Apple : Amazon Memorial Day sale: deals on the Apple Watch, Dyson Vacuum and more |
- Amazon Memorial Day sale: deals on the Apple Watch, Dyson Vacuum and more
- The best Memorial Day sales 2019: here are the final deals
- Need a new SIMO? These five cheap SIM only deals all come under £10 a month
- Metroid Prime 4: everything we know so far
- Software upgrades for the OnePlus 7 Pro camera are rolling out now
- Pokémon Sword and Shield: everything we know about the 2019 Pokémon RPG
- Pokémon Sword and Shield Direct coming before E3
- Dell Memorial Day sale: deals on TVs, laptops, desktops and more
- Computex 2019: the latest news from the world's biggest computer show
- The iPhone 11 could play music on two pairs of AirPods at once
- Alexa Announcements can now work with any Alexa-enabled device
- Is this what mobile 5G gaming will look like?
- ASUS’s new ZenBook Pro Duo integrates a huge touchscreen above the keyboard
- Aston Villa vs Derby live stream: how to watch 2019 Championship play-off final from anywhere
- Qualcomm, Lenovo announce Project Limitless: the first 5G Snapdragon 8cx laptop
- AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors will be out July 7
- The best Ultrabooks in Australia for 2019: top thin and light laptops reviewed
- The best laptops of 2019 in Australia: our picks of the top laptops on sale now
- The best Australian EOFY 2019 tech deals
| Amazon Memorial Day sale: deals on the Apple Watch, Dyson Vacuum and more Posted: 27 May 2019 01:01 PM PDT Memorial Day is officially here, and that means huge discounts from top retailers on appliances, electronics, home items and more. Amazon is participating in the big sale event with massive price cuts on mattresses, TVs, vacuums, patio furniture, and more. Amazon's best Memorial Day deals:Shop more deals with our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales of 2019. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best Memorial Day sales 2019: here are the final deals Posted: 27 May 2019 12:55 PM PDT
The best Memorial Day sales:
Our best Memorial Day sale picks:When is Memorial Day 2019?Memorial Day is an American federal holiday that always falls on the last Monday in May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. This year Memorial Day is on Monday, May 27, with the long holiday weekend kicking off on Friday the 25. When do Memorial Day sales start?Most Memorial Day sales start the week before the actual holiday on Monday the 20, and some retailers don't start their promotions till the weekend before. All sales will last through the holiday weekend, and most will end on Memorial Day. What are the best Memorial Day sales?The biggest categories discounted during Memorial Day include appliances, patio, mattresses, and laptops. Because Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, you can find discounts on several outdoor items such as grills, patio furniture, planters, and camping equipment. Retailers like Home Depot and Target are offering up to 40% off patio items.
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| Need a new SIMO? These five cheap SIM only deals all come under £10 a month Posted: 27 May 2019 12:32 PM PDT We here at TechRadar speak pretty eagerly about the big data SIM only market. But for those penny savers out there wanting to get the cheapest price possible, we're here to help. The good news is that this is a brilliant time to go cheap on your SIM only deal. With exclusive deals, offers starting as low as £3.99 and some surprisingly large amounts of data at low prices, saving on your SIM doesn't have to mean ending up on a weaker tariff. But with so many brilliant options, it can be hard to know what to go for. That's why we've tracked down the best five cheap SIM only contracts around to save you the endless searching. You can find these offers down below.
The top SIM only deals this weekend:
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| Metroid Prime 4: everything we know so far Posted: 27 May 2019 12:26 PM PDT It was during its E3 2017 livestream that Nintendo announced Metroid Prime 4 for Nintendo Switch with a logo and little else. No release date, no developer information, no footage. Nothing. To say fans were left hungry for details is an understatement; ten years is a long time sans new Samus. A brand new Metroid Prime title for the Switch is an exciting proposition - the Metroid Prime games, released between 2002 and 2007, were critical gold for the GameCube and Wii consoles; to see the series return on Nintendo’s most successful console in years would be fitting. However in January 2019 fans were disappointed to learn that Metroid Prime 4 is now even further away as Nintendo scrapped the project and decided to start again with the help of Retro Studios. Regardless of the extra wait time, we're excited to see Metroid Prime 4 on the Nintendo Switch (whenever that will be). So here's everything we know about Metroid Prime 4 on Switch so far. [Update: Nintendo has announced the time and date of its E3 2019 Direct. Could this be our chance to hear more about the progress being made on Metroid Prime 4? Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
Release dateWe weren't quite sure when Metroid Prime 4 would release but now we know it definitely won't be for a while as Nintendo announced in January 2019 that it had scrapped the project and started again with help from Retro Studios. TrailersBack at E3 2017, Nintendo released a first-look trailer for Metroid Prime 4. Check it out below: News and rumorsE3 2019 Direct announced E3 2019 is gaining on us and Nintendo has now confirmed the time and date it will be streaming its Nintendo Direct. The stream will begin on Tuesday June 11 at 5pm BST/ 9am PT/ 12pm ET. Nintendo has also confirmed that it will be bringing back its Treehouse livestreams which will go live each day of the show, showing off gameplay from upcoming releases. Nintendo hasn't released any kind of schedule for either its Direct stream or its Treehouse streams which means we can't be entirely certain that Metroid Prime 4 will appear. However, there's been little word since it was announced that Retro Studios took over development earlier this year and E3 would be the perfect time for Nintendo to update anxious fans. It seems unlikely, however, that the game would be a Treehouse livestream focus at this stage so a press conference mention is most likely if there's to be any sighting of Metroid Prime 4. Retro Studios is hiring for Metroid Prime 4 It was something of a shock when Nintendo announced that it would be starting from scratch on the development of Metroid Prime 4 with Retro Studios. The latest news from this new phase in the game's development is that Retro Studios is now hiring and looking to increase numbers on its development team. The roles are wide-ranging and all are based at the studio in Austin, Texas. These advertisements suggest that the game is still in the early stages of development so it could be some time before we get any more solid updates on its progress. If you're a world class developer and a fan of Metroid, though, this could be your big break! Nintendo scrap Metroid Prime 4 and start again “This change will essentially mean restarting development from the beginning, so completion of the game will be delayed from our initial internal plan,” Nintendo's senior managing executive officer Shinya Takahashi explains in the update video. “We strongly recognise that this delay will come as a dissapointment to the many fans who have been looking forward to the launch of Metroid Prime 4.” You can watch the development update from Nintendo below: Bandai Namco developing Metroid Prime 4? The developer was then a mystery, until a report from Eurogamer in February 2018 stated that it was Bandai Namco working on the game. With information from several anonymous sources, Eurogamer reports that Metroid Prime 4 was initially being worked on by Bandai Namco Singapore, before Bandai Namco Japan took the lead so that Singapore can focus on another title. Though nothing has been confirmed by Nintendo itself, this is a rumor that’s been going around since fans started to piece together the LinkedIn job descriptions on the pages of various Bandai Namco Singapore staff. The story Back in 2015, Eurogamer interviewed series producer, Kensuke Tanabe, who stated that “The stories of Dark Samus and Phazon are done” adding that any new games in the series would focus on other Prime-series elements. Given that the game is not being created by Metro Studios, this is likely to have an impact on the story or, the very least, the direction of the franchise. Gameplay Coming in as a fresh start with a new developer, there’s actually plenty of room for Metroid Prime 4 to innovate. Given The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario franchises have embraced more open worlds, we wonder if this is something that Nintendo will want to bring into the Prime series, too. It’s like that, like other Switch games, there will be optional motion controls with the Joy-Cons - we’re imagining aiming, firing, an environment scanning, for example. What we want to seeA more open world The first three titles were already pretty big, but the Switch offers more scope. We think the Super Mario Odyssey approach of large interconnected worlds could translate well. The Metroid series is replete with interesting environments we’d love the chance to see more of and the Switch is the console that has enough power to make that possible. Be accessible We'd love to see Metroid Prime 4 take a Monster Hunter: World approach by retaining what makes it great while giving new players a way in. New weapons and abilities Make it feel like a true Switch game Motion control could create some fun and interesting shooting and environment scanning opportunities, but integrating HD Rumble into puzzle solving or integrating it into combat situations to act as an enemy alert would be interesting. Bring in Sylux Tanabe said that he'd like to create a Metroid game which featured both Sylux and Samus and explored their dynamic, something which we'd also like to see happen; the characters have an unexplored and potentially interesting history. It's known that Sylux isn't the biggest fan for Samus or the Federation, yet he uses a Federation weapon. That alone has us thinking he'd make an engaging villain for a new title. (Image credits: Nintendo)
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| Software upgrades for the OnePlus 7 Pro camera are rolling out now Posted: 27 May 2019 12:25 PM PDT OnePlus promised it was coming and now it's here: an updated version of OxygenOS that primarily focuses on getting better pictures out of the rear camera on the OnePlus 7 Pro, particularly in low light. In fact the OxygenOS 9.5.4/9.5.5 release notes specifically mention both Nightscape (the low light mode on the phone) and HDR as areas that should see improvements once the patch has been applied. White balance and focus are also mentioned as now being more reliable "in several scenarios", so you should find yourself getting better shots more often with the new version of the OS on board your flagship.
