it connects via 4G LTE on consumer Cellular or over Wi-Fi. It can also charge wirelessly on its dock, so you won’t need to worry about keeping track with finicky wires and power plugs. Relatives can set up and manage the GrandPad for their love ones, populating the contact list with email address and phone numbers. One major consideration here is that this can help screen potential phishing attacks or spam callers, since they shouldn’t be able to reach the GrandPad. The GrandPad will let seniors stay in touch through email as well as voice and video calls. It also supports a stream of social media, so seniors can see what they’re family members are sharing without needing to have their own accounts. Phones for tech-savvy seniors:
For the tech-savvy senior, there’s no simpler option than the iPhone 8 Plus. It offers premium features and performance on a 5.5-inch display that’s plenty sharp. The iPhone 8 Plus doesn’t come cheap, but it comes with the peace of mind that any issues can quickly be searched on the internet. Staying in touch with family is easy on the iPhone, and that powerful iPhone 8 Plus can ensure that connecting is fast as well. Seniors with an iPhone can also benefit from the nearly seamless transition between an iPhone and iPad whenever they might want an even larger screen. For the seniors buying this smartphone, an iPhone 8 Plus case is advisable, as it features an all-glass design that won’t hold up well if dropped frequently.
If you want a newer iPhone for the senior you're buying a handset for, the iPhone XR is a great choice, because it's slightly more modern than the iPhone 8 Plus. It was the affordable device of its series, and Apple now uses it to bridge the gap between the iPhone 8 and newer handsets in terms of price. The iPhone XR has a relatively large 6.1-inch display, can be upgraded to the newest iOS operating system (and will be eligible for updates for years to come), and a decent 12MP rear camera. There are also plenty of iPhone XR cases to choose from to protect the handset. On top of that, there are plenty of colorful iPhone XR options available - it's not as dull as other smartphones, and whether you want a vibrant red, yellow, coral or blue device, or the more common black or white, there's plenty of choice.
Samsung Galaxy S10e An easy-to-view operating system can be great for seniors, and Samsung's One UI makes for very easy viewing indeed. The Samsung Galaxy S10e is the budget iteration of its S10 flagship range, so it's decently affordable, but there are still some useful features here. The 5.8-inch screen is big enough to make viewing easy yet small enough to use in one hand, so it fits in that perfect sweet spot. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is also a lot easier than in-screen versions for most seniors, there's a 3.5mm headphone jack here for wired headphones, and a battery that should get through a day pretty easily. These features would all suit a senior pretty well. The phone is pretty responsive too, with a top-end Snapdragon 855 processor (well, it was top-end when the phone came out), so you won't get confused texts frequently asking why the smartphone is taking so long to do things. See the Samsung Galaxy S10e here
The Huawei P Smart (2019) might seem like an intriguing addition to a list of the best smartphones for seniors, since it's a little old at this point, but hear us out - we've got a few good reasons for its placement. Firstly, it's supremely affordable, so you won't be breaking the bank by buying it. It's also missing quite a few features that a senior wouldn't need in the first place, so you're not losing out by going for an affordable device. Most important, though, Huawei phones have a 'Simple Mode' which makes icons and text much bigger, perfect for a senior with less-than-perfect eyesight. So if you want a decent Android phone for a senior without breaking the bank, while still providing them an excellent experience, this could be the perfect phone. See the Huawei P Smart (2019) here
The Moto G series are always affordable but with great features, making them some of the best phones for seniors, but for the absolute best we'd have to pick the Moto G7 Power, thanks to its enormous 5,000mAh battery. Thanks to this chunky power pack, the phone has a battery life that'll easily waltz past a day, and will often last you up to two full days between charges. There are a few other features here that'll prove great for a senior, like the plastic frame which is slightly easier to grip than glass (although is a little more prone to breaking too) and the single rear camera, which is likely as much as a senior needs anyway. Simple phones for seniors:
Some seniors might not want all the fancy tech of a smartphone, and senior-branded phones like the JitterBug may go too far toward being easy to use. Enter the new Nokia 3310. It’s a simple, easy to use feature phone with all the basics need to keep in contact with family and friends, and a long-lasting battery to keep the connection going. The Nokia 3310 supports calling, texting, and even a bit of social media. A basic camera can help seniors share with their family and friends as well. Plus, it’s a durable little phone, so the occasional drop shouldn’t be much of a worry. On top of all that, it’s affordable. See the Nokia 3310 3G here
The Alcatel GO FLIP is another simple feature phone with some modern upgrades. While it looks and works like an old-school flip phone, it boasts 4G LTE connectivity (though it’s only available in North America) for fast web-surfing and emailing. That 4G connectivity also allows the GO FLIP to offer seniors better call quality using Voice-over-LTE. It has a camera for sharing photos and 720p videos. It can be loaded up with music and connected to headphones via a 3.5mm jack as well. For those hard of hearing, it has an M4/T4 rating for hearing aid compatibility. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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