Thursday, February 7, 2019

Apple : Google will encrypt locally stored data with Adiantum

Apple : Google will encrypt locally stored data with Adiantum

Google will encrypt locally stored data with Adiantum

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 01:24 PM PST

Google has launched a new encryption mode called Adiantum to help protect user data in the event that a device falls into the wrong hands.

Since the release of Android 6.0 in 2015, the company has required device manufacturers to include storage encryption on most smartphones using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This is why most new Android devices have hardware support for AES using the ARMv8 Cryptography Extension.

However, there are more than 2bn monthly active Android devices and many of them use low-end processors such as the ARM Cortex-A7 that do not offer hardware support for AES. 

On these devices AES would impact performance to the point that they would feel sluggish and distract from the user experience which is why Google created Adiantum.

Adiantum

The company's new form of encryption was built from the ground up to run efficiently on phones and other smart devices without specialized hardware.

Google's launch of Adiantum coincides with Safer Internet Day and in a blog post announcing the release the company explained its decision to bring encryption to low-end smartphones and other connected devices, saying:

“This will make the next generation of devices more secure than their predecessors, and allow the next billion people coming online for the first time to do so safely. Adiantum will help secure our connected world by allowing everything from smart watches to internet-connected medical devices to encrypt sensitive data.”

With the release of Adiantum, Google is democratizing encryption for all devices in the hope that it will become a standard feature that will make device manufacturers think twice before compromising security for the sake of device performance.

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Best computer 2019: the best PCs we've tested

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 01:10 PM PST

Seemingly by the day, the best computers keep getting more advanced with eight-core processors and high-end graphics cards that can render realistic ray traced lighting. So, if you want to stay current in 2019, investing in one of the best PCs is definitely worth it – even if all you do is surf the web.

Good news is buying a PC has never been cheaper. You can easily spend 500 bucks and get a capable PC or even an all-in-one desktop that comes with its own built in screen. PCs are easily upgradable, allowing you to keep the best PCs up to date with one of the best graphics cards, a bigger or faster best SSD and more of the best memory.

Still, shopping for the best PC isn’t quite as easy as it may sound. When we decided to put this list together, we had to acknowledge that the best PCs strike a balance between price and performance. So, after comprehensively testing, reviewing and ranking all the PCs on this list, we’ll help you find which PC is right for you.

Dell Inspiron 3000

For lack of a better word, the Dell XPS Tower Edition is stealthy. Looking quite similar to that old computer that your parents had hidden beneath the desk, this boring exterior belies an exciting array of components. Inside you’ll find your choice of the latest in GPU tech, in addition to a blazing-fast 7th generation Intel CPU and a spacious hard drive and/or SSD. Now, the Special Edition is only available in the US, but our readers in the UK and Australia will still be able to buy the regular Dell XPS Tower and beef it up to the same level through Dell’s configuration page. 

Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition

The Microsoft Surface Studio was the best PC for artists when it first launched, so we were excited when Microsoft announced the sequel. Packed with Kaby Lake mobile graphics and Nvidia Pascal graphics, the Surface Studio 2 is way more powerful than the original, and should be able to handle everything you can throw at it for the next few years at least. And, it’s still got that gorgeous PixelSense display with Surface Pen support, making it retain the title of the best PC for artists.

Read the full review: Surface Studio 2

See more like this: The best all-in-one PCs

If you’re looking for a great desktop experience, but don’t have a lot of space, look no further than the Intel Hades Canyon NUC. In this tiny bare-bones PC, you have an insanely powerful 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, and discrete-class Radeon graphics – once you throw in some RAM and storage, you’ll be able to conquer the best PC games without a care in the world. Sure, it can’t really stand up against a full-sized desktop, but when space is short, or you’d rather just have a PC that looks like a set-top box – it’s totally worth it. 

Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC 

The Alienware Aurora R7 isn’t just a great gaming PC, but it’s one of the best PCs you can buy today. Not only does it feature fantastic performance with its 8th-generation Intel Core processor and GTX 10 series graphics, but this power is conveniently stored away in its compact chassis. It’s even surprisingly affordable, considering the power on offer, and it’s even easily upgradeable, despite its unique build. With the Aurora R7, Alienware continues its journey back to the top of the best PCs.

Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7 

See more like this: The best gaming PCs

If you’re on the market for a computer with an absolutely unbelievable amount of power, but will also look good in your living room, look no further than the Corsair One i160. Packed with Coffee Lake Refresh processors and Nvidia Turing graphics – not to mention a whopping 32GB of RAM, this computer is an absolute beast, and will chew through any game you throw at it – even on that nice 4K TV you just bought. Just prepare yourself before you jump on it – it’s not cheap.

Read the full review: Corsair One i160 

It’s easy to associate Apple with inflated pricing, but the Mac Mini avoids that altogether. The Mac Mini 2018 isn’t just an attractive small form-factor PC, it’s also crammed full of high-end desktop parts, making it a great purchase for anyone that already has a slew of Mac-ready peripherals. Plus, as opposed to Apple’s recent products, you can upgrade the Mac Mini. Well, just the memory, but you can kit the Mac Mini with up to 64GB of RAM.

Read the full review: Apple Mac Mini

See more like this: The best Macs

HP Pavilion Mini

Though at first you might confuse it for a fabric-woven Mac Pro refresh, the HP Pavilion Wave is anything but. This compact Windows machine packs in 6th-generation Intel Core processors and optional discrete AMD graphics with a uniquely integrated Bang & Olufsen speaker. Wrapped in a handsome fabric exterior, this is the perfect PC to have on the desk, as it radiates crisp sound while you browse the web or watch movies.

Read the first look: HP Pavilion Wave

HP 260 G1

It may look like a thumb drive at first glance, but the Intel Core Compute Stick has more than meets the eye. It’s actually a palm-sized PC that can plug into any screen with an HDMI input. It starts out with a lowly 1.33GHz Intel Atom cpu running Linux, but it is configurable up to an Intel Core m5 processor – which makes this one of the best PCs if you need to get some work done on the go, without having to haul around a laptop.  

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

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The best graphics cards 2019: all the top GPUs for gaming

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 01:05 PM PST

Now that Nvidia Turing heavy hitters like the RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2060 are here, the best graphics cards are more powerful (and expensive) than ever before. So, do you splurge on an expensive flagship graphics card? Or, do you pick up a more budget friendly GPU like the Radeon RX 590 – perfect for 1080p gaming? No matter what you do, you’ll be able to use the best graphics cards to play the best PC games from Hitman 2 to Resident Evil 2.

Remember that the best graphics cards can vary wildly depending on what kind of PC you’re planning to build, so finding the best one can be hard. Luckily, we went ahead and gathered together all the best graphics cards on the market, at every price point and use case. So, before you go out to pick up one of the best graphics cards, we’ll help you find the perfect one for your rig.

One of the biggest complaints we had about Nvidia Turing when it first launched was the astronomical prices. But, with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, Nvidia brings value to the Turing lineup – or, at least, more value than was there already. With the RTX 2060, you’ll be able to run pretty much everything at 1080p with max settings, comfortably experience 1440p and you’ll even be able to break into 4K. And, then there’s the RTX features – even at this level, ray tracing is possible at 1080p. 

Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060

If you’re on the market for one of the best graphics cards, and you’ve got some cash to burn, you might want to consider the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Without a doubt, it’s the most powerful graphics cards on the market, as long as the price doesn’t scare you away. And, the first actual game with Ray Tracing is finally available, Battlefield V. While you can turn RTX On, just keep in mind that it’ll hamper performance a bit.

Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 

If you want to stick to QHD, with some brief forays into 4K, you might want to check out the RTX 2070. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 brings the new Turing architecture to the mid range with performance that dwarfs the GTX 1070 that came before. Not only will you be able to play everything at 1440p, but you’re going to get insane performance – up to 120fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. However, you should consider that the RTX 2070 is significantly more expensive than its predecessor, so that trade off in price-to-performance may not be worth it – especially if you’re coming from a Pascal card.

Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is the best graphics card for Full HD gaming you can buy today – your benchmarks put it above the GTX 1070. And, now that it’s fallen in price to  what we would call an ‘acceptable’ level, there’s never been a better time to pick one up. While it’s arguably a bit overkill for Full HD gaming, the RX Vega 56 will come in handy for 144 to 240hz monitors and future-proofing against increasingly demanding games. You can also expect a fantastic 1440p experience with this card. 

AMD hasn’t put out a high end consumer graphics card since 2017’s Radeon Vega 64, and a lot has happened in the GPU world since – namely Nvidia Turing. And, with the Radeon VII, AMD wanted to reclaim a piece of the high-end graphics card market, and it certainly did, but maybe not in the way AMD intended. The AMD Radeon VII holds its own in gaming, but where it really shines is content creation. Packed with 16GB of HBM2 memory, the AMD Radeon VII is going to excel in creative applications, and will easily compete with much more expensive cards.

Read the full review: AMD Radeon VII 

If you’re trying to play the best VR games, you’re going to need the best graphics card for the job. And, these days, that’s going to be the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080. Packed with the latest Turing architecture and the VirtualLink VR connector, you won’t have to worry about choppy VR performance making you sick. And, outside of VR, you should be able to play all your favorite PC games at 1440p and 4K without breaking a sweat. 

Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080

If you’re setting out to build a microATX or a mini-ITX gaming PC, you shouldn’t have to settle for a low-end GPU. You can find mini graphics cards like the Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Mini. And, sure it’s not the latest and greatest GPU out there anymore, but the 1080 Ti has a lot of life left in it. Plus, when you can get that power in a card that’s just 211 x 125 x 41mm, the loss in performance is totally worth the beautiful mini PC you’ll get.

The Nvidia GTX 1050 might not look like much on paper, what with only 2GB of video memory onboard, but this affordable GPU plays games better than you would think. If you’re willing to drop settings to medium, you can play Overwatch, CS:GO and other popular competitive shooters well above the silky smooth 60fps mark. Thanks to its compact size, it’s also perfect for small builds and entertainment center-bound streaming PCs.

Any eSports player will tell you that high frame rates are far more important than beautifully rendered graphical details – and that’s where the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti shines. In a time where graphics cards cost as much as rent, it’s an affordable, but potent GPU that can play most eSports games well above 60fps. It’s a bit pricier than the lower-end Nvidia GTX 1050, but you’ll appreciate the extra power behind this card to play future eSports titles, as well as the odd AAA title. 

Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

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11 best open world games on PC today

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 12:55 PM PST

As the best gaming PCs get more powerful every day, the best PC games are getting bigger and better – you can just look at the best open world games as an example. Even game franchises that are traditionally linear experiences are starting to open up. Just look at the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – the best open world games are everywhere these days.

There are a ton of traditionally open world franchises that are still out there, of course. Games like Just Cause 4 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey are the pedigree of open world game design. There are even a ton of indie games that adapt to this style. 

There are so many amazing open world games out there right now, but they all demand so much of your time, so you should only opt for the very best. Luckily, we spend an inordinate amount of time playing these games, so we went ahead and listed the best open world games you can play in 2019. 

  • Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below.

The first two Witcher games were compelling, complex and difficult, but only enjoyed minor success. However, all the word of mouth about the first two games finally paid off when the Witcher 3 came out and absolutely blew up. It was a massive step up in quality, too, and probably one of the best RPGs of all time. You step in the role of Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, or witcher, and search the world for your adopted daughter in a medieval world ravaged by war.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be turning 4 years old in 2019, but it stands the test of time. It’s still one of the best open world games you can play in 2019 because the well-realized world blows the likes of Skyrim out of the water. Geralt can walk, ride or sail across the war-ravaged lands of Novigrad and Velen, or sail across monster-riddled and frosty islands of Skellige in the North. And, in Blood and Wine, the second expansion, you get to take on a clan of Vampires in the colorful land of Toussaint.