"Thanks for the overwhelming amount of feedback we received both positive and constructive from users of the OnePlus 7 Pro's triple camera, both from within the media and our own community," adds OnePlus. Can we fix it?In our review of the OnePlus 7 Pro, we mentioned that the triple-lens rear camera is "good, but not great", so if the software updates to the phone make a significant difference we'll be sure to let you know. It's not the first software update the OnePlus 7 Pro has received in its short life and it's not going to be the last either – OnePlus has said it's investigating issues with phantom taps being registered on the screen, though a fix isn't included this time round. As we know from the quality of pictures that the Pixel phones are capable of – phones with a single 12.2-megapixel camera lens – image processing on the software side can make a big difference to the quality of a final shot. We'll have to wait and see what sort of improvements OxygenOS 9.5.4/9.5.5 can make. The roll out is a staged one, so if you don't see it on your phone yet, you should in the next few days. Via Android Police This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Pokémon Sword and Shield: everything we know about the 2019 Pokémon RPG Posted: 27 May 2019 12:20 PM PDT Nintendo has finally (finally!) announced the next generation of Pokémon games coming to Nintendo Switch: Pokémon Sword and Shield. Using Nintendo's favored method of new game announcements – Direct presentations – The Pokémon Company has now released a brief trailer giving a quick look at the new Pokémon games. With a release date set for late 2019, there are only months to go before Pokémon fans get another fix on their Switch consoles. 2018's Pokémon Let's Go: Pikachu and Eevee games acted as a sort of reboot of the original Red and Blue titles for the Nintendo Gameboy, and for many didn't count as a 'core' Pokémon experience. Pokémon Sword and Shield are the first mainline Pokémon games to come to Nintendo Switch, and expectations will be high. So what do we know, and what are we hoping to see when Pokémon Sword and Shield launch this year? Read on to find out. [Update: Couldn't wait until E3 2019 for more Pokémon Sword and Shield? Good news, you don't have to! The Pokémon Company and Nintendo have announced a special Sword and Shield Direct will broadcast on June 5 at 2pm BST/ 6am PT/ 9am ET. The Direct will run for around 15 minutes on Nintendo's YouTube and Twitch channels and feature new information on the upcoming titles.]
Cut to the chase
Image credit: Nintendo Pokémon Sword and Shield: release dateNot long to wait now... The Pokémon Direct confirmed the late 2019 release date we heard from the official Pokémon Twitter account last year. Given the usual releases of mainline Pokémon games, we expect to see Sword and Shield land in mid-November, just in time for the holiday season. Pokémon Sword and Shield: trailersThe presentation doesn't give too much away, but you can see the first glimpse of the environments and art style in the trailer below – without any in-game footage. You also get a first look at three new starter Pokémon: the fire-rabbit Scorbunny, twig-monkey Grookey, and a sad-looking tadpole (sadpole?) called Sobble. Pokémon Switch news and rumorsA Wild Direct appears! Unexpectedly close to E3 2019, Nintendo has announced that it will host a Pokémon Sword and Shield Direct on June 5 at 2pm BST/ 6am PT/ 9am ET. The Direct will run for around 15 minutes on Nintendo's YouTube and Twitch channels. It'll be the first look we've had at the titles since their announcement in February. Trainer outfit customization will be a feature While it's not a brand new feature, trainer outfit customization has been popular with Pokémon players since it was introduced in X and Y. And it's a feature which a recent Uniqlo competition has confirmed will be in Pokémon Sword and Shield. In a collaboration with The Pokémon Company, the clothing brand asked fans to design a top which would then be sold in stores. Now that the winning entry has been chosen (a design featuring Magikarp and Gyrados) it's been revealed that the top will also be wearable in Pokémon Sword and Shield as a trainer outfit. Just how many more outfit options there'll be in the games isn't known yet, but we're hoping to catch a glimpse of some more if Nintendo shows us some new Sword and Shield footage during its E3 conference this year. Nintendo E3 2019 Direct announced E3 2019 is fast approaching and Nintendo has now confirmed the time and date it will be streaming its Nintendo Direct. The video will go live on Tuesday June 11 at 5pm BST/ 9am PT/ 12pm ET. Nintendo has also confirmed that it will be bringing back its Treehouse livestreams which will go live each day of the show, showing off gameplay from upcoming releases. Nintendo hasn't released any kind of schedule for either its Direct stream or its Treehouse streams so there's no guarantee of what will appear, but naturally we're hoping that Pokémon Sword and Shield will emerge from the tall grass at some point. The Treehouse livestreams especially would be a fantastic place for Game Freak to show off a little more of the new Pokémon region and how we'll be playing in it live on Switch. Made for handheld While the Pokémon Let's Go games were developed with TV mode in mind, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has stated that Pokémon Sword and Shield will "emphasize the fun of playing Nintendo Switch in handheld mode." Furukawa made the comments during Nintendo's March 2019 Financial Results Briefing (via Nintendo Life). Gym Masters As spotted by We Got This Covered, a (now removed) tweet by Nintendo of America suggests Pokemon Sword and Shield will see Gym Leaders replaced by Gym Masters. The tweet was accompanied with images showing in-game soccer stadiums, suggesting these will serve as gyms. Image credit: Nintendo A whole new world We know the game is set in a brand new region of Galar, rather than a rehash of Kanto or a previously visited territory. Galar seems to be loosely inspired by England's cities and countryside, with rolling hills and brickwork cities to explore. The trailer also showed glimpses of jewel-encrusted mines and what might even be a football stadium (see the kit below), though we're waiting to see whether competing in a Pokémon-themed Football World Cup will be possible for players. Brand new Pokémon Yup, this is a new generation of Pokémon, meaning you'll be seeing a lot of new faces – as well as a lot of old ones. The trailer gave us a mix of familiar Pokémon like Pikachu and Hoothoot along the new starters, and we're hoping Game Freak manage to keep the new designs interesting (no ice cream or candelabra Pokémon, please.) Modern to the core Sword and Shield look to retain the look and 3D animation style of the Pokeémon Let's Go games that launched on Nintendo Switch last year. Pokémon games haven't been flat 2D games in years, and has increasingly been moving towards full-size avatars and 3D environments. Some may miss the old-school pixel charm of the earlier games – and find the 3D creature models a bit bland – but for better or worse this is what we're getting. Image credit: Nintendo A fully-fledged Pokémon game After the release of the simplified Pokémon Let's Go titles, there had been concern amongst fans that the 2019 RPG wouldn't offer the full gameplay experience they came to expect from mainline Pokémon games. Head of the Pokémon Company Tzunekazu Ishihara assuaged these concerns in an interview with Famitsu magazine (via Siliconera). According to Ishihara, the 2018 Pokémon release will be a "completely different game" to Pokémon Let's Go. "It's is not an entry game," he says, "but a game that we want long term fans of the Pokémon series to look forward to." Unlike the Let's Go games, it looks like Sword and Shield will be maintaining the random encounters so core to the usual series' gameplay, for example. We don't have much to go on aside from the recent trailer, though with a 2019 release we're sure to see more of the titles at E3 2019 in June. Image credit: Nintendo Swords and shields The Sword and Shield titles seem out of character for a series used to using colors and letters to list its titles. The England-setting is curious given the titles, though. Our instinct says we could see a spin on Arthurian legend, maybe with players facing off against the Knights of the Round Table? It certainly wouldn't be the most far-fetched thing we've seen in a Pokemon game. We also wouldn't be surprised if the game's legendaries were based off the two wolves forming part of the Sword and Shield logos... Pokémon Stars what? What still confuses us is that we've been waiting for the long-rumored Pokémon Stars game for over two years now, after a 2016 report published by Eurogamer. published a report in late 2016 that said multiple sources had confirmed a new version of Pokémon Sun and Moon was being developed for the Switch under the code named Pokémon Stars. While it never materialized, 'Stars' could well have been a code-name for what eventually became the Let's Go games, or could still prove a Switch port for the Sun and Moon games. Pokemon Sun and Moon on 3DS (Image credit: Nintendo) Pokémon Sword and Shield: what we want to seeThat's everything we know. Now let's get into the things we'd love to see from the rumored game. Better graphics and