Apple : Best headphones 2019: Your definitive guide to the latest and greatest audio |
- Best headphones 2019: Your definitive guide to the latest and greatest audio
- Best Bluetooth speakers 2019: the best portable speakers for any budget
- Best wireless earbuds: the 10 best Bluetooth earbuds and earphones in 2019
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| Best headphones 2019: Your definitive guide to the latest and greatest audio Posted: 08 May 2019 02:23 PM PDT The best headphones of 2019: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best headphones available to buy right now in every style and at every price point. Headphones are a tech staple for most people, keeping us entertained and distracted with music, podcasts and audio books when we're travelling to work, working out or just trying to disconnect