You can forage for herbs, explore under the seas or the back alleys of cities and encounter all kinds of folk and creatures.

And the other elements of the game are spectacularly polished as well - limber, agile combat, a deep levelling system, and a storyline with some unusually-smart storylines.

Last year’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins already felt like a revelation of what an Assassin’s Creed game could be – replacing many of the gameplay mechanics with what felt more engaging, organic and even fun. However, Ubisoft wasn’t done – it has refined everything that made Assassin’s Creed: Origins so great and molded it into the best game in the series so far – Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey places you in the shoes of Alexios or Kassandra in the middle of ancient Greece, as you take on the role of a mercenary trying to find his or her family. Everything else you do is completely up to you – you choose your alliances, you choose your missions and the world is your oyster.

The fantastic RPG mechanics from Origins make a return in Assassin’s Creed odyssey – with some much-needed improvements. In so many ways, this game perfects the legendary series’ formula – making for one of the best open world games of all time.

Upon first glance, you might not quite understand why this game is here. You might say “Forza is a racing series, not an open world game”, but you’re only half right. Yeah, it’s a racing game, but the Forza Horizon series has always been among the best open world games. Forza Horizon 4 takes the winning formula even further – arguably perfecting it.

Not only are all of the systems that were in place in 2016’s Forza Horizon 3 present here, but they’re refined to create one of the smoothest open world racing games we’ve ever had the pleasure to play.

The map is a little bit smaller than the previous offering, but Forza Horizon 4’s world changes seasons every week, changing how each track plays every time you play it (or, at least until you’ve played it on 4 separate weeks). Simply put, Forza Horizon 4 is one of the most fun racing games on the market, and with all the added open world content – like collectable cars and randomly placed ramps – it’s one of the best open world games on the market.

Plus, there are new expansions getting added, like Forza Horizon 4: Fortune Island, that add even more content.

Grand Theft Auto V has been out for quite a while now, but because we still don’t have Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC, it’s still the best open world game on PC from Rockstar. It’s a huge pastiche of L.A. that you can fly, run or drive across. It’s an amazing achievement and the fact that it works in multiplayer is astounding.

What makes it such a success is the freedom it gives you. When you’re not running around and robbing banks during the campaign, GTA V basically lets you do whatever you want – even if it breaks the game. You can go anywhere, do anything and commit however many atrocities as your wicked heart pleases.

There are also a ton of side activities available. So, in your downtime from creating all kinds of mayhem, you can take up some tennis, yoga, or even kick your feet up and watch some TV. There’s a reason this game is so beloved.

The plot may have made less sense than a mumbling monkey with a mouthful of marbles, but Hideo Kojima's swansong was a masterpiece of layered open world mechanics.

In the twin deserts of Afghanistan and Angola, Big Boss, or Venom Snake, has a range of objectives to achieve. He traverses the areas on foot, horseback, or in a variety of ground vehicles. You can take either lethal or non-lethal weapons, and a variety of AI companions. 

The world itself is believably bleak, weather-torn and heavily-guarded. Uniquely, it learns from your behaviour - overuse a particular tactic, and enemies will adapt. For example, rely too much on headshots and they'll start to wear metal helmets.

Away from the frontline, you can develop Mother Base by building new facilities and airlifting enemy soldiers, prisoners, resources, vehicles, animals and anything else you want to from the battlefield to beef up your armory. 

Bethesda has made a name for itself over the last couple of decades for making some of the best open world games, and Fallout 4 is a fantastic example of why. You’ll be able to traverse a post-apocalyptic Boston, where you’ll explore the ruins of the city in all it’s retro-futuristic glory.

While the plot ultimately revolves around rescuing your kid from their kidnappers, you’ll ultimately forget all about the plot, while you do side missions and plunder loot from super mutants and bandits.

And, even once you get everything done (if you ever get everything done), Bethesda’s games have a tendency to be immensely replayable thanks to the way different character builds can interact with the world around you.

Plus, if you want to get closer to the action, you can play through Fallout 4 in VR, with the HTC Vive. 

When Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor released nearly five years ago, it was praised for its portrayal of Tolkien’s Mordor, alongside with its unique nemesis system. The sequel, Middle Earth: Shadow of War takes this concept and turns it up to 11, setting you loose in the last human stronghold in Mordor – and is thus one of the best open world games you can play in 2019.

And, especially after the removal of the microtransactions that plagued the game at launch, the Nemesis system still feels fresh, and the combat is just as good as ever, with a wealth of new skills that you can unlock during its lengthy campaign.

Later on in the game, it will start introducing some RTS elements as you command an army of dominated orcs to retake and hold different strongholds. The Middle Earth series has shown some real innovation, and we can’t wait to see what Monolith Studios will be capable of in the future.

Last year, Ubisoft took one of the most venerated squad-based shooter series in its arsenal, Ghost Recon, and turned it into an open-world delight. You’re set loose in Bolivia, and you’re tasked with taking down a drug cartel that has taken power over the region. You’re then free to pursue this goal however you feel like. 

Ghost Recon Wildlands may be one of the best open world games when you’re playing by yourself, but where it really shines is when you’re playing with friends. This is because Ghost Recon, at its very core, has always been a tactical shooter that’s built around working with a team of AI companions. So, naturally, when you team up with your friends, this gameplay is elevated to another level entirely. 

Just keep in mind that this game is gorgeous, and demands a pretty beefy setup to run properly, so make sure you keep an eye on those system requirements. 

Far Cry 5 might just be a benchmark of what the best open world games on PC will look like in 2019. Far Cry 5 is unique in the fact that it allows you to truly go anywhere on the map – and do anything. And, it doesn’t water this freedom down by limiting the amount of space you have open to you either, it’s perhaps one of the biggest game maps we’ve ever experienced. 

Far Cry 5 takes place in the middle of the Montana wilderness, and while it does feature a plot that involves cultists or something, that all falls into the background as you wander around and get lost in the massive world. We haven’t finished Far Cry 5, but we don’t think ‘finished’ exists here. 

And, we’re obviously not the only ones that love Far Cry 5. At the Game Awards 2018, Ubisoft announced Far Cry: New Dawn, a direct follow-up – a first for the classic shooter series.

Now that a ton of Yakuza games are coming to PC, PC gamers can finally experience the insanity that is so unique to the Yakuza series. 

Yakuza 0’s map isn’t as capacious as some of the other games on this list, but it is dense with activities. Everywhere you turn either has a mini game, a side quest, or some other kind of content that you can interact with. If you’ve never played a Yakuza game, do yourself a favor and try Yakuza 0 on for size – it’s unlike anything else you’ve ever played, we promise. 

Love it or hate it, the Just Cause franchise has always been about causing random violence and destruction with barely any plot to justify it. And, well, the same is true with Just Cause 4 – we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Just Cause 4 puts you in the middle of Solis, a gigantic South American island to overthrow an oppressive local government, by destroying everything in your path. You’ll take to the sky, sea and more with a wide variety of vehicles and weapons to create mayhem however you want. 

It’s not a particularly deep game, but if you’re looking for some mindless entertainment, it’s not hard to see why Just Cause 4 is one of the best open world games on PC in 2019.

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The best student laptops: all the best options for school

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 12:45 PM PST

School is expensive these days – tuition, books, food – the costs add up. Fortunately, you can save a bit of cash by getting one of the best laptops for college students. Not only will these budget-minded machines have great aesthetics and respectable performance, but they’ll do it while saving cash.

Trying to save up for a new laptop when you’re buying textbooks can be hard, so the best student laptops don’t need all the best processors and graphics cards. You won’t be limited to Windows 10, either – the best Chromebooks are among the best laptops for college students – as you’ll be able to get all your work done while saving a ton of cash.

We know studying can get stressful, but trust us – if it’ll help you earn your degree with less hassle, the best laptop is absolutely worth the cash. You don’t want to run around campus because your laptop died right in the middle of a project. So, we gathered up some of the best student laptops – you shouldn’t have to limit yourself to an old clunker to keep up with your schoolwork.

Here at TechRadar, we love it when a laptop can perfectly balance price and performance without any compromises, and the Huawei MateBook 13 comes closer to hitting that perfect balance than anything in 2019 so far. Thin, light, quick and affordable, this beautiful 13-inch Ultrabook will let you get all your work done in style, without dragging down on your wallet. The battery life is a little weak, but that’s a worthy sacrifice to make here – just carry the charger around with you.

Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13 

Best laptops for college students 2019

Once in a while we’ll get our hands on a laptop that completely revolutionizes everything – the Huawei Matebook X Pro is one such laptop. Not only does it feature modern, powerful components like an 8th-generation Kaby Lake R processor and 16GB of RAM, it’s also beautiful – incorporating all the latest trends in Ultrabook design. What’s more impressive, it manages to do all this while being a much more affordable than the competition. This is what makes it one of the best laptops for students – you’re not going to get a more powerful laptop for less cash than the Matebook X Pro. 

Read the full review: Huawei Matebook X Pro 

  • Australian readers, the Matebook X Pro has finally been officially released Down Under, but this Australian stock is only being sold via the Microsoft Store at present... and that limited availability means both models on offer (priced at $1,899 and $2,599) keep quickly selling out. If there's none available at the above link, we'd suggest checking back in one to two weeks.

best laptops for college students 2019

The Dell XPS 13 has always been among the best laptops – for college students, professionals and even everyday users. But, now that Dell has brought back the entry-level option, it’s affordable for college students once more. Dell has also fixed the biggest bugbear – the webcam. Dell found a way to move the webcam up to the top of the display, so that your friends won’t have to stare up your nose when you’re in a video call. 

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 

best laptops for college students 2019

The original Surface Laptop was already one of the best laptops for college students, though it was unfortunately held back by slow performance, a lack of modern ports, and it was stuck with Windows 10 S. With the Surface Laptop 2, however, everything has improved – well, except for the ports. You’re getting quad-core Kaby Lake Refresh processors, full-fat Windows 10 and a sleek new black color option that looks as good as it feels. We wish it had even a single USB-C port, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’ll be able to get all your school work done in style with the Surface Laptop 2.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2

best laptops for college students 2019

The way we look at it, the best laptop for college students will strive to hit a golden balance between price and performance, without looking like you pulled it out of your dad’s study. The Microsoft Surface Go, then, isn’t just one of the best Windows tablets, but it’s one of the best laptops for college students, period. Don't’ be fooled by the low power components, either – Microsoft has engineered this 2-in-1 to be able to keep up with your schoolwork without breaking a sweat. You can’t do much better than the Surface Go, especially if you’re on a budget.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go 

best laptops for college students 2019

Dell’s XPS lineup has been among the best laptops for college students for years now, and the new XPS 15 is no different. Taking the approach of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, not much has changed year over year – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. What you’re getting here is a reliable Ultrabook with enough horsepower to carry you through all of your coursework without costing an arm and a leg. While the entry level is perfectly fine for most people, you can configure this thing with up to a Core i9 CPU and 32GB of RAM, transforming the Dell XPS 15 into a killer media editing workstation. We just wish Dell would move that webcam.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 

best laptops for college students 2019

The Microsoft Surface Pro lineup has always been among the best laptops for college students – beautiful touch screens, incredible portability and long battery life. The Surface Pro 6, while not necessarily bringing anything new to the table, continues this tradition. What you’re getting here is a speedy Windows 10 tablet that can effortlessly turn into a laptop by use of the Surface Type Cover. You can get your work done and then effortlessly transition into break mode. The Surface Pro 6 is the best Surface yet, if only just barely.