animations Game Freak pushed the Nintendo 3DS to its absolute limits with Pokémon Sun and Moon (to the point where 3D support had to be removed). That means Game Freak is ready to move beyond the limitations of the 3DS and we’d fully expect to see graphical advancements in the Nintendo Switch version. Image credit: Nintendo The graphics and animations in Sun and Moon were already excellent, definitely the best we’ve seen so far from a Pokémon game, but moving to Nintendo Switch could very well allow for sharper character and environment models and much more expressive character faces. Integration with Let's Go, obviously As the only other Pokémon games to have come to the Switch, the ability to trade and battle with Pokémon Let's Go games is an obvious feature to include in the new games. Being able to bring new eighth-generation Pokemon to the Let's Go Kanto region, too, would be a neat perk if Game Freak allowed it. Image credit: Nintendo More motion controls The Let's Go games put the Joy-Con controller's motion controls to use for throwing Poke-balls, though we could imagine some other fun uses for Pokémon mini-games. Boxing with a Hitmonchan? Steering a surfing Lapras? Fishing on the Galar shoreline? Just give us things to do. Amiibo Support We want Pokémon Amiibo support. There, we said it. Though Pokken tournament and Detective Pikachu have Amiibo figurines, we want to see even more introduced for the brand new mainline Pokémon game. Whether they unlock new accessories for mini games, new items of clothing, or new moves, we just know these will be highly collectible and probably adorable.
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| Pokémon Sword and Shield Direct coming before E3 Posted: 27 May 2019 12:13 PM PDT If you thought you were going to have to wait until E3 2019 for some new details on Pokémon Sword and Shield you were (probably quite happily) mistaken. Yes, despite the fact that one of the world’s biggest gaming conventions is only two weeks away and Nintendo itself will be broadcasting a Direct from there, the gaming giant and The Pokémon Company have announced that there will be a dedicated Sword and Shield Direct taking place on June 5. The Direct will broadcast on Nintendo’s YouTube and Twitch channels at 2pm BST/ 6am PT/ 9am ET and run for around 15 minutes, during the course of which fans will get to see brand new information about the Switch games that are due to launch later this year. That's not all, folksThat’s not the only Pokémon news that will be announced this week. The Pokémon Company has also confirmed that it will host a press conference on May 28 at 6pm PT, 9pm ET or 2am on May 29 BST. The conference itself is taking place in Tokyo but it will be live-streamed and available to watch on the company’s YouTube and Twitch channels. This conference will stand separate to the Sword and Shield Direct, so it’s likely to feature a wider range of Pokémon news. What exactly will be mentioned isn’t known just yet but the company has said there will be “a number of topics of interest to Pokémon fans”. That’s a lot of news to reveal this close to E3 but it’s a bonus for Pokémon fans looking for a closer look at the new Galar region and bodes well for a jam-packed press conference from Nintendo on June 11. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Dell Memorial Day sale: deals on TVs, laptops, desktops and more Posted: 27 May 2019 12:05 PM PDT The Dell Memorial Day sale is officially here, and that means Black Friday like prices throughout the site. Starting today, you can save up to 50% on doorbuster deals that include laptops, TVs, desktops, monitors and more. Shop more of Dell's Memorial Day deals below that include huge savings on gaming laptops and desktops. The discounts end soon, so make sure to take advantage while you can. The best Dell Memorial Day deals:Shop more deals with our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales of 2019. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Computex 2019: the latest news from the world's biggest computer show Posted: 27 May 2019 11:41 AM PDT Computex 2019 news is breaking today, giving us a first look at new Ultrabooks and PC components. It's become the must-watch event for all of computing enthusiasts. We're at Computex 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan, and we're front row at keynotes for AMD, Nvidia, Asus and others, detailing what happens right on this page. Ready to step into the future of computing? So much gets announced at Computex, it can be hard to pin down the important news and analysis. Lucky for you, we’ve put our tech and computing expertise to the test with this Computex 2019 guide below. Cut to the chase
AMDLatest AMD news at Computex
At CES 2019, AMD announced its 7-nanometer (nm) Zen 2 architecture, which will be behind its Ryzen 3rd Generation, Threadripper 3rd Generation and even its upcoming Epyc processors for servers. AMD didn’t mention any specific processors at that event, however, opting instead to show off an 8-core, 16-thread processor. Still, rumors suggest we may get as many as 16 cores and 32 threads in a new Ryzen processor – we expect that beefy piece of silicon to make an appearance at Computex 2019 (assuming it’s real.) Additionally, AMD is also in the business of manufacturing graphics cards. There has also been speculation that AMD Navi 10 graphics will show up at Computex 2019. This is a little less certain, as AMD’s next graphics cards have seen all kinds of rumors that point to an October release. It’s highly possible that AMD will show Navi off – it will be 7nm, too – but wait to release it until a later date. This would mirror what Team Red did with AMD Vega at CES 2017, as well as Zen 2 earlier this year. No matter how you slice it, Computex 2019 is going to be massive for AMD. The underdog chip maker has risen to the top of the processor world, more than doubling Intel’s sales, so we expect a celebratory Computex. AsusLatest Asus news at Computex
Asus is without a doubt one of the biggest computing companies in the world. From gaming laptops to Ultrabooks; from motherboards to the best graphics cards, Asus does it all. However, Asus kept a relatively low profile over the last few months, perhaps having unveiled a slew of Ultrabooks and gaming laptops at CES 2019. Still, we expect Asus to deliver the goods. Last year, Asus announced its ZenBook Pro 15, an unusual mobile workstation with a touchscreen built into its touchpad – something that’s been incorporated in many of its subsequent products. We always expect Asus to deliver something unique and innovative, and we have no reason to expect anything different this time around. We might even get some hands-on time with the Asus ROG Mothership. Gigabyte and AorusGigabyte’s Aorus brand is behind some of the best gaming laptops and components on the market. Therefore, at Computex 2019, we could see them unleash anything from new motherboards to new gaming laptops. For example, Gigabyte refreshed its Sabre gaming laptops with Intel Optane drives – the first gaming laptops to do so – at Computex 2018. At CES 2019, on the other hand, it unveiled the brand-new Aero 15 with Microsoft’s Azure AI for hardware performance optimization. All we know is that Gigabyte will be there. Beyond that, your guess is as good as ours. IntelEver since AMD Ryzen first hit the market, Intel has been in a tough spot. It is still manufacturing some of the fastest processors in the world, like the Core i9-9900K. However, the value just isn’t there, which is why we think Intel is going to come out of the gate swinging at Computex 2019. At Computex 2018, Intel made a huge show out of a 28-core, 56-thread monster of a processor, clocked at 5GHz. Unfortunately, we learned later that it was both a $2,999 Xeon chip, and it was overclocked. While that’s still impressive, we don’t think something like similar will be enough this time around. Additionally, Intel has been making a lot of headlines over the last few years for pushing back its 10nm silicon. Cannon Lake was supposed to come out five years ago, after Skylake. Intel has announced both Sunny Cove and Ice Lake at CES 2019, so we expect these 10nm processors to take center stage. These 10nm processors need to take center stage. MicrosoftMicrosoft is going to be at Computex 2019, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. However, with Build 2019 already behind us, we’re uncertain about what the tech behemoth is going to reveal. We could see Microsoft show off Windows10 May 2019 Update, alongside new developments in its cloud computing sector. New Surface devices are also a possibility, but we wouldn’t hold our breath. MSILatest MSI news at Computex 2019
At CES 2019, MSI launched some impressive gaming laptops, including the new GS75 Stealth. We expect MSI to continue this trend at Computex 2019. Last year, it revealed the MSI GF63, a budget-minded gaming laptop. But, there were plenty of high-end products as well, like the MSI Trident A and the insane MSI Pro 24X all-in-one. We’re not sure what MSI is planning, but PC gamers should pay attention as MSI consistently brings the most ostentatious PC hardware on the market. Computex 2019 will be no different. NvidiaWe know Nvidia is going to be at Computex 2019, but we’re not sure what their focus is going to be. Team Green has been pumping out Turing graphics cards at a rapid pace since September 2018. With so many new consumer graphics cards at every price point, we think Nvidia’s Computex 2019 presence will focus on the professionals this time. We’ve seen some rumors going around that Nvidia might reveal 7nm Ampere graphics cards. These graphics cards could be consumer models, but that would be a little too fast, considering Nvidia’s problems with sales earlier this year. Instead, Nvidia Ampere may end up becoming the follow-up to Nvidia Volta, powering the next line of workstation-class GPUs. Or, Nvidia could spend Computex 2019 focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), like it did at GTC 2019. What else?Computex 2019 is still a few days away, and there might be more exciting rumors and leaks to follow. Unfortunately, Microsoft, HP, Dell and Samsung still aren’t on the list of exhibitors at the time of writing, but all of these manufacturers are Computex mainstays, so we have high hopes they’ll show up. One thing we’re sure about is all of these high profile companies will be there to show off some new hardware and software. That’s not to mention all of the smaller manufacturers that will also be there. Lian Li will surely be delivering some beautiful PC cases, G.Skill will probably show off some new RGB memory sticks, and BenQ will show off some new monitors for professionals and gamers. There are more than 100 exhibitors this year, so get ready for a smorgasbord of new hardware. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked until the conference begins, as we’ll update it with any new rumors and exhibitors. Not to mention all the news from the show floor. Images Credit: TechRadar
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| The iPhone 11 could play music on two pairs of AirPods at once Posted: 27 May 2019 11:11 AM PDT The days of sharing AirPods buds between you and a friend could be coming to an end: a new rumor suggests the iPhone 11 will have the ability to beam audio to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. Respected Apple blog Macotakara has the story, via sources in the Asian supply chain, suggesting that dual Bluetooth audio is coming to the next batch of flagship iPhones. Recent iPhone models can already connect to two Bluetooth devices at once, but can only play audio through one of them at a time. This works separately to AirPlay, which is also able to handle multiple audio devices simultaneously.
The example that Macotakara gives is being able to hook up both a car stereo and headphones at the same time, while you're on the road – music and navigation instructions could be sent to different devices. Bring your own AirPodsAs useful as dual Bluetooth audio is, it can be difficult to get right from a technical perspective – as we've seen from the small number of Android phones on the market that already offer it. Assuming Apple can get it right, it would make sharing tunes with a friend on the bus much more straightforward, if you both had a pair of AirPods to hand. Those little wireless earbuds may well be the focus of the new feature, if it arrives. The iPhone 11 is also rumored to be able to charge up a pair of AirPods, while we've seen regular reports that upgraded AirPods are also on the way. We'll find out for sure when September rolls around and the new iPhone 11 models appear. Before then, WWDC 2019 should tell us more about iOS 13. Via 9to5Mac This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Alexa Announcements can now work with any Alexa-enabled device Posted: 27 May 2019 11:02 AM PDT Just because a device has Alexa inside it doesn't mean it can do everything an Amazon Echo can – but Amazon just rolled out an update that adds another feature to third-party devices that was previously an Echo exclusive. The feature in question is Alexa Announcements, which lets you ping every smart speaker in your home with the same message: "dinner's ready", for example, or "please will someone walk the dog". Now the feature is becoming available on every certified Alexa built-in product, Amazon says. In other words you might find a few more devices in your home carrying the message next time you broadcast one.
Alexa Announcements support was already available on some non-Echo devices – including Sonos smart speakers – but it's now officially rolling out to everyone who makes an Alexa-enabled device and meets Amazon's standards for such a gadget. Alexa for allIt's encouraging to see an increasing level of parity between Amazon Echo speakers and third-party Alexa devices – it means you can buy a non-Amazon Alexa-ready piece of hardware with more confidence about what you're getting. "Amazon will continuously improve the Announcement feature to create better customer experiences and to ensure consistency across all Alexa built-in devices," Amazon says. The company is obviously keen to get the full-fat version of Alexa pushed out to as many devices as possible, even if it ends up hitting Amazon Echo sales in the long term. For Amazon the most important thing is that you're using Alexa. The expansion of Alexa Announcements is also another reminder of the appeal of buying smart speakers and smart displays – the features and functions on these devices are getting upgraded all the time. Via The Verge This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Is this what mobile 5G gaming will look like? Posted: 27 May 2019 05:01 AM PDT We still don’t know exactly what to expect when 5G arrives – we know it will provide quicker and more reliable connection to the internet, but we still don’t know how this will affect the way we game or stream media on our phones. Network providers in countries around the world have launched, or are preparing to launch, 5G networks, and companies like Samsung, Motorola and Oppo have already released compatible phones, so the 5G future we’re anticipating is visible on the horizon. This 5G infrastructure isn’t exactly widespread yet, so to see how 5G might change our mobile gaming habits we took a look at Hatch, a cloud gaming app that’s already out, ready for when all our phones are 5G-enabled. Since 5G isn’t available yet in most places we used the app over Wi-Fi and 4G, to get a feel for how the app runs on a fast (ish) connection, as well as what it feels like to stream games on the go. Gaming on the goWhen we loaded up Hatch we were greeted by a home page full of various games, a lot like the Play Store or the App Store, except when we selected a game we could jump straight in (after a short load) – we didn’t have to wait for the game to download. We could also jump between games whenever we wanted, and the fact we had all these games at our disposal made the option to change games when we were getting tired of one (or were performing terribly at Angry Birds again) a lot more tempting – it was easy to play a few minutes of different games in one session. The Hatch home screen. Image credit: TechRadar / Hatch Hatch recommends certain games, both in terms of traditional app stores ‘Editor’s Picks’ and also through an option on the home page that lets you choose a genre and have Hatch load up a random game that fits the brief. When we chose this we were dropped into a game, usually one that we hadn’t heard of before, and it helped us discover some gems we would never have thought of downloading. The games on Hatch are all ‘traditional’ mobile games like Angry Birds, Hitman Go and Monument Valley, as opposed to similar cloud streaming service Google Stadia, which aims to offer blockbuster titles. Joseph Knowles, director of communications at Hatch, told TechRadar “touchscreen games that are designed for mobile will always have a natural edge over games that are not designed for mobile”, and so the app won’t feel much competition from other cloud gaming services. Despite Hatch’s website saying otherwise, there are ads on the app, but it’s free to download and play games, so most users will probably feel that ads are a small price to pay. A larger price we paid was for the connection, as gaming when out and about while on 4G did eat up quite a bit of data, and meant slower load times. What Hatch tells us about 5G gamingThe big draw to cloud gaming with 5G is that you won’t need to download games, which has two benefits: it saves space on your phone, so devices with plenty of storage like the pricey 1TB Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus won’t be necessary for having loads of games; and it means you can play new games on impulse, without having to spend ages downloading something only to realise you don’t enjoy it. This will open up the mobile games market – instead of players only downloading games that sit at the top of download lists, they’ll be more likely to try something new, especially if an app like Hatch can introduce them to a random game when they ask. Smaller developers, then, will have a much easier way of getting their games out to a wider audiences. We could easily jump from one game straight into another. Image credit: TechRadar / Hatch Knowles described cloud gaming’s unique edge as “lowering consumers’ barrier to entry and dramatically growing the addressable market for games”, so people who aren’t typically mobile gamers could get drawn in by the ease of access. You won’t need a processing-powerhouse gaming phone like the Black Shark 2 either, which again lowers the barriers to entry. What do we want to know about 5G?The main