Read the full review: Surface Pro 6

best laptops for college students 2019

College gets expensive – you can’t avoid it. That’s why the best laptops for college students will offer awesome performance at a decent price, much like the Lenovo Flex 14. At under a four-digit price, there’s something to be said about getting an Ultrabook that can handle anything the semester throws at you – and the Lenovo Flex 14 looks good to boot. You won’t find a better laptop at a lower price.

Read the full review: Lenovo Flex 6 14 

best laptops for college students 2019

We were left waiting for Apple to renew the MacBook Air for years, as it languished with a 5th-generation Intel Core processor and an out of date, low-resolution display. Thankfully, those days are over. Apple has ushered the MacBook Air into the modern age, with 8th-generation fanless processors, a thinner and lighter design, and perhaps most importantly – a Retina display. No more do you have to compromise on modern features if you want an “affordable Mac”, and that makes the MacBook Air one of the best laptops for college students.

Read the full review: MacBook Air 

best laptops for college students 2019

If you’re not too concerned with cash, and you’re a macOS addict (we get it), the 2018 MacBook Pro is the most powerful MacBook that’s ever existed. With its impressive hexa-core processors, and up to a whopping 32GB of memory, this cupertino workstation will get you through whatever you throw at it. It also includes the much-improved third generation Butterfly keyboard that will not only be less distracting to the students around you, but will be less prone to failure if some dust comes within 10 feet.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro 15-inch (2018) 

  • Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2019
  • Images Credit: TechRadar

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.

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The best Chromebooks 2019

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 12:40 PM PST

The best Chromebooks have been on the market for a few years now, and they’ve slowly been accepted into the mainstream as great devices for students. But, back when they first hit the streets, no one knew what to make of the Chromebook. That’s changed – not only are there more than 25 million Chrome OS users, but the best Chromebooks continue to feature fantastic battery life – Windows 10 devices are still playing catch-up.

But, what is a Google Chromebook? Well, they won’t just feature fantastic battery life, but they’re also extremely affordable. This is because Chromebooks don’t really need all the latest and greatest hardware – because they only run Chrome, they pack just the essential hardware. And, with devices like the Google Pixel Slate, the top Chromebooks are getting more advanced every day.

And, because you are restrained by your web browser and Android apps, some users may be wary of picking up one of the best Chromebooks, and we totally get it. But, if your computer use just boils down to word processing and email, with very little video editing or gaming, you can’t go wrong with one of the best Chromebooks.

Shortly after proclaiming the Chromebook Pixel as dead, Google revived it in a way nobody expected. Now, it’s the Google Pixelbook and it stands completely independent of its predecessor. That’s because, unlike the Chromebook Pixel, it can run Android apps natively, on top of building upon Chrome OS. And, when you add in the huge amount of storage space, fantastic stylus and Google Assistant, it shouldn’t surprise you when we say the Pixelbook is the best Chromebook 2018 has to offer – even so long after its launch.

Read the full review: Google Pixelbook

Before the Google Pixelbook showed up and showed us exactly what the best Chromebooks are capable of, the Asus Chromebook Flip was the Google laptop to get. Rocking a full-fat Intel Core processor and full-HD display, the Chromebook Flip changed everything. With this Chromebook, all the features we take for granted came to life. Put simply, if you want the key features that the Pixelbook offers, but you don’t want to drop that much cash the Asus Chromebook Flip is a fantastic option. 

Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip 

When Android apps started heading to the best Chromebooks, it was only a matter of time before Samsung took its mastery of the two OSs and crafted something truly beautiful. With a 12.3 inch QHD touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge, the Samsung Chromebook Pro is widely acclaimed for its built-in stylus – the first of its kind to show up in a Chromebook. Not only does it show up a majority of laptops in its own category, but it’s better than most Android devices as well, even if the keyboard could use some improvement.  

Read the full review: Samsung Chromebook Pro

  • This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Asus Chromebook Flip.

The best Chromebooks are kind of synonymous with education these days. And, with the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, Acer wants them to be ubiquitous in the business sector, as well. Beautifully built from aluminum with a beautiful QHD screen, it will not only fit into any office, but it might actually draw some envious glances. It’s more than just a pretty chassis, though – the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is backed by full-fat Ultrabook processors, so it can get work done, and look good while doing it. 

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 13

Best Chromebook

If the Samsung Chromebook Pro is all about versatility, the Dell Chromebook 11 is about value. Reinforced by a 180-degree hinge, sturdy design and a sealed keyboard and trackpad in addition to a punchy typing experience, this Chromebook is a perfectly portable package. Not only adequately suited for school and work, the Dell Chromebook 11 even packs a set of loud stereo speakers for listening to music or watching videos. Don’t worry about dinging it, either, as this device remains the most rugged Chromebook on our list.

Read the full review: Dell Chromebook 11

One of the most compelling use cases for the best Chromebooks is that of the student laptop – and the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 is a perfect example. If you’re a student, or even a parent of a student that’s looking for a cheap, capable and, more importantly, durable machine to get some homework done on the go, you shouldn’t need to look further than the Acer Chromebook Spin 11. You won’t be able to do any hardcore gaming or video editing on this thing, but if you just need something to write some papers and watch some YouTube in your downtime – you should give it a look.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 11 

With a pristine build quality that rivals a MacBook, it’s easy to forgive the Acer Chromebook 15’s aversion to 2-in-1 form factors. However, given that most Chromebooks releasing this year are fully convertible, thanks to the wide adoption of Android app support, the Acer Chromebook 15 had to prove itself to us with more than good style. And, beyond its ability to lay flat using a 180-degree hinge, this beautiful 15-inch Chromebook makes a great impression with its battery life, too, lasting nearly 17 hours in our battery test. 

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15

Acer Chromebook R11

We wouldn’t be surprised to see Acer replacing the Chromebook R11 – at least, judging by the recent release of the Chromebook Spin 11, but it still holds up to this day as one of the best Chromebooks on the market. It isn’t the most powerful option out there, but it still gives you full access to Android Apps on the Google Play store. What’s more, it does so on a touchscreen display that can be rotated around into tablet mode, complemented by an all-metal finish that you won’t be ashamed of. 

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook R11

best chromebook

In our mind, the best Chromebooks are the ones that balance a rock-bottom price and speedy use of Chrome OS – and the HP Chromebook 14 is a perfect example. While it’s similar to the Acer Chromebook 15 in a lot of ways, this 14-inch Chromebook is a bit more compact and even looks better. Complemented by a bright blue finish and a screen made to astonish, the HP Chromebook 14 boasts the best value of any Chromebook out there. Even if the battery life and performance are average – the HP Chromebook 14 is easily one of the best Chromebooks on the market right now.

Read the full review: HP Chromebook 14

best chromebook

The HP Chromebook 13 is way better than anyone would expect from a Chromebook. You’re getting a 1440p display, two USB-C ports and, if you’re willing to shell out a bit more cash, you can get yourself an INtel Core M processor rather than a Pentium. All of this is complemented by incredible style and a metallic design that exudes Pixel influence. It might not be as powerful as the Google Pixelbook, but it’s still one of the best Chromebooks when it comes to sheer style. 

Read the full review: HP Chromebook 13

Watch the video below for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop:

  • Images Credit: TechRadar

Juan Martinez and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.

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Apple pushes out iOS 12.1.4 to fix Group FaceTime eavesdropping bug

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 12:38 PM PST

As expected, Apple has rushed out a fix for a bug that allowed folks to eavesdrop on others through Group FaceTime. While Apple had already addressed the issue on its servers, AppleInsider pointed out, iOS 12.1.4 fixes this exploit on devices.

Apple had swiftly disabled Group FaceTime after news of the bug started trending on social media. In the days following, it was discovered that the mother of US teen Grant Thompson alerted the company a week before it took action; Apple is reportedly rewarding the family per its bug hunting policy.

  • What's coming in the iPhone 11 this year?
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  • All the rumors of what's coming down the pipe at MWC 2019


Apple acted quickly because the bug was particularly easy to exploit: a caller just needed to start a FaceTime video call, and while it was ringing, add themselves (via their phone number or Apple ID) to make it a conference call. 

Even if the recipient didn’t answer or refused the call, the initiator could eavesdrop through the former’s device. Sometimes they could even see through the recipient’s front-facing camera (reportedly when declining the call by pressing the power button).

Wait for more features

There isn’t much else in the update aside from a handful of fixes for unrelated bugs in Foundation, IOKit and Live Photos in FaceTime, per Apple’s security notes for iOS 12.1.4. Which isn’t surprising: with issues as widespread and easily-exploitable as the Group FaceTime vulnerability, Apple typically acts quickly to stem the bleeding, so to speak.

That means any features you might have been waiting for are still down the line – and may come in iOS 12.2, which recently opened its beta version to the public. So far, we’ve seen more animoji (like a shark and warthog) as well as tweaks to the Control Center, along with other updates yet to be revealed.

  • Need a reminder why iOS is still worth it? See where iPhones rank in our best phones list

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Canon EOS RP leaks reveal new shrunken full-frame mirrorless camera

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 12:00 PM PST

Rumors of the Canon EOS RP are boiling over and now we may know everything about this upcoming compact full-frame mirrorless camera.

A series of images of the Canon EOS RP leaked on Nokishita, reveal what is essentially a compact version of the company’s first (and currently only) full-frame mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS R. 

From the included pictures and specs, we can surmise that the EOS RP will be smaller and lighter than its predecessor. The new camera will purportedly measure 132.5 x 85.0 x 70.0mm in dimensions and weigh only 1.07 pounds. Comparatively, the EOS R is 136 x 98 x 84mm in size and weighs 1.45 pounds.

Canon EOS RP

Image Credit: Apotelyt

That’s a heck of a lot smaller, but the shrinkage seems to have sadly eliminated the top LCD, which we felt was extremely handy for adjusting and glancing at the camera settings on the EOS R. Good news is the Canon EOS RP looks like it still will feature an articulating screen that flips out and turns forwards.

Speccing it out

Nokishita also reports the Canon EOS RP will feature a 26.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, likely pulled from the Canon 6D Mark II.

Given that potential tip, we can speculate that the EOS RP will inherit many of the 6D Mark II’s specs including the dual-pixel autofocus system, Digic 8 image processor, 5 fps continuous shooting mode and 100-40,000 native ISO range.

According to another report from CanonRumors, the EOS RP might sport a price tag of $1,499 (about £1,160, AU$2,110) to $1,599 (about £1,230, AU$2,250). 

This potential price tag positions it as a direct competitor to the $1,999 (£1,899, AU$3,185) Nikon Z6 and $1,999 (£1,849, AU$3,099) Sony Alpha A7 III, which are currently the most affordable full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market.

Additionally, CanonRumors suggest that Canon will also release five new RF mount lenses alongside the EOS RP. The purported lenses are as follows:

  • Canon RF 85mm f1.2L USM
  • Canon RF 15-35mm f2.8L IS USM
  • Canon RF 24-70mm f2.8L IS USM
  • Canon RF 24-240mm f4-6.3 IS USM
  • Canon RF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM

The Canon EOS RP’s rumored February 14th release date is nearly upon us, so we’ll know whether this camera is real soon enough.