question Hatch leaves us asking is how much 5G will cost consumers – if people are using lots of their data for cloud gaming and other similar tasks it could end up costing a lot, depending on how much 5G contracts cost. Hatch, and online games we’ve played, can often eat through data, and we’re expecting 5G will cost a little more than 4G, so playing games on the go could see you racking up a sizeable bill. When we asked EE how much the UK’s 5G network would cost it told us it was still finalizing its pricing plans, but Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s consumer brands, said in an interview it would be “a bit like 4G [...] a few pounds more than 3G”. While several other network providers have pledged that 5G will cost the same as 4G, we’re also expecting most people on 5G will use a lot more data thanks to the ease of use the connectivity provides, so we’re not sure how much extra 5G will end up costing. Image credit: TechRadar / Hatch We asked Knowles about how people access Hatch, and he told us the app is used in different ways in different markets – so while players in the UK tended to stick to Wi-Fi, people in countries with affordable data plans, like Finland, were much more likely to use data to play games. It seems that 5G gaming’s popularity could be dependant on its affordability, as people aren’t going to be likely to stream games if it’ll cost them a fortune. We’re also intrigued to see what 5G and cloud gaming mean for smartphone hardware – newer phones push the envelope with increasingly fast chipsets and ever more storage, but neither will be as crucial for apps like Hatch in which the game is processed online, as they are currently for gaming. Instead, more reliable network connectivity and better-looking displays will become more important in a handset for cloud gamers. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G has a pretty impressive chipset and quite a bit of internal memory at 256GB or 512GB, but we could see the hypothetical Samsung Galaxy S11 5G (or whatever it’s called) prioritize features like screen technology or sound quality over improvements to the memory and processor. The benefits of 5G won’t be apparent straight away, and it’ll take a few years for phone manufacturers and app developers to figure out how to make the most of the reliable and near-instantaneous connectivity it should be provide – but Hatch gives us an insight in to what 5G means for mobile games and cloud gaming. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| ASUS’s new ZenBook Pro Duo integrates a huge touchscreen above the keyboard Posted: 27 May 2019 05:01 AM PDT Following on from last year's ZenBook Pro 15, which featured a productivity-inspiring touchscreen trackpad, Asus is doubling down on its unique approach with the newly-announced ZenBook Pro Duo (UX581). It features what Asus is calling the ScreenPad Plus, which is a secondary touch display that spans the entire width of the laptop's full-size keyboard. Announced at Computex 2019, the ZenBook Pro Duo with ScreenPad Plus is an absolute beast within its gorgeous frame, sporting a 9th generation Intel Core i9 CPU, a GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, Wi-Fi 6 capability, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD storage. The ZenBook Pro Duo also packs a full set of I/O ports including a Thunderbolt 3-enabled USB Type-C port. Its biggest highlight, however, is that it boasts not one, but two 4K screens: its main display is a 15.6-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) touchscreen OLED, while the resolution of its secondary 14-inch ScreenPad Plus display is also technically 4K (3840 x 1100), despite only having around half the vertical lines of the laptop's primary screen. While the ScreenPad Plus can be used as a standard secondary Windows display, Asus's ScreenXpert control software offers users multiscreen window and app management tools, including App Switcher, ViewMax and App Navigator. Along with its flagship Pro model, Asus also announced a smaller 14-inch ZenBook Duo (UX481) which features a lighter chassis 12.6-inch FHD ScreenPad Plus, Intel Core i7 CPU and GeForce MX250 GPU. The regular ZenBook also gets an upgradeAlong with its show-stopping ZenBook Pro Duo range, Asus also announced upgrades to its standard ZenBook lineup, with new 13-, 14- and 15-inch models boasting second-generation ScreenPad 2.0 touchscreen trackpads. Featuring a NanoEdge display with ultra-slim bezels (95% screen-to-body ratio), the ZenBook 13 (UX334), ZenBook 14 (UX434) and ZenBook 15 (UX534) laptops offer some mighty impressive specs, with the choice of up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPUs, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics, 16GB RAM, ultrafast PCIe SSDs and gigabit-class Wi-Fi 5. To celebrate Asus' 30th anniversary, a special ZenBook Edition 30 (UX334FL) will also be available in limited numbers, featuring a Pearl White finish and genuine Italian leather lid cover with matching accessory set. Standard models will be available in Royal Blue, with gold and rose gold accents. At present, none of the laptops mentioned above have pricing or availability information, but we can expect Asus to make an official announcement in the coming weeks. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Aston Villa vs Derby live stream: how to watch 2019 Championship play-off final from anywhere Posted: 27 May 2019 04:13 AM PDT They call it football's most richest game. They say it's worth in excess of £150m to the club that wins it. But when the players of Aston Villa and Derby County walk on to the Wembley turf for the 2019 EFL Championship play-off final today, that will be the furthest thing from their minds. It's all about that place in the Premier League and only one team can grab it. Find out who with an Aston Villa vs Derby live stream - no matter where in the world you are. The two sides have had very different EFL Championship seasons at this point, but equally tense semi-finals to overcome. Up until February, it looked like Aston Villa were destined for a mid-table finish. But then a 4-0 defeat of Derby themselves sparked a 10-game winning streak for Dean Smith's men. Tammy Abraham's 25 league goals and Jack Grealish's youthful determination were big factors in this and Villa will be marginal favourites to head back to the big time. The drama of their penalty shoot-out win against neighbours West Brom was matched by Derby County's remarkable comeback semi-final defeat of old enemy Leeds United. Managed by the legendary Frank Lampard, Derby loitered around the play-off places all season and a strong finish secured sixth place in the Championship. Loanees Harry Wilson, Mason Mount and Mason Bennett will all be important players today, led by stalwart centre-back and club captain Richard Keough who has his own play-off final demons to exorcise. To see who will join the likes of Man City, Liverpool, Manchester United and the rest in the Premier League next season, you're in exactly the right place to see how to get an Aston Villa vs Derby live stream to watch all the action from Wembley unfold. How to stream Aston Villa vs Derby live in the UKLive stream Aston Villa vs Derby from outside your countryIn the US? Then keep scrolling, as we have your viewing options below...spoiler alert, you'll need an ESPN+ subscription. But if you're abroad for the game and find that you can't watch your home coverage online because it is geo-blocked, we have a handy alternative to allow you to watch as if you were back on your sofa. How to watch the Championship play-off final: US live streamThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Qualcomm, Lenovo announce Project Limitless: the first 5G Snapdragon 8cx laptop Posted: 27 May 2019 12:00 AM PDT At Computex 2019, currently happening in Taipei, Taiwan, Qualcomm and Lenovo announced the world’s first 5G laptop, which will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx platform. While the existence of this laptop was teased back in MWC 2019, we’ve now got a better idea of what this device will be capable of.
Known as "Project Limitless," the laptop will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragfon 8cx 5G compute platform, which is the first ever 7-nanometer platform built for PCs that offers 5G data connectivity built in. The future of mobile computing?“Lenovo 5G PCs built on the Snapdragon 8cx 5G compute platform will feature ultra-low latency, remarkable performance, battery life and 5G connectivity that will revolutionize the way we work and play,” according to Johnson Jia, senior vice president of Lenovo's PC Business Group. Project Limitless will benefit from the Snapdragon 8cx’s improved performance, battery life and connectivity compared to Snapdragon-powered laptops that have been previously released. So, that means battery life that lasts for days and super-fast mobile 5G internet that could transform how we use our PCs. Qualcomm and Lenovo haven’t released any more details about Project Limitless – including a price and release date – but once it does, we’ll be sure to let you know. Check out all of TechRadar's Computex 2019 coverage. We're live in Taipei to bring you all the breaking computing news and launches, plus hands-on reviews of everything from fresh laptops and desktops to powerful new components and wild overclocking demonstrations.