Via The Verge

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MacBook Air 2019: what we want to see

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 11:49 AM PST

Back in November, we finally got a new MacBook Air after years of neglect by Apple. And, while it did bring some modern features to Apple’s most popular MacBook lineup, we think the MacBook Air 2019 can do more to adapt to the modern laptop landscape – if it indeed comes out this year.

Now, we don’t know what Apple is planning on releasing this year, beyond the Mac Pro 2019 at least, so we’re not even sure whether a MacBook Air 2019 is going to happen much less when. However, we’re going to make some educated guesses about when the MacBook Air 2019 might hit the street, and create a wish list of what we want to see. 

So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it as soon as the inevitable MacBook Air 2019 rumors and leaks come rolling in. 

Cut to the chase

  •  What is it? The next MacBook Air
  •  When is it out? November 2019 at the earliest  
  •  How much will it cost? Likely around $1,199 (£1,199, AU$1,849) 

MacBook Air 2019

Image Credit: TechRadar

MacBook Air 2019 release date

Trying to predict the next MacBook Air release date is going to be tricky, thanks in large part to the strange history Apple’s had with the mainstream laptop lineup.

Ever since Apple redesigned the MacBook Air in July 2011, a new MacBook Air came out within the same April-to-July timeline. At least, until 2015. 

After that, Apple skipped 2016 altogether, waiting to release a simple refresh of the MacBook Air with the same 5th-generation processor and a faster SSD in June 2017. 

Then, in November 2018, Apple released the MacBook Air 2018 with a redesigned chassis and updated internals. Now, we don’t think a MacBook Air refresh will come out in Summer 2019 – that’s too early. So, if we’re going to get a new one this year, we’d put our money on seeing it in November. But, we might even see it surface in 2020. 

MacBook Air 2019

Image Credit: Apple

MacBook Air 2019 price

The MacBook Air has always been the cheapest way to get macOS running on a laptop. And, while that’s still true, Apple raised the price from $999 (£949, AU$1,499) to $1,199 (£1,199, AU$1,849) with the MacBook Air 2018. 

We believe Apple will keep the price the same with the next MacBook Air, barring another complete redesign – in which case the price would more than likely just go up. We don’t think we’ll see a lower price, unless Apple launches a MacBook Air with an ARM processor. Of course, that’s more likely for a 2020 release at the earliest. 

MacBook Air 2019

Image Credit: TechRadar

What we want to see

The MacBook Air 2018 did a lot to bring it to the modern age, with 8th-generation Amber Lake fanless processors, modern SSDs and a Retina display. However, it wasn’t quite as revolutionary as many were hoping it’d be – there’s a lot of room for improvement. So, here’s what we want to see in the MacBook Air 2019. 

Let’s see some faster processors
The processor in the MacBook Air 2018 isn’t the worst thing in the world but, because it’s a fanless dual-core chip, it lags behind other laptops. Now, usually in a thin and light notebook, this approach would make sense. But, at its thickest point, the MacBook Air is actually thicker (just barely) than the 2018 MacBook Pro. 

So, we’d like to see Apple shove some full-fat, Ultrabook-class processors in the MacBook Air, and maybe design a fresh cooling solution. Who knows, maybe once Intel’s Ice Lake hits the market, we’ll see some Ultrabook-class processors that don’t produce so much heat.

Fix that keyboard, Apple
Another year, another MacBook, another keyboard. Look, we get it Apple, you want to make your MacBooks as thin and light as possible – ultraportable is in. But, the Butterfly keyboard has produced more issues than Apple’s traditional keyboards. 

The third-generation Butterfly keyboard placed a rubber film below the keyboard that was supposed to stop it from malfunctioning. But, the MacBook Air is running into its own problems, with key presses repeating. 

We’re not sure how Apple can fix this problem without designing a whole new keyboard, but we’ve seen a patent that suggests it’s doing just that. We might see a touchscreen MacBook keyboard with raised, tactile keys. This might be Apple’s answer to its keyboard problem.

Cheaper storage upgrades
We get that larger SSDs are going to command a price premium, but the cost of upgrading is a little bit inflated. 

The base MacBook Air comes with a paltry 128GB SSD, which might be fine for people with cloud storage and not a lot of app use. . However, to upgrade to 256GB of SSD storage you’re looking at a $200 (£200, AU$300) price jump.

That’s huge by itself, but if you want a 1.5TB SSD, you’re looking at a whopping $1,200 (£1,200, AU$1,800) price jump. For that price, you could literally buy a second MacBook Air.

Apple’s SSDs are admittedly some of the fastest in the business, but there’s no way a 1.5TB SSD costs that much. The SSD upgrades for the MacBook Air 2019 need to be cheaper. 

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Raspberry Pi opens first high-street store

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 09:56 AM PST

As more high-street retailers turn to online shopping to boost their sales, the team behind the pocket-sized Raspberry Pi computer is taking a different approach by opening its first ever retail store.

The company's new “experimental space” in Cambridge, where the Raspberry Pi was originally invented, is designed to attract customers who are “curious” about the brand according to its founder Eben Upton.

The new store, located in Cambridge's Grand Arcade shopping centre, will offer a variety of Raspberry Pi models and accessories to help encourage people to try their hand at coding and programming.

Upton explained the company's decision to open a retail store showcasing its products and the community behind them to the BBC, saying:

"There's always a risk you can get complacent about your customers, but a physical store means we have a place for people, who are curious about Raspberry Pi, to experience it." 

Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi Foundation was established by a group of Cambridge scientists back in 2006 who created and then launched the first Raspberry Pi in 2012.

Since its original model launched there have been five new iterations of the Raspberry Pi and in total 25m units have been sold globally making the device the best selling British computer.

The store will also carry a new all-in-one Raspberry Pi starter kit which includes a mouse, keyboard and all of the necessary cables to get it up and running.

Raspberry Pi has also had a huge impact on education with schools around the world using it as an inexpensive way to teach students about coding and programming.

Via The BBC

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Microsoft joins OpenChain platform

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 08:59 AM PST

As part of its continued efforts to support open source software, Microsoft has announced that it has joined the OpenChain Project as its latest platinum member.

The company joins the likes of Uber, Google and Facebook, who joined OpenChain last month as well as GitHub which the software giant acquired last year.

The OpenChain Project's main objective is to bring improved clarity to open source software licenses as licensing issues often present a huge hurdle for a business' legal team. Companies need assurances that the open source software they use is in compliance with the rules that govern its use to prevent potential litigation issues.

In a blog post announcing its decision to join the OpenChain Project, Microsoft's Assistant General Counsel David Rudin provided further insight on open source compliance, saying:

"A lot goes into making open source great – from licenses to code to community. A key part of doing open source right is being able to trust that the code you receive complies with its open source licenses. It’s a deceptively hard problem and one that Microsoft is working with the community to address. Our goal is to work even more closely with the OpenChain community to create the standards that will bring even greater trust to the open source ecosystem and that will work for everyone – from individual developers to the largest enterprises."

Common standards

OpenChain was set up to help introduce common standards regarding how companies declare their open source efforts are compliant with licensing standards.

Since ensuring compliance can be a difficult task for businesses, OpenChain provides a specification as well as the processes, policies and training companies need to manage their open source license compliance.

As OpenChain's latest platinum member, Microsoft will help create best practices and define new standards for compliance which will provide its customers with more choice when it comes to the software they use.

In the past, the company was reluctant to support the open source community but those days are gone as shown by its acquisition of GitHub and its decision to join the OpenChain project.

Via SiliconANGLE

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Switch multiplayer games are up to 70% off right now

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 08:38 AM PST

Europeans, rejoice! Nintendo Europe has seen fit to slash prices on Nintendo Switch party games.

If you head to the Nintendo eShop on your Switch console, you'll find discounts on a number of co-op and competitive titles like Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Diablo III, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, Pocket Rumble, Super Meat Boy, Windjammers, or FIFA 19 – with some titles like Crypt of the NecroDancer seeing as much as 80% off their initial retail prices. 

If you're looking to play online multiplayer, rather than local, you'll need a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription to connect to other players, but there are a number of titles still perfect for couch co-op too. You can see the full list on the Nintendo eShop here.

The discounts will run until February 21, though if nothing in the sale catches your eye, you can head to our best Nintendo Switch Online games round-up for the best titles played with friends or foes.

If you bought any of the on-sale games at full price, unlucky – but we hope you still think they were worth it?

Consoling news

Nintendo doesn't often discount its own games, which can stay at full price for years after their release. It's reassuring to see otherwise here, as the success of the Nintendo Switch console seems to be provoking some new kinds of thinking within the organization.

The start of 2019 has been full of speculation over the future of the console, amid rumors of a smaller, cheaper Switch model designed to gradually take over from Nintendo's 3DS range.

If this new Nintendo means more sales, cheaper consoles, and an incoming Switch 2, then we're here for it.

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Nokia 9 renders suggest no notch, bigger battery

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 08:33 AM PST

New renders of the Nokia 9, also known as the Nokia 9 PureView, have surfaced – and while they seem to confirm some of the biggest rumors surrounding the phone, they also dispute a few.

The Nokia 9’s main point of interest is its penta-lens rear camera, which various rumors have alternately touted and debunked. The new renders, via Pocketview, suggest that they are in fact part of the device, and will range in power from 12MP to 5MP, although the resolution of one of the lenses is still unknown. 

The front camera, meanwhile, will be a single-lens 12MP snapper, according to the leak, which is in line with previous rumors. 

Another rumor that’s backed up here is the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor embedded in the Nokia 9’s front screen, with the images seeming to show an unlock icon on the screen. The screen itself is said to be 5.99 inches, which is in line with other leaks we’ve seen, although we’ve also seen a 5.7-inch screen rumored. 

According to the report accompanying the images, the Nokia 9 will have a 4150mAh battery. This is inconsistent with previous rumors, which had it at 3800mAh, while there’s no mention of fast-charging or wireless charging.


The newest render of the Nokia 9. Image credit: 91Mobiles


One major design change we’ve not seen rumored before is the absence of a notch, which, according to these renders, has been replaced by a large bezel at the top and bottom of the device. 

The former houses the device’s front camera, but the latter is likely in place to reduce production costs as trimming the bezels further would require additional expenditure, which could increase the final Nokia 9 price. This may be a sign that the Nokia 9 will launch with a slightly cheaper price tag compared to the likes of the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S9.

We’re expecting to find out about the Nokia 9 on February 24, after HMD Global's Chief Product Office teased the date in a tweet. That’s the day before the official start of MWC 2019, although nothing is certain at this point. Assuming it is indeed launched at MWC we’ll be there to bring you all the news.

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Best smartwatch 2019: the top wearables you can buy today

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 08:30 AM PST

A smartwatch is the ultimate phone accessory. It can tell the time, of course, but it can also beam important notifications straight to your wrist, track your fitness stats and pay for your morning coffee.

Today's best smartwatch models can perform a ton of tricks, such as enabling you to search the internet with your voice, track your location with GPS or even monitor your heart rate to protect your overall health.

Oh, and some of them look absolutely stunning too. If you're thinking that a smartwatch is a pointlessly geeky accessory... think again. The choices we've ranked below are well-made, powerful and can genuinely make you fitter through some smart nudges.

We've tested the vast majority of the top-end wearables you can buy right now from the Apple Watch to Fitbits, Garmin trackers to Tizen-sporting Samsung smartwatches. There's also Wear OS (you may have known that in its previous incarnation called Android Wear) which is Google's own wearable operating system.

During our review process, we take into account the design, features, battery life, spec, price and more for each smartwatch, rank it against the competition and enter it into the list you'll find below.

Smartwatches come and go from the ranking depending on the rest of the competition at the time, and bear in mind we may see products like the LG Watch W7 and Honor Watch Magic appear in the list after we've tested them properly.

It looks like 2019 is set to be a big year in the wearables space too, so expect lots of change in this list if we hear official announcements for products like the Google Pixel Watch, Apple Watch 5 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.

Our best smartwatch you can buy right now is from Samsung, and instead of opting for the expected Gear S4 name it's called the Galaxy Watch. Following on from the Gear S3 series and the Gear Sport in 2017, the Galaxy Watch is much improved.

We've tested out the larger 46mm version of the watch and it comes with a phenomenal four day battery life even when you're using it extensively. That's impressive considering a lot of other watches on this list last a day or so from a single charge.

The rotating bezel remains a highlight of navigating around the Tizen OS on the watch, and the interface is one of the easiest to pick up that we've seen on a smartwatch.

Apps available on the watch are more limited than Wear OS or watchOS - two rival smartwatch operating systems - but it still offers the core basics and Samsung had provided a watch that's good at fitness as well as sporting a great design and lots more functionality too.

Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch review

What's next? We initially didn't expect to hear about a new watch from Samsung for a while, but new rumors suggest a Samsung Galaxy Sport is set for the end of the month.

Coming in a close second, the Apple Watch Series 4 is our second favorite smartwatch you can buy right now. This is the first time Apple has updated the design of its smartwatch line, and it looks all the better for it.

You get a much bigger screen with the choice of 40mm or 44mm watch sizes, there's a wider display (which is still bright and clear) as well as all the rest of the tech we've come to expect from the Apple Watch.

The speaker on this watch is louder than before, the design is still lightweight (yet it feels premium) and you can use all your existing Apple Watch straps with this latest generation too.

The most exciting tech is the fact there's an ECG feature within the heart rate tracker. It can test your heart to see if you're at a high risk of atrial fibrillation, which will allow you to seek help earlier if your health is in danger.

This tech isn't present at launch, and right now we only know it'll be available in the US. I's not an upgrade relevant to everyone, but for some people this could be some life changing tech.

There are still tons of fitness features and the latest watchOS 5 apps onboard so you'll likely love this smartwatch. The Apple Watch 4 is our favorite watch you can use with an iPhone (this won't work with Android devices), but it's just been pipped to the title of best overall smartwatch.

Read the full Apple Watch 4 review

What's next? The Apple Watch 4 was announced and released in September 2018, and we don't expect to see the Apple Watch Series 5 until the same month this year.

One of the cheapest devices on this list, the TicWatch E2 is from a relatively small brand called Mobvoi but it has made a big splash with its latest couple of smartwatches.

The E2 is waterproof, comes with great battery life and it's all available for an affordable price. You probably won't fall in love with the design of this watch - it's not particularly premium - but we like the look considering how much it costs.

For health, the watch comes with built-in GPS, an accurate heart rate sensor and sleep tracking. All of the fitness features you'd expect are here, but make sure you note that it won't be able to do contactless payments as there's no NFC onboard.

Read the full TicWatch E2 review

Fitbit is one of the biggest names in fitness tracking tech, but until late in 2017 the company hadn't gone anywhere near smartwatches. 

The company has now released two smartwatches, and both feature on this list but first we're starting with our favorite that was announced in March 2018.

That favorite from Fitbit is the Versa that is a touch smaller than the other one (that's the Ionic) but it comes with Fitbit Pay for contactless payments, 2.5GB of storage for music and battery life that'll last around three days.

It doesn't have GPS for tracking your runs and the design doesn't feel as premium as some of the other watches on this list, but we really like the Fitbit Versa and it's one of the more affordable choices on this list.

Read the full Fitbit Versa review

What's next? Fitbit can be slow with new iterations of its wearables, but a recent leak suggests we may actually see the Fitbit Versa 2 sooner than we thought.

One of our favorite Wear OS watches is the TicWatch Pro, which you can use with either an iPhone or with your Android phone. You may not have heard of TicWatch before, but the latest from the company it a top-end watch with a unique dual-screen feature.

There are two displays on this watch - one layered on top of the other. On the top is a transparent LCD display that can display the time, your heart rate and more when the battery is low.

Below that is a bright and bold full color OLED screen that will give you all of the benefits of Wear OS. That means you can have a normal smartwatch, which we found would last around two days, and then have the time and some other features still available when your battery is running low.

Mobvoi claims the TicWatch Pro can last for 30 days in the low power mode, but we haven't yet been able to test out that claim properly. We did find it lasted for just under a week when in low power mode though.

In terms of smartwatch features there's GPS, NFC for Google Pay, Bluetooth for listening to music and the top Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset in here running the watch as well. Then there's the price, which undercuts a lot of the other watches on this list.

Read the full TicWatch Pro review

The Apple Watch 3 (or Apple Watch Series 3, if you're picky) was the best smartwatch but has recently been bumped off the top spot and down a few places since the launch of the Apple Watch 4. 

The Apple Watch 3 is essentially just the Apple Watch 2 frame with some new innards... but they make a big difference. Plus the price has recently dropped, making this a much more attractive proposition.

The LTE connection is the headline event, although that's not really as useful as some might hope - plus it costs a lot more to use, and drains the battery.

What we like is the non-LTE version, which is a lot cheaper, and offers all the smarts of the Watch 2 but with a longer battery life and faster speeds when flicking through apps.

It's still water-resistant so you can swim with it and you won't have to worry about getting it wet in the rain when you're out for a jog. There's GPS onboard to make running that little bit easier plus it you can now upgrade to watchOS 5 too.

Read the full Apple Watch 3 review

Another TicWatch is here in this list, and this one is remarkably similar to the TicWatch E2. In fact, the spec is almost exactly the same but the S in the name of this version stands for 'Sport'.

Rather than extra fitness features, the reason for the S2 is to offer you a more durable design that may be applicable to anyone looking for an adventure watch. It's made of military grade materials, which is something the E2 doesn't offer.

Everything else is here, including the affordable price point although it is a touch more expensive than the watch listed earlier in this ranking. There's built-in GPS, a waterproof design and the latest Wear OS software to play with.

There's no NFC here, so you won't be able to use Google Pay on this watch and there's no LTE option but considering the low price those are unlikely to be things you'll miss much.

Read the full TicWatch S2 review

The second attempt at a smartwatch from Misfit has gone down even better than the first. This watch is designed to sit somewhere in between a premium, fashionable smartwatch and a must-have for fitness lovers.

It doesn't do either of those things perfectly, and instead does both quite well. It's a good looking watch that doesn't cost the same amount as some of the more expensive Wear OS watches you can buy.

It is sporting the older Snapdragon 2100 chipset, but it features built-in GPS, NFC for Google Pay and a variety of other features that may make you want it.

Read the full Misfit Vapor 2 review

The Fitbit Ionic was always going to be a tough move for the brand, trying to enter the world of smartwatches from fitness bands.

The effort succeeds in some places: namely fitness, as you might imagine, where you can track all manner of things, from running to weight lifting to swimming. There's also dedicated bodyweight coaching sessions in there, and you can pay for items on the go using Fitbit Pay.

When it first launched, the price was super high and it was a bit too expensive to wholeheartedly recommend. The good news is the price seems to have dropped in recent months so you can get it for at least $70/£70 cheaper than the RRP.

If you're a Fitbit fan looking to do more than you get on an average band, this is a nice option.

Read the full Fitbit Ionic review

What's next? Rumors about a new Ionic are few and far between, but we've put together a guide on what we want to be improved if it releases a Fitbit Ionic 2.

This isn't the greatest TicWatch you can buy - there's already three other devices from the manufacturer Mobvoi on this list - but instead it's an option if you're looking for a more premium device than the TicWatch E or S but don't want to opt for the Pro.

The TicWatch C2 comes with a more high-end design than those two cheaper watches, but it doesn't cost as much as the TicWatch Pro. That makes it a solid Wear OS choice if you want a watch that looks good on your wrist with a few fitness features mixed in for good measure.

You can't currently buy the watch without a leather band, which is a little bit odd but if you're happy with that or you don't mind buying another third-party strap, this could be a good smartwatch choice for you.

Read the full TicWatch C2 review

Photo illustration: TechRadar; Misfit; Mobvoi; Apple; Fitbit; Samsung

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The best projector prices and sales in February 2019

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 08:20 AM PST

Projectors get you the cinema experience in your living room. However, you need to be wary when fishing for a great projector sale. Cheap imports often have misleading or flat-out made-up specs. When you get the beamer home you'll find it's a lot dimmer, and less sharp, than you expected. 

But that's why we're here. You can rely on all the projector deals below to provide big-screen bliss, not buyer's remorse.

Why go for a projector instead of a big screen? Benefits of a projector include a more cinematic experience in your home with a massive image, great resolution and relatively low cost. 

You can get a solid projector for far less than a good 65-inch TV. There are some downsides here, too, including caring for a lamp, lower resolution than today's mid-price TVs and less-than stellar performance in a bright room, but the pros far outweigh the cons.

So what makes a good deal on projectors?

Look we’re not going to tell you how you should spend your money. That’s not our style. But, what we will say, is that the best projectors are almost always Full HD and come with built-in speakers. If you get both those features and aren’t looking to break the bank, don’t spend more than $650 or £500. You can do better for less. 

That being said, we’ve found a few great deals this month that we wanted to bring to your attention – hopefully ending your long hunt for the perfect addition to your home theater setup.

You can probably stop reading right here. This is the best cheap projector you're going to find. Sure, the BenQ TH670 might be a bit more than you were looking to spend, but it's almost impossible to find a better projector in terms of quality versus price. The TH670 has a Full 1080p (1920x1080) resolution, 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, 10,000:1 high contrast ratio and built-in speakers. Those speakers could be a hair bit more powerful, but for the price it's hard to complain too much. The projector is capable of images spanning from 60 to 120 inches across and its lamp is rated for 4,000 - 10,000 hours depending on which modes you primarily use. Input-wise it offers Computer in (D-sub 15pin) x 2 (Share with component), Composite Video in (RCA) x 1 and HDMI. Win! 

In a very solid second place is Optoma's excellent HD142X projector. It has a full
1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution, 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, 23,000:1 high contrast ratio and built-in 10-watt speakers. It even supports 3D video to boot. Optoma says that the lamp life for the HD142X is somewhere in the ballpark of 8,000 hours – and claims that it would last around 10 years if you watched a two-hour movie every single day. Input-wise the HD141X offers 2 x HDMI (1.4a 3D support) + MHL v1.2, perfect for hooking up a PS4 or 3D Blu-ray player. 

Yes, we're really including two BenQ projectors on this list. While the TH670 is still king of the proverbial projector castle, the W1070 isn't a bad third choice. We say that because it makes a fair amount of trade-offs. Yes, you're still getting the awesome 1080p resolution, but you're also getting the poor 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Worse, though, you're losing a bit of light output (the W1070 only outputs 2,000 ANSI lumens). At least there's still plenty of inputs should you need them – 2 x HDMI, component and VGA inputs are all here. That being said, if a good deal pops up on one of these, this shouldn't be overlooked. 

At one time, Acer's H5380BD was king of the world with its 1280 x 720 resolution and 2-watt speakers. But now there's a new king in town rocking 10-watts of audio prowess and Full HD. That doesn't mean you need to relegate Acer's entry-level home theater projector to the dustbin, however, it's still plenty capable for most folks looking for something cheap. So where did it go wrong? The H5380BD only has a 720p (1280 x 720) resolution, but at least puts out 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness. It has a 17,000:1 contrast ratio, but only 3-watt built-in speakers. That said, the projector is capable of images spanning from 300 inches across and its lamp is rated for 4,000 - 10,000 hours depending on which modes you primarily use. Input-wise it offers HDMI, Composite Video, S-Video and two VGA ports.