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| AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors will be out July 7 Posted: 26 May 2019 09:30 PM PDT At Computex 2019, AMD is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and it has unveiled AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors and Navi graphics cards. AMD had its first ever Computex keynote, where it finally announced what we all knew was coming: AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors. These chips, based on a 7nm Zen 2 manufacturing process, bring higher core counts, faster clock speeds and more power efficiency.
AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation will start with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, with 8 cores and 16-threads, featuring a 4.4GHz boost and 36MB cache, with just a 65W TDP. AMD took this Ryzen 7 3700X and pitted it against the Intel Core i7-9700K in Cinebench R20, where Team Red's chip scored 28% higher. AMD then unveiled the Ryzen 7 3800X, and put it up against the Core i9-9900K in PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds, where it performed almost identically. We didn't get pricing information, but we're sure the AMD chip will be cheaper than Intel's offering. Finally, AMD unveiled the Ryzen 9 3900X, with 12-cores and 24 threads and a boost clock of 4.6GHz for the first time in the mainstream market. This chip, when compared to the Intel Core i9-9920X in Blender was 18% faster for half the price. Plus, all of these chips, feature a 15% boost to IPC (Instructions per clock). These improved clock speeds and IPC boosts promise better performance not only for general computing, but might actually take Intel's throne when it comes to the best processors for gaming if AMD's benchmarks can be trusted. AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors will also be the first to support PCIe 4.0. All of these processors will be available on July 7. And, will set you back $329 for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, $399 for the Ryzen 7 3800X and $499 for the Ryzen 9 3900X. AMD Navi is here, tooBut, AMD makes more than just processors, and there are new graphics cards, too. AMD finally revealed its Navi graphics cards, the Radeon RX 5000 family, headed up by the RX 5700 lineup, which will take on Nvidia Turing at the mid-range. The AMD RX 5700 lineup will launch in July, and while we didn't see any specific model, we do know that more information about Navi will be at E3 2019. We're sure we'll get more specific pricing and release date information at the gigantic gaming show. AMD Navi will go right up against the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070. AMD showed a Strange Brigade benchmark run, where not only did it beat the RTX 2070, but it was able to stay above 100 fps consistently. We already knew that AMD Navi would be powering the PlayStation 5, but if the PS5 can go up against an RTX 2070, it could bring native 4K gaming to the mainstream. This is because, thanks to its smaller 7nm RDNA architecture, AMD is able to offer faster clock speeds without increasing power consumption. This new RDNA architecture succeeds GCN, or Graphics Core Next, and will offer up to 1.5x more performance per watt. The GPU shown off by AMD CEO Lisa Su was extremely small, but it definitely looks like it packs some beefy performance – probably thanks to its new PCIe 4.0 compatibility, exclusive to AMD platforms. These GPUs follow the first 7nm gaming graphics card, the Radeon VII, and while it won't be quite as powerful (and probably not as expensive), AMD Navi and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 lineup, follows in the same footsteps. Still, keep in mind that these benchmarks and performance statements were controlled by AMD, but we will certainly put these GPUs to the test when they release in July. Check out all of TechRadar's Computex 2019 coverage. We're live in Taipei to bring you all the breaking computing news and launches, plus hands-on reviews of everything from fresh laptops and desktops to powerful new components and wild overclocking demonstrations. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best Ultrabooks in Australia for 2019: top thin and light laptops reviewed Posted: 26 May 2019 06:50 PM PDT Update: While we had previously recommended the Huawei MateBook 13 and the Huawei MateBook X Pro in the top two places, the ongoing trouble the company faces with the US Government casts a great deal of uncertainty on the degree of support its products will receive into the future. As such, we recommend the excellent Dell XPS 13 in their stead. We can largely thank Apple and its MacBook Air for the Ultrabook trend we're seeing. Where large, clunky laptops aren't sleek enough, and thin, portable tablets aren't powerful enough, the Ultrabook shines. A unibody chassis packed with some of the best SSDs, processors and battery life available to devices this size, the Ultrabook is a thin and portable marvel that'll let you get on with your business, browsing or buffering without the lengthy wait times. With TechRadar's extensive reviewing and lab testing, we've got a strong idea of what's going to cut it in today's Ultrabook landscape, and on this page we've ranked the best of the best so that you can find yourself a bargain on the cream of the crop. Whether you're chasing the well-known brands like Dell, HP, Microsoft and Lenovo, or some surprise entrants like Huawei and Razer, we've got you covered.
If you want to know exactly what to consider before buying an Ultrabook, check out our video below: Weighing in at a measly 1.21kg and measuring just 76mm thick, the Dell XPS 13 is the epitome of an Ultrabook, and it has the reputation and power to back up the 'Ultra' part too. You won’t find that it’s the most affordable Ultrabook, but it's one of the most well-balanced option in Australia right now, with a healthy portioning of power and portability. It wields the latest 8th-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs, obviously, but it also rocks three USB Type-C ports and the option of an Alpine White finish that we’re absolutely in love with. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 Our pick for the pinnacle of laptops you can buy in Australia for 2019 would be the Huawei MateBook 13, were it not for the ongoing issues the company faces. Like the MateBook X Pro before it, the MateBook 13 packs some of the latest components and tech into a nifty lightweight package at an affordable price. It's this deft balance that would give it the slight edge over the reigning champ, the Dell XPS 13, if it weren't for the unknown future of support for the device. Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13 The Huawei MateBook X Pro's recent arrival had put it firmly in the top place of our Australian ultrabook list, but its been bested by its more affordable successor, and recent controversies cast doubt on the future of its support. This gorgeous laptop brings high-end components into an elegantly-designed package that puts even the MacBook Pro to shame – all this on a decent battery life to boot. And, with its 3K touchscreen, the Huawei MateBook X Pro has a display that’s just as nice to look at as the chassis. It’s really the best Ultrabook you can buy today. Read the full review: Huawei MateBook X Pro There aren't many Ultrabooks as illustriously designed as the Lenovo Yoga 920: a 2-in-1 laptop that’s as dreamy to look at as it is to use. In contrast to its nearest competitors, such as Microsoft’s Surface Book 2, it doesn't weigh nearly as heavy on the wallet either. For the modest price you pay, you’re getting a gorgeous, all-metal finish that can be flipped inside out for extended functionality. It also houses the latest 8th-generation Intel processors, just in case speed was a concern. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920 While we acknowledge that Intel's Ultrabook specification is basically the Windows response to Apple's MacBook Air, it wouldn't be fair to not give Apple right of reply in this field. The latest MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is a sleek beast, offering some excellent and reliable performance with its quad-core CPU, and while you will be paying the kind of premium you'd expect from Apple, there are few Ultrabooks out there that get the balance of design and user experience quite as right as the MacBook Pro. Read our full review: MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (13-inch, mid-2018) When you lay your eyes on the HP Spectre 13 for the first time, you might be blinded by its sheer beauty. HP has taken the already-beautiful Spectre, and spruced it up with gold trim and packed it with internal specs that blow the competition out of the water. One of the first Ultrabooks packing a quad-core CPU, the 2017 Spectre 13 more than doubles the CPU performance of most of its competitors. It comes at the cost of battery life, but clocking in at just under 6 hours – the battery is still passable. Read the full review: HP Spectre 13 Razer has to deal with the common misconception that it’s solely a gaming laptop and peripheral company, a reputation it subverted when it introduced the Blade Stealth back in 2016. And, if you’re unconvinced, the latest edition of the Razer Blade Stealth may change your mind by turning into a 13.3-inch, QHD+ beauty. There’s no longer the option for 4K, but the performance this Ultrabook delivers is worth the compromise. Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth Rarely does a company think of everything when designing a laptop, but for what it’s worth, the HP Spectre x360 comes surprisingly close. It’s a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, which by default makes it not for everyone. Still, for those right-brained users out there, it comes bundled with a Windows Ink-compatible stylus, unlike the vast majority of hybrids. That would mean very little if the HP Spectre x360 didn’t have great sound and visuals, though it evidently does. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 Anyone familiar with Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop would be wise to compare the Asus ZenBook 3 to the 12-inch MacBook. The similarities are obvious, but one look at the specs and the differences stand out too. Adorned with the choice of a U-series Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, the ZenBook 3 is awfully powerful considering it’s less than half an inch thick and weighs two pounds. The port selection is sparse, but ultimately it’s well worth the sacrifice. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook 3 It’s no secret that Apple has all but neglected the MacBook Air recently, but in some cases a Windows Ultrabook can be just as good, if not better. Take the Asus ZenBook UX310, for example, the long awaited follow-up to the award-winning ZenBook UX305. Donning a 7th generation Intel Kaby Lake processor, a 178-degree rotating QHD+ screen, a USB-C port and an all-aluminium shell, this truly is a candidate for the MacBook Air’s throne. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook UX310 No, it’s not another 2-in-1 - the Surface Laptop is a full-on traditional laptop (with a touchscreen) designed by the Microsoft hardware design lab. From the Italian imported Alcantara fabric material decorating the keyboard to its beautiful 13.5-inch, 3:2 PixelSense display, there’s no questioning the Surface Laptop’s appeal at face value – but dig even deeper and you’ll find a notebook that’s arguably more competent than Apple’s more expensive 12-inch MacBook. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Laptop If you’re looking to get your hands on an entry-level Ultrabook that can get some work done (without spending a fortune), the Lenovo Yoga 730 should be at the top of your list. Sure, it doesn’t have the longest battery life, but with how much (or how little) this device will set you back, it’s a worthy trade off – especially considering the speedy SSD storage, quad-core processor and 8GB of RAM you’re getting at the entry level. For anyone on a budget, the Lenovo Yoga 730 is certainly one of the best Ultrabooks around right now. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 730
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| The best laptops of 2019 in Australia: our picks of the top laptops on sale now Posted: 26 May 2019 06:45 PM PDT Update: While we had previously recommended the Huawei MateBook 13 in top place, the ongoing trouble the company faces with the US Government casts a great deal of uncertainty on the degree of support its products will receive into the future. As such, we recommend the excellent Dell XPS 13 in its stead. If you're looking at getting yourself a new laptop but don't really know where to start, you're in luck – that's the entire point of this very page! Here at TechRadar, we get to review the full breadth and width of currently-available laptops, so we're well and truly across what's worth the dosh and what's not. Whether it's Apple's freshest MacBook Pro, the newly-arrived Huawei MateBook X Pro, or the latest winner in the Dell XPS range, we've painstakingly compared and contrasted each one in order to give you a rundown on the laptop with the best value. We've taken into account ultrabooks, gaming laptops, 2-in-1s, and every other shape and size that laptops come in these days – so don't worry if you're in it for work or play, we've got you covered. The best laptops of 2019:What is it about the Dell XPS 13 that's kept it in pole position on our best laptop list for three years running? In short, it really is the PC response to the MacBook. The 2019 Dell XPS 13 hasn't improved too much over last year's already-great model, but there's some more juice in the battery and the camera has finally been put where it belongs – above the screen! The Dell XPS 13 rocks an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and a bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display, this Dell XPS 13 continues to be the most popular Windows laptop in the world. What’s more, there’s a wide range of customisation options, so you can really make the Dell XPS 13 the best laptop for your needs. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 Our pick for the pinnacle of laptops you can buy in Australia for 2019 would be the Huawei MateBook 13, were it not for the ongoing issues the company faces. Like the MateBook X Pro before it, the MateBook 13 packs some of the latest components and tech into a nifty lightweight package at an affordable price. It's this deft balance that would give it the slight edge over the reigning champ, the Dell XPS 13, if it weren't for the unknown future of support for the device. Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13 The HP Spectre line of Ultrabooks and 2-in-1 laptops has always consisted of extraordinarily attractive devices. So, when we say that the 2019 Spectre x360 takes things to another level, that should mean something. This is one of the most beautiful laptops on the market right now, with its gem cut design and sleek profile. Couple that with the powerful Intel Whiskey Lake processors and long battery life, and you get one of the best laptops on the market right now. Its ability to flip into a Windows tablet is just icing on the cake. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2019) The latest refresh of the ZenBook Flip S gives Asus a seriously powerful competitor in the 2-in-1 sphere. The Flip S UX370 has a new Kaby Lake R 8th-generation processor powering the device, plenty of RAM and a super-fast PCIe SSD in certain models. Its 2-in-1 design means you can use it as both a laptop and a tablet, and while it's not as affordable as some machines on this list, if you have the budget you'll be really happy with this fantastic device. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 If you're after the latest and greatest laptop from Apple, we suggest you look into the 2018 model of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. While Microsoft had the performance edge over last year's MacBook Pro, with the Surface Book 2, Apple has come out swinging with some seriously beefed up specs for the 13-inch MacBook Pro 2018, and even more so if you go for the larger 15-inch model. The headline Touch Bar – a thin OLED display at the top of the keyboard which can be used for any number of things, whether that be auto-suggesting words as you type or offering Touch ID so you can log in with just your fingerprint – is again included. It's certainly retained Apple's sense of style, but it comes at a cost. If you're open to switching to a PC you should consider the XPS 13, but, if you're a steadfast Apple diehard, this is definitely the best laptop for you! Read the full review: Apple Macbook with Touch Bar 13-inch (2018) The new MSI GS65 Stealth has knocked our previous choice of the best gaming laptop, Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501, off this list, thanks to its excellent array of cutting edge components, which includes an 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8750H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU. It's also more reasonably priced than the Zephyrus GX501, and its subtle design means that it can double as a work or study laptop without raising any eyebrows. If you're looking for a more affordable gaming laptop, however, check out the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming below. Read the full review: MSI GS65 Stealth Last year’s Dell XPS 15 was already one of the best laptops you could buy, but now that Dell has taken the beautiful redesign of the Dell XPS 13 and applied it here – while also making it a convertible. Well, it’s amazing. Not only do you get one of the most aesthetically pleasing 15-inch laptops on the market, but it also packs one of those new Intel Kaby Lake G-series CPUs featuring ‘discrete-class’ Radeon graphics. This means that this laptop packs serious power – even if it can get a little loud. Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 If you’re looking for a thin and light gaming laptop, but you gasp whenever you see the price of the Razer Blade, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 might be for you. Not only does this laptop pack a powerful CPU, it now includes a Nvidia GTX 1060 Max-Q – capable of running all of the latest games – in a laptop less than an inch thick. You won’t find a Nvidia MaxQ equipped laptop cheaper than the Dell Inspiron 15 7000, and it looks good, to boot. Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming When it comes to the best Chromebook laptop, you have a choice between two stark alternatives. There's the premium Chromebook Pixel, which we list further down this page, and then there's the excellent Asus Chromebook Flip C302, which combines premium features in a much more affordable package. For many people, Chromebooks are excellent and affordable laptops that are perfect for students, and the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is easily one of the best Chromebooks, and one of the best laptops, money can buy. It comes with an Intel Core processor, full 1080p display, touchscreen, backlit keyboard and USB-C port. Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip With the Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch), Microsoft has crafted one of the most powerful 2-in-1 laptops in the world. The Surface Book 2 has some powerful enough components to handle most day-to-day tasks, and even some light gaming and video editing if you go for a model with a dedicated graphics card. Brilliant build quality and excellent battery life makes this a wonderful device for using as either a laptop, or as a powerful Windows 10 tablet. It also comes in a 15-inch version, which is more powerful and with a larger screen. If you're after a more affordable 2-in-1 device, then the Acer Switch 3, below, is well worth checking out. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) Last year's iteration of the MacBook is another win for Apple, and it's once again won us over with a gorgeous design, excellent performance and best-in-class battery life. Apple has updated the processors with Intel's 7th-generation Kaby Lake range, which means you get improved performance and longer battery life without sacrificing the thin and light design that the MacBook is famous for. While the MacBook 2017 is not designed as a pure productivity machine, like the more powerful and versatile MacBook Pro above, or as a gaming machine like the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501, it's still one of the best laptops in the world right now thanks to being a super slim and light MacBook that you can take anywhere without even noticing the weight, and being a powerful showcase for macOS Mojave. If you're after a MacBook, this latest model is easily one of the best. Read the full review: Apple MacBook Some of the very best laptops in 2017 have been 2-in-1 devices, and Lenovo has added to that list with the excellent Lenovo Yoga 920. It features a wonderfully slim design, and its build quality is exceptional. The 360 degree hinge allows you to convert the laptop into a tablet-like device, making it flexible in all senses of the word. It's cheaper than the Surface Book 2, and while it doesn't offer quite the same quality when in tablet mode, it's an excellent device with plenty of power and bags of battery life. It's definitely a worthy alternative, and it's easily one of the best laptops we've seen this year. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920 Which type of laptop is best for you?General laptops: This broader category is dedicated to devices that focus more on practicality than style, portability or power. That’s not to say they can’t be fast, but you’ll typically find a non-Ultrabook clamshell laptop with an HD screen and spinning drive-based storage for less than $1,000. Ultrabooks: Where you’ll find thin-and-light notebooks sporting SSD storage and display resolutions that exceed 1080p. Paired with powerful, albeit mobile-centric components and especially long battery life, the best Ultrabooks will cost a pretty penny – closer to $1,000 to $3,000. 2-in-1 laptops: Where notebooks that double as tablets are located. Outfitted with both detachable and 360-degree rotating hinges, these hybrids are the most versatile way to experience Windows 10 (or Chrome OS) on a touchscreen. Chromebooks: Where you’ll find the best Chromebooks running Chrome OS. These do much of what Windows and macOS can in the browser, focused on cloud storage over local, while recently getting Android app support for touchscreen models. They generally cost less than $500. Gaming laptops: Need a laptop to play games (almost) just like a shiny desktop PC can? Then you’ll want one of the best gaming laptops. These machines generally cost more than $1,000 and can quickly get into the $4 – 5,000 range for the beastlier models. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best Australian EOFY 2019 tech deals Posted: 26 May 2019 05:23 PM PDT The end-of-financial-year sales in Australia are just around the corner and, as always, there'll be a massive list of bargains to look forward to, and plenty of tech that sells for cheap. During this time, retailers are often trying to get rid of aging stock they’ve accumulated over the year, or trying to reach sales targets. This is good news for the consumer, with substantial discounts available on a range of products – from cars to home appliances and pretty much everything else in between. It’s also the best time to get your own finances in order. At this time of year, you’ll find plenty of discounted products that are also tax deductible. So not only will you be able to snag a great bargain during Australia’s annual EOFY sales, but also get back in the form of tax returns.
While it might be fun to visit brick-and-mortar stores to browse everything on sale, shopping online is more efficient – it can take the weight off your feet, literally, and give you more time and energy to trawl through the numerous storefronts to find the best bargains. Alternatively, you can let us do the hard work by just keeping this page bookmarked and checking back periodically in the lead up to June 30. The Australian TechRadar team will be constantly updating this page with all the best tax-time deals. If the previous year is anything to go by, some of the offers we share here will actually end before June 30, so check in frequently if you want to score the best EOFY bargains – and try not to leave it until the last minute!
Early EOFY 2019 deals and bargainsIt's early days yet but you can always snag a decent bargain early in case you can't wait. While most retailers are still holding back, Dell and Lenovo have jumped the gun with some excellent laptop deals already live on their respective sites. If Dell is your preferred laptop brand, you can score a whopping 40% off on selected models and configurations until May 30. Not to be left behind, Lenovo's EOFY sale of up to 45% off on selected laptops and 2-in-1s also ends May 30. To make it easy for you, we've picked a few of the laptop deals from both manufacturers and listed them on our dedicated EOFY laptop deals page. And, to keep your new machine safe from cyber crimes, we can help you save a bundle on great antivirus deals. For everything else, a few bargains are beginning to trickling in, although the selection is very limited at present. EOFY sale: What to expect in 2019The end-of-financial-year sales are one of Australia's most popular big sales. While the discounts may not be comparable to Black Friday bargains, there's always plenty of savings to be had, especially if you ensure you the items you pick up are tax deductible. So, what kind of tech can you find during EOFY sales Down Under? Plenty. From computers to gaming gear, the best flagship smartphones to personal audio. To get an idea of what to expect in 2019, let's take a look at what was on offer last year. Gaming: Last year saw some great discounts on console bundles. With some blockbuster games just waiting to be played, you can expect to see them bundled along with either the PlayStation consoles or the Xbox One. If, however, you're more interested in the Nintendo Switch, you won't be disappointed. Last year, the Switch dropped down to $378 during the EOFY sale – that's not quite the cheapest price we've seen, but with rumours of a new Switch being announced soon, we're anticipating the current model will be substantially discounted again this year. But stay sharp, as this popular console gets gobbled up real quick. Laptops and PCs: There will be plenty of computing gear on sale during the EOFY sales. Manufacturers like Microsoft, Lenovo, Dell and HP will host their own sales on their sites, but you’ll also be able to grab laptops and desktop PCs from major retailers as well. You can expect to see average discounts of about 15% to 20%. You’ll even be able to snag bargains on accessories as well, with printers, keyboards, SSDs and external hard drives all going on sale during this time.
Smartphones and tablets: The latest flagship handsets from the major phone makers all generally carry a hefty price tag. So if you’ve held off on buying a new phone, the EOFY sales might be a great time to score an upgrade without having to pay full retail price. Samsung's latest Galaxy handsets and Apple’s iPhone XS and XR flagships could well be available for less, as could older models. Great budget handsets will likely get a trim to their prices as well. It will also be a great time to save on tablets, especially the premium Samsung models of you prefer Android devices. And while Apple hasn't previously offered any direct EOFY discounts, third-party stockists will potentially offer 10% off on select iPad models. Home entertainment and personal audio: There were plenty of TVs, soundbars and speakers on sale during the last couple of EOFY sales, and we don't expect that trend to change any time soon. And with some excellent 4K UHD smart TVs already seeing price drops outside of big sales, we're looking forward to seeing how much more affordable they'll be during the 2019 tax-time sale. It's not just home entertainment setups that you'll be able to save on but portable Bluetooth speakers and the best wireless headphones as well. The premium audio products retail for about $500 a pop, but there's a good chance you'll see them drop well below the $400 mark. Whether the prices will match the 2018 Black Friday offers (where Sony and Bose noise cancelling headphones dropped to about $320) remains to be seen. Cameras: The EOFY sales are also a great time for photographers – beginners, pros or hobbyists – to grab the latest gear. Last year saw plenty of cameras go on sale: from compacts to DSLRs and action cams, and this year will be no different. There are now plenty of full-frame mirrorless cameras that are trying to outdo each other in terms of features and performance, so don't be surprised if you see the Canon EOS R snappers or Nikon's Z series cameras drop in price. Keep an eye out of lens kits as well, as you'll be able to save a tad more. While the tech itself will be discounted, you'll also find SD cards, camera bags, tripods and other accessories going for less. Smart home devices: These nifty voice-activated products have been flooding the market – from internet-connected lights to smart security systems, and the speakers to control them all. Amazon discounted its Echo range of smart speakers last year and we're quite sure that will happen again, along with the other smart devices the e-commerce giant stocks, like Philips Hue smart lights. You'll also find plenty of retailers offering discounts on Google's range of smart speakers as well. Home appliances: If you’re looking to renovate your home, the EOFY sales will help you save plenty on the new appliances you’ll need. You can expect to see bargains on not just Dyson vacuum cleaners, but also fridges, dishwashers, washing machines and plenty more. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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