They may have taken their own sweet time getting here, but 4K projectors using DLP technology are finally starting to arrive. The first of these affordable UHD beasts is the Optoma UHD60, a 4K HDR projector that has all the benefits of a standard DLP projector, plus a few of the perks of a 4K flatscreen. The UHD60 is a prime contender for AV bargain of the year, delivering genuine 4K and HDR thrills at a price that instantly leaves many of its rivals with some serious explaining to do.

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Windows 10 April 2019 Update release date, news and features

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 07:55 AM PST

The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will be the first major update for Microsoft's constantly-evolving Windows 10 operating system this year.

Also known as Windows 10 version 1903, or 19H1, the Windows 10 April 2019 Update continues Microsoft's habit of releasing major updates that bring new features, tools and apps to Windows 10.

The Windows 10 April 2019 Update follows the Windows 10 October 2018 Update and the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. Both of these updates brought a number of helpful new features to Windows 10, but they were also had their fair share of controversy and issues as well.

We’re hoping that the Windows 10 April 2019 Update will manage to arrive – as its name suggests – in April, avoiding some of the problems that plagued earlier updates. However, the April 2018 Update was rather infamous for almost missing its April launch date – as was the October 2018 Update – so that could change.

With the launch of the Windows 10 April 2019 Update approaching, Microsoft has begun releasing early versions to Windows Insiders – who are customers who have signed up to try out the latest version of Windows 10.

Because of this, we've got a good idea of what sort of new features are coming with the Windows 10 April 2019 Update. So, read on to find out all the latest news, rumors, features and release date details about the Windows 10 April 2019 Update.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next major update for Windows 10
  • When is it out? The Windows 10 April 2019 Update should be released in April
  • What does it cost? As with previous major Windows 10 updates, it is free

Windows 10 April 2019 Update release date

We don't have an official release date for the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, but going by the name, we can have a good guess.

So, it's very likely that it will be ready to download at some point during April 2019. However, we won't say that's a complete certainty.

That's because last year's April 2018 update only just released in April. After a few delays, it emerged on April 30, which is cutting it a bit fine.

Meanwhile, the October 2018 Update was even more tardy, finally releasing on November 13 – and that's not counting the times the update rollout was paused while Microsoft fixed numerous Windows 10 October 2018 Update problems.

With any major update to an operating system, delays and problems can arise, so the April 2019 release date isn't guaranteed.

But, the fact that Microsoft has named this update April 2019 could mean that it's confident that it will release the update during that month, as it won't want the embarrassment of releasing an update with an outdated name again.

Windows 10 April 2019 Update name

We've known about the Windows 10 April 2019 Update for a while now, though it was mainly referred to as Windows 10 version 1903 and by its codename Windows 19H1.

The 19H1 codename gave us a clue to the release date and possible name, as it suggests the update will be released in the first half of 2019.

Rumours had been swirling that Microsoft would choose April 2019 Update as the name, following on from its April 2018 Update last year.

Another recent rumor all-but confirms the name of the update as the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, as a reference to the April 2019 Update was spotted in the Windows Powershell tool when the "Get-VMHostSupportedVersion" command is run.

This reference, which was found by Twitter user Tero Alhonen, is the strongest evidence so far that it will be called the Windows 10 April 2019 Update.

Of course, Microsoft could always change the name of the update before it's released, especially if it looks like it will be delayed until later in the year. 

However, considering the evidence, including Microsoft's past naming conventions and the fact it wants it out in the first half of 2019, we're pretty confident it will be called the Windows 10 April 2019 Update.

Windows 10 April 2019 Update confirmed features

Because an early version of Windows 10 April 2019 Update is available for Windows Insiders (like ourselves) to try, we've got a good idea of some of the new features that will be heading to Windows 10 with this update.

As always with early versions of these Windows 10 updates, this list doesn't have every new feature, but we'll update it when major new features are announced.

Also, bear in mind that some of these features may be removed from the final version of the Windows 10 April 2019 Update for various reasons.

A new Light theme

Windows 10 April 2019 Update

Image Credit: Microsoft

The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will bring a new Light desktop theme, making a nice contrast to the Dark theme that we're used to with Windows 10.

Not only does it make the taskbar and Start Menu lighter, but new icons have been created that better suits the new Light theme.

Best of all, you can mix and match parts of the Light and Dark theme to get a look that best suits your tastes.

A better Start menu

Windows 10 April 2019 Update

Image Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft has continued to tweak the Start Menu, and the changes it's made in the Windows 10 April 2019 are definitely welcome.

First of all, the Start menu when you first use the update is much less cluttered, with tiles and shortcuts for pre-installed apps not taking up as much space.

However, there are still a number of apps and games that come pre-installed, and there are probably some that you don't want to use. With the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, you can now uninstall more pre-installed apps that you used to.

Another notable change comes in the form of switching the Start menu to have its own dedicated process – StartMenuExperienceHost.exe rather than it being hosted by ShellExperienceHost.exe.

That might sound like a complex change under the bonnet, but the only noticeable ramification for the user will be that the Start menu runs more smoothly, and is protected from potential issues which might be caused by other areas of the OS.

The end result is a more reliable Start menu, according to Microsoft, and a more responsive one too, because Start doesn’t suspend itself any longer, so that makes for a slightly quicker launch time.

Cortana is no longer integrated into the search box

Windows 10 April 2019 Update

Image Credit: Microsoft

In the Windows 10 April 2019 Update, Cortana will be separated from the search box in the taskbar.

As well as splitting search and Cortana on the taskbar, settings for these two have also been split up in Windows 10, along with group policies. 

So now when you click search, you get a straightforward operating system search. And if you want to summon Cortana, you have to use her separate icon. 

You can now pause updates

Windows 10 April 2019 Update

Image Credit: Microsoft

The Windows 10 April 2019 Update will allow people using Windows 10 Home edition to pause Windows updates for a set number of days.

This is a very handy feature that allows you a bit of breathing room when an update is released. It gives you time to check out to make sure that the update is working correctly, and if there are issues, you can pause the update until they've been fixed.

In a perfect world, a new Windows update would arrive without any problems, but as we've seen in the past, that rarely happens. This features has been available to Enterprise and professional Windows 10 users, so it's good to see it come to the Home version as well.

Reserved space for updates

Windows 10 April 2019 Update

Image Credit: Microsoft

One of the more controversial features that the Windows 10 April 2019 Update brings is that it will now reserve 7GB of space on your hard drive which will be used to store temporary files.

While some people may not like Windows 10 helping itself to yet more storage space on your hard drive, the idea is that this will make downloading Windows 10 updates easier in the future, and will prevent people experiencing an error where an update fails to install due to lack of space.

Windows Sandbox lets you experiment

If you're running Windows 10 Professional, then the new Windows Sandbox tool could be of interest. It allows you to easily run a virtualized version of Windows 10 in a window, allowing you to run software and test out settings and code without it affecting your main Windows 10 installation.

This is only a taste of the new features that are coming to Windows 10 with the April 2019 Update. We'll continue to update this list as we discover more.

Image Credit: TechRadar

Helpful error messages 

The Blue Screen of Death is infamous at this point, popping up whenever Windows runs into a critical error, but they’ve never been very useful to average users. But, it looks like that might be changing with the Windows 10 April 2019 Update.

Microsoft is finally changing error messages to be more helpful – they’ll now tell you how to fix the problems. The error message will pop up when a problem is encountered, and users should see options to try and fix it. The error messages will also have a link to a knowledge base, rather than forcing users to rely on Google for answers. 

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MacBook 2019 release date, news and rumors

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 07:50 AM PST

We didn’t get a new 12-inch MacBook in 2018, and because the latest thin-and-light from Apple has been out for nearly 2 years, we’re ready for a sequel.

On paper, the MacBook 2017 was exactly what we’d been asking for since its reincarnation back in 2015. Apple’s signature Butterfly keyboard was better than ever while it also experienced a dramatic boost in power, thanks to the 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Y-series processors.

However, now that we have Amber Lake processors that feature better performance than their 7th-generation Kaby Lake predecessors – we expect the MacBook 2019 takes a huge leap over the 2017 model. Hopefully it’ll be as dramatic as the new MacBook Pro.

So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any new information that comes our way. 

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next 12-inch MacBook
  • When is it out? Hopefully sometime in 2019
  • What will it cost? Presumably the same as current models

MacBook 2018

MacBook 2018 release date

None of the most recent reports, rumors or leaks give any idea as to when we’ll see the 2019 MacBook. Of course, we’ll gladly speculate based on the previous three releases of Apple’s 12-inch laptop.

In 2015, Apple released the first MacBook during April, directly following a March keynote. That’s a largely odd time for Apple to release a device, but that obviously didn’t happen this time.

However, Apple went all of 2018 without releasing a new 12-inch MacBook, and while we initially thought the blame was on Intel’s 14nm shortage – the Cupertino behemoth had no problem putting out the MacBook Air 2018. 

So, maybe we’ll see the MacBook 2019 in the Spring, like we saw with the 2018 iPad for education? Either way, we’ll see the new MacBook when Apple decides its time.

MacBook 2018

MacBook 2018 price

Right now, we think that Apple will launch the MacBook 2019 around the same price as the current models. 

This is another aspect where we’ll have to speculate based on the current pricing of the MacBook. The entry-level MacBook will run you $1,299, £1,249 or AU$1,899 to start. Only one more model, with more storage and power, goes for another 300 to 450 bucks on top of that. However, there is speculation that Apple is going to be releasing a cheaper 13-inch MacBook, but that turned out to be the new MacBook Air. 

With the pricing so tight here, amounting to minute differences in hardware between offerings, we probably won’t see a price drop. The only way we see the current version of the MacBook budging in price is if Apple introduces more capacious storage or higher power options, which will send the price up, rather than the opposite. 

For the MacBook price to come down, or for Apple to release a cheaper MacBook model alongside more expensive version, something has to give. Apple could lower the memory down to 4GB from 8GB, but we don’t think that’ll happen. Instead, we believe the only way we’ll see a cheaper MacBook 2019 would be a MacBook with a 128GB SSD instead of starting with 256GB.

We’ll look out for new rumors and update this article as soon as the MacBook 2019 price begins to crop up as we inch closer.

MacBook 2018

What we want to see in MacBook 2018

All of this uncertainty surrounding a possible MacBook 2019 release is fertile ground for a well-crafted wishlist.

So, while we wait for any kind of official word from the Cupertino behemoth, here’s what we hope to see Apple improve about the MacBook for 2019.

MacBook 2018 keyboard and screen 

Throughout 2018 there were plenty of rumors that Apple was planning on making a MacBook with dual screens. One of these screens would be a capacitive touch keyboard. We’ve seen a recent rumor that the touchscreen keyboard would have raised glass and haptic feedback, so it feels as much like a traditional keyboard as possible. However, it’s easy to expect this to raise the price in any MacBook that implements it.

Even if this touch-screen keyboard doesn’t make its way into the 2019 MacBook, that doesn’t mean the Butterfly mechanism keyboard won’t be improved upon. Apple has recently admitted that some of the keyboards in recent MacBooks are faulty – and will even repair them for free. That’s why we’re pretty sure that the MacBook 2019 will feature the same third-generation Butterfly keyboard as the new Macbook Pro and MacBook Air with a membrane that makes it less prone to jamming up.  

More ports, please

One of the biggest problems with the 12-inch MacBook, ever since its initial launch has been the sheer lack of ports. With only one Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port and a headphone jack, this absolutely needs to change in the MacBook 2019. Maybe just one more port?

We’ve already seen Windows laptops accomplish this feat, like the Huawei MateBook X with its two USB-C ports. Even the similarly priced MacBook Pro has two. Maybe there’s room for a microSD card reader too, but that may be pushing it.

Punchier processors

Costing what it does, Apple really needs to inject some more power into its 12-inch MacBooks. 

Then again, the MacBook has consistently used energy efficient Intel Core ‘M’ and ‘Y’ series CPUs up to this point, we wouldn’t bank on seeing full-fat Ultrabook processors, as they’d generate too much heat for the tiny chassis.

But, now that Amber Lake Y-series CPUs have been launched by Intel, we’d like to see Apple shove these latest 8th-generation processors into the new MacBook. but those are essentially old tech already, we’ll just have to see.

We’ve also seen some rumors that Apple is planning on crafting an ARM-based MacBook at some point, and if the iPad Pro 2018 is any indication, we could definitely see this happening. Apple would just have to work out some kinks in getting macOS to run on an ARM system.

It’s also safe to assume that Apple will shove its T1 or T2 processor into the MacBook 2019 – as it has with all of its latest Macs.

Since the 12-inch MacBook doesn’t have a Touch Bar, it’s safe to assume that if one of these co-processors is implemented, it will be used for the automatic wake and ‘Hey Siri’ functionality presently exclusive to the iMac Pro, MacBook Air 2018 and MacBook Pro 2018.

Sturdier build

The Apple MacBook already feels remarkably sturdy in hand, but over time it can become covered with scratches – even if you are extremely careful. Luckily, Apple has recently filed a patent that details plans for making ‘indestructible’ hardware, through some unique coatings. Not only will this be a great option for a premium device that most users won’t upgrade for four to five years, but it’ll keep the MacBook looking as gorgeous as the day you opened it. 

We don’t know if this patent will ever surface, but this approach along with the improved Butterfly keyboard found in the MacBook Pro 2018 could make the MacBook 2019 a much more durable device.

Stronger audio and video

Speaker performance and webcam quality are two corners that Apple obviously cut through in crafting the MacBook. With the MacBook 2019, this needs to stop. Tinny speakers and a sub-HD webcam for a laptop this expensive simply isn’t acceptable.

All Apple needs to do is simply beef the webcam up to 1080p, like its price tag suggests, and problem solved. The speakers, though, are a problem we don’t necessarily have a solution for. Supporting the speakers with down-throwing bass modules in the base might work? 

  • These are the best Macs that 2019 has to offer so far

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this report

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New Mac Pro release date, news and rumors

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 07:50 AM PST

There hasn’t been much information about a new Mac Pro for quite a while. However, more than a year ago, Apple recognized the public outcry for a new Mac Pro by hinting that it’s working on a ‘modular’ and ‘upgradeable’ Mac Pro.

It doesn’t stop there – Apple has declared support of the Mac Pro through a press release for the iMac Pro sale date nearly two years ago. So, a new Mac Pro is definitely coming, and it looks like we’re going to see it this year.

So, when can we expect to see the Mac Pro 2019? Right now, we’d put our money on a mid 2019 launch, but we can see Apple holding a special event pretty much whenever.

If the new Mac Pro 2019 is going to be modular like Apple suggests, what will that look like? What will be upgradeable? Will it look like a juiced up HomePod? Before we dive into all the boundless speculation, let’s lay out some basics.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? Apple’s first dedicated desktop since 2013
  • When is it out? Early 2019 at the earliest most likely
  • What will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – current models

Mac Pro 2019

Mac Pro 2019 release date

Now, while the new Mac Pro used to be the one Apple product we actually knew with absolute certainty could have been released in 2018, we were mistaken. It turns out the new Mac Pro has been confirmed for a 2019 release date.

The current Mac Pro computer debuted at the June 2013 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), with a December 2013 final release date. Of course, many purchasers didn’t get their computers until April 2014 on account of backorders.

Given how long its been since the previous update to the Mac Pro, it would be unwise for Apple to drive the asking price any higher.

Before that, the original Mac Pro was revealed to the world during the August 2006 WWDC, getting into the public’s hands within the same month.

However, after Apple’s roller coaster of a year in 2018, particularly with the MacBook Pro’s release, we don’t know what to expect. Apple’s strategy last year seemed to be ‘wait until it’s ready and then put it out there’. Whether that will extend to 2019 remains to be seen, but we’re sure we’ll see the new Mac Pro soon. 

If Apple is planning to reveal the new pro-level desktop ahead of its release, we could see a special Mac Pro event, like the October 30 Mac event back in October 2018. Or, we could see Apple repeat its approach with the new MacBook Pro, and release the new Mac Pro under the radar – as it is a professional product. 

Mac Pro 2019

Mac Pro 2019 price

We have absolutely no Mac Pro 2019 pricing information from neither leaks nor Apple’s own remarks on the device. So, once again we’re left to speculate based on the pricing of previous Mac Pro models.

The current Mac Pro, largely unchanged since its 2013 release, calls for a whopping $2,999, £2,999 or AU$4,899 to start. The only other model available hikes the price up by $1,000, £900 and AU$1,600, respectively, for some beefy component upgrades.

This Mac Pro could be one of the three Mac computers expected to launch this year with one of Apple's new T series co-processors inside.

Given how long its been since the previous update to the Mac Pro, it would be unwise for Apple to drive the asking price any higher. 

However, if the new Mac Pro’s ‘modular, upgradeable’ nature turns out to be true, that could lead the firm to price the device accordingly, knowing that end users would no longer have to turn to it for upgrades.

Mac Pro 2019

Mac Pro 2019 specs

What will be inside the computer is, sadly, another unknown regarding the Mac Pro for 2019, save for a scant few details. For starters, we know that Apple is focused on issuing a Mac Pro with a modular and upgradeable design.

“In addition to the new iMac Pro, Apple is working on a completely redesigned, next-generation Mac Pro architected for pro customers who need the highest performance, high-throughput system in a modular, upgradeable design,” Apple wrote in a December 2017 press release announcing the new iMac Pro, “as well as a new high-end pro display.”

So, we know that Apple is intending to make at least some of the Mac Pro design easy to manage, upgrade and set up in different configurations. If true, the Mac Pro 2019 will have to work with a large variety of off-the-shelf parts – at least ‘off the shelf’ for business pros or IT managers.

Simply put, there wasn't enough room in the last Mac Pro for storage expansion, and that needs to change in the 2019 model.

Simply put, there wasn’t enough room in the last Mac Pro for storage expansion, and that needs to change in the 2019 model.

We also know that Apple has a display in the works, presumably one that was designed with the performance of the Mac Pro in mind. 

As of last September, reports circulated that an 8K (7,680 x 4,320) resolution display was in development at Apple, and that it would compete with the 32-inch Dell UltraSharp monitor. It would come with either 10-bit dithering or native 10-bit colors as well. But, it reportedly won’t be a touchscreen, which isn’t surprising given Apple’s aversion to adding touch to the Mac.

The other sliver of information that we have is that the Mac Pro 2019 may launch with a co-processor. We could see Apple going with something like the T1 (which manages the MacBook Pro Touch Bar and Touch ID) and T2 (which manages the iMac Pro hardware security and allows for the automatic ‘Hey Siri’ command). Whichever role it fills, it will offload critical tasks from the Intel processors that will likely be inside the Mac Pro 2019.

How will this manifest inside the Mac Pro for 2019? The most likely scenario is the latter one: implementing the very same T2 chip inside the iMac Pro into this device. That would bring pro-grade security and on-demand Siri to the Mac Pro, the former of which is crucial for getting traction in office environments.

However, the inclusion of the T2 chip might go against the Mac Pro’s ability to be serviced by users. It’s recently come out that Apple has locked out the iMac Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro, which both use the T2 chip, from being serviced by anyone other than Apple and its authorized service providers.

AMD has announced its new Radeon VII graphics card, aimed at gamers, at CES 2019. And, while we doubt this specific card will make its way into the new Mac Pro, we wouldn’t be surprised if AMD supported the Mac Pro with a new 7nm Vega II GPU. 

Mac Pro 2019

What we want to see in Mac Pro 2019

All of these rumors swirling around a potential Mac Pro 2019 release puts us in prime position for a well-crafted wishlist. So, here’s what we hope to see Apple upgrade within the Mac Pro for 2019.

More internal expansion
Simply put, there wasn’t enough room in the last Mac Pro for storage expansion, and that needs to change in the 2019 model. Good thing, then, that words like ‘modular’ make us confident that this will, indeed, be the case. Hot swappable storage bays, anyone?

Dual-processor options
Back in our Mac Pro review, we criticized Apple for not including a dual-processor option. And, while we’re sure that Apple will include its T2 chip for “Hey Siri” functionality, we’re sure there are a ton of video editors out there that could really use the speedy rendering and encoding power that dual processor options can afford. Short of including the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, a dual processor option would be the best way of getting 32-cores of processing power in the new Mac Pro.

A keyboard and mouse included
The 2013 Mac Pro shipped without any Magic Keyboard or Magic Mouse included. Simply put, we’d like to see this change with the 2019 version. Shipping an Apple computer without proper inputs is like trying to sell a car without the steering wheel.

iOS apps on Mac Pro
Now that it has been bandied about for so long, the idea of iOS apps on a Mac computer has grown on us. We’d love to see our favorite iPhone and iPad apps make their way to the desktop. 

After WWDC 2018, though, we now know exactly how Apple is going to handle this. Instead of just opening the App Store on macOS, we’ll be getting a limited selection of key iOS apps ported over. MacOS 10.14 will have access to News, Stocks, Voice Memos and Home, with more eventually coming over in 2019. These apps will be redesigned to feel natural on macOS – so, no touchscreen necessary. 

  • These are the best Macs that 2018 has to offer so far

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this report

  • Images Credit: Apple

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Surface Book 3: what we want to see

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 07:50 AM PST

When the original Surface Book was launched by Microsoft, everyone fell in love. And, when the Surface Book 2 followed, it took everything the original did and turned everything up to 11 – creating one of the best 2-in-1 laptops running Windows 10 we’ve ever had the pleasure to use. So, you can understand why we’re excited for the prospect of a Surface Book 3 – even though we probably won’t see it for a while.

Just imagine – what could the Surface Book 3 look like? A Surface Book 2 with a sharper, brighter display, more powerful components and Thunderbolt 3 – it could be amazing. With these features, the Surface Book 3 would be the perfect foil to the MacBook Pro. If Microsoft releases a Surface Book 3 that improves on the Surface Book 2’s shortcomings, while fortifying its successes, it could be one of the best laptops.

Now, while there is little to no concrete information about the Surface Book 3, we can at least do a bit of speculation based on past releases and our tech expertise. So, with that in mind, let’s dive into what we think the Surface Book 3 may look like.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The would-be third Surface Book 2-in-1 laptop
  • When is it out? Likely between September and November 2019
  • What will it cost? Likely as much as – if not more than – the current model

surface book 3

Image Credit: Microsoft

Surface Book 3 release date

The Surface Book 2 was released in late 2017 – it’s more than a year old. But, if we follow the release pattern of Surface devices that aren’t the Surface Pro, you shouldn’t expect the Surface Book 3 until late 2019 at the earliest.

We got a wave of new Surface devices, including the Surface Pro 6 and the Surface Laptop 2, both coming out October 16, but no sign of the Surface Book 3 – no surprise there, really. This just supports our 2019 Surface Book 3 prediction.

Until we get more concrete information, or even rumors, we’re going to stick with our late 2019 or 2020 Surface Book 3 release date speculation.

surface book 3

Image Credit: Microsoft

Surface Book 3 price

Unfortunately, because there’s no concrete information about the Surface Book 3 right now, we don’t really know anything about its price. However, we can look at the pricing of the Surface Book and the Surface Book 2 and do a bit of speculation.

Right now, thanks to a new lower-storage model, the 13.5 inch Surface Book 2 starts at $1,199 or £1,149, while the 15 inch version still sits at a $2,499 or £2,349 (AU$3,649) price of admission. If you ask us, that’s already enough scratch.

Still, let’s hope and pray that the would-be Surface Book 3 stays well within that price range, as we likely wouldn’t be able to afford much more.

surface book 3

Image Credit: Microsoft

What we want to see in a Surface Book 3

Because the Surface Book 3 is so far off, and we don’t have any solid information on what it’ll look like, all we can do is create a wishlist for what we want to see improved in the next Surface Book. So, here’s our Surface Book 3 wish list, based on speculation, leaks and rumors. 

More powerful internals
The Surface Book represents the most powerful and elegant laptops that Microsoft manufactures, so we’d like to see up-to-date components all around. Now that Intel is supposedly getting ready to release Whiskey Lake processors for laptops and Nvidia is fresh off of the Nvidia Turing announcement – the Surface Book 3 might be an extremely powerful device when it comes to market. Just imagine a portable workhorse that can do some 4K gaming in its downtime. 

And, if Microsoft waits to release the Surface Book 3 until Ice Lake hits the streets in late 2019, the Surface Book 3 could be both powerful and battery efficient.

Use the extra space accordingly
Whether it’s through an expanded keyboard with the number pad or top-firing speakers with deep bass chambers, Microsoft has to make better use of the space afforded it with the 15-inch Surface Book design. As of now, it’s simply wasted space waiting to be utilized.

Thunderbolt 3, please
The Surface connector on the Surface Book 2 is flexible, to be sure, but it’s time for Microsoft to move onto Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C. Not only does Thunderbolt 3 allow for faster file transfers, it can also serve as a one plug hub for all displays and other peripherals you could want to connect. If the Surface Book 3 is really going to compete, especially in 2019 or 2020, it needs to respect this growing standard.

And, it looks like it may actually happen. Microsoft has patented a magnetic USB-C connector that would sort of function like the existing magnetic Surface charger. Whether or not this will actually support Thunderbolt 3 remains to be seen, but we don’t see why it wouldn’t.

Better power management
One of the fatal flaws of the Surface Book 2 15-inch was it couldn't play games without draining its battery on top of pulling charge through its Surface Connector. While Microsoft might have told us it was designed creatives and not gaming, the same company was the one who gave it a built-in Xbox controller receiver. Whatever or whoever, the next iteration is made for, it should have improved power management as to not dip into its battery reserves for extra juice.

A 4K display would be nice
The Surface Book 2’s display comes in at 3,240 x 2,160 (260 ppi) at a 3:2 aspect ratio in the 15-inch model. It’s a beautiful display, to be sure. However, while it comes close to hitting that 4K mark, true 4K assets are becoming standard, so digital creators would likely appreciate a screen that mirrors the sharpness at which they produce content. 

All accessories included
For what it’s charging for current – and will charge for future – Surface Book products, Microsoft should include all of the essential accessories in the box. Yes, that includes the awesome Surface Dial alongside the Surface Pen in this case. It’s only fair for what is essentially a luxury item.

Black color option
The Surface Book 2 is already an extremely attractive device, but after Microsoft revealed the Surface Pro 6 and the Surface Laptop 2, we would love to see the next premium 2-in-1 adopt it, too. 

Just imagine, a Surface Book 3 that could not only compete with the MacBook Pro 2018, but one that has a more beautiful color option than the Space Gray on the latest Apple flagship. 

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MacBook Pro 2019: what we want to see

Posted: 07 Feb 2019 07:45 AM PST

Some longtime MacBook users are starting to feel like Apple has lost the edge that essentially propelled the company out of its dark ages. While they’ve been cooking up new MacBook Pro models (and other devices, for that matter) faster than our bank accounts can keep up – these upgrades have resulted in improved devices – some of these updates have fallen flat.

Ever since 2016, Apple has approached the MacBook Pro in a different way, focusing on features that make one of the best Macs more appealing to the mainstream, like the Touch Bar, and even further streamlining the design – as evidenced by the removal of all non-Thunderbolt ports. It’s a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ but it’s left some old school Apple fans feeling a bit jaded.

But, the MacBook Pro 2018 has been upgraded with 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh processors and some of the fastest SSDs we’ve seen – giving it unprecedented speed. Apple has also improved the display with True Tone tech, fixed some of the problems with the Butterfly keyboard – though new problems are cropping up – all while maintaining last year’s battery life numbers.

Do we have high hopes for the MacBook Pro 2019? Well, this direction probably won’t change any time soon, so you may just have to get with the times. However, we hope that Apple dials down the frills and impresses us with updates that the MacBook Pro 2019 really needs. Here’s to hoping Apple gives us a Macbook Pro 2019 with more features that we loved about the original models.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The 2019 MacBook Pro update
  • When is it out? It’s too early to tell, but most likely summer of 2019
  • What will it cost? If the Touch Bar stays, likely as much as the 2018 models

MacBook Pro 2019

MacBook Pro 2019 release date

Although a 2019 update to the MacBook Pro (as well as the Mac Pro) is expected, there’s no rumored release date at the moment. It’s hardly a surprise, as the the last update just dropped in July 2018. We might need to wait a few months or even early next year for a clearer date.

However, going by Apple’s previous release dates – MacBook Pro 2017 debuted in June 2017 while the MacBook Pro 2018 model came out under the radar in July 2018 – a summer release for the MacBook Pro 2019 makes sense and is highly plausible.

However, after Intel announced the 10nm Ice Lake chips at CES 2019 for a late 2019 release date, we could see Apple delay the MacBook Pro until Fall to take advantage of the new tech. Either way, we’ll continue to keep an eye out for updates. 

MacBook Pro 2019

MacBook Pro 2019 price

Just the fact that Apple hasn’t upgraded its non-Touch Bar MacBook Pros this year says a lot about its direction, which is likely to phase them out and continue asking us pay for tech that, while promising, hasn’t been perfected yet.

The worst part of the 2018 models is the fact that you need to shell out thousands to get the highest amount of RAM (the 32GB RAM option is only available to the 15-inch models) and the largest SSD combo. Otherwise, you’re stuck with base amount of RAM and a Touch Bar that isn’t even universally compatible yet. Photographers and filmmakers who need a bigger screen? You can forget about getting a non-Touch Bar model.

You can also forget about upgrading your 13-inch. The majority of its parts are soldered, so you’ll have to bring in a professional and break your warranty. Then you may have to invest in a third-party docking station because the only ports available to you are the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack.

Of course, it’s hard to predict these things, but you’ll probably see more of the same prices. At the moment, the basic 13-inch with Touch Bar configuration, featuring 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and four Thunderbolt 3 ports, will set you back $1,799 (£1,749, A$2,699). You’re basically paying 300 bucks more for the Touch Bar, Touch ID and two additional Thunderbolt 3 ports.

MacBook Pro 2019

What we want to see from MacBook Pro 2019

Apple hasn’t been getting a lot of love lately, what with the great keyboard debacle of 2016-2017, the troubled Touch Bar and the soldered RAM, to name a few. But, we’re still hoping Apple takes a new lease on life in 2019 and actually gives the users some of the things they need.

More port variety, please
Or, at least, if Apple’s going to insist on Thunderbolt 3, provide us with a docking station or an adapter for USB, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI. You know, instead of leaving us to pay extra for a third-party one. 

However, if we’re really being honest, limiting us to Thunderbolt 3 is inconvenient. MacBook Pro is for professionals who want a more seamless workflow. Yes, the Thunderbolt 3 is powerful and versatile, allowing for charging, output and data transfers; but we’re still using other devices and accessories that don’t support it. If we’re expected to connect this cable to that adapter to plug in to that port, we’re not going to be happy.

And, while we’re at it, can we just bring back MagSafe charging, please? Some of us tend to trip over those cables, and it was nice to know that we wouldn’t damage those older models in the process.

But, seeing how Apple launched the latest MacBook Air with just two Thunderbolt 3 ports and no MagSafe charger, we don’t exactly have our hopes up that Apple is going to diversify the ports on the MacBook Pro 2019.

Improved Touch Bar
When it comes to the new Touch Bar, it seems that Apple is standing its ground. Despite many complaints from users and despite the fact that many still prefer not having it, Apple seems to be in the process of phasing out the MacBook Pros without the Touch Bar. In fact, it’s only the MacBook Pros with Touch Bar that received the 8th-gen Intel processor and True Tone display upgrades this year.

That’s all fine and dandy and, we must admit, the technology has promise. However, if Apple is going to ask for a few hundred bucks for a new feature, can we please get more use out of it? So far, Touch Bar compatibility is only limited to a few programs and apps, and we want to see more added to this list. Plus, it would be nice to get it properly working without the freezes and fat finger issues.

MacBook Pro 2019

Or offer an alternative
Again, the Touch Bar shows promise, but it isn’t exactly something that most users need. Not all of us are photographers or filmmakers or designers. Some use the MacBook Pro for productivity because of the simple fact that it’s interface is more streamlined and user-friendly. But they won’t have a need for a Touch Bar at all. In fact, it’ll just get in the way.

We’d like to see an option for such users. Bring back the Touch Bar-free 15-inch model and upgrade the 13-inch model without it, perhaps.

Better keyboard, display and sound
Sure, Apple has ‘improved’ the keyboard so that it’s quieter, but it’s still a tad stiff and has less travel than most keyboards. As far as ergonomics, the keyboard isn’t the best. It’s not that we hate it, but it’s certainly more difficult to love it. We could get used to the keyboard, but we’d rather see a better one. Better yet, Apple could bring back the old design we’ve come to know and love.

The MacBook Pro designers should take cues from the iPhone X and get rid of the bezeled display. That’s a lot of precious real estate wasted, and pushing for a bezel-free display will give users a bigger screen without having to compromise the size. Plus, by going bezel-free, it’ll give the update a fresher, more modern look. Also, a laptop designed to edit 4K media should have a 4K screen option.

And, while Apple’s at it, we’d like to see it reconsider those speakers. We get that Apple is pushing for a more compact design, but the speakers in the older MacBook Pros are so much better. With all the technology they come up with, it would be welcome to receive a premium set of speakers with better base and more volume.

New Intel processor
The MacBook Pro 2018 just got updated with Kaby Lake Refresh and Coffee Lake on the 13-inch and 15-inch, respectively, but unfortunately Intel has released Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake processors shortly afterwards – putting the MacBook Pro behind the curve – if only just barely. Whiskey Lake only provides a nominal boost to performance that most users won’t notice.

However, at CES 2019, Intel announced Ice Lake, its first round of 10nm Sunny Cove processors for laptops. We’re expecting to see these chips in late 2019, so if Apple wants to include these next-gen CPUs in its next MacBooks – which it definitely should – it would need to delay the next MacBook Pro until late 2019. 

Still, we’d rather see it delayed and have an even better processor than invest in one with only superficial upgrades. Regardless, keep it locked to TechRadar as this page includes more and more rumors and leaks in the lead up to launch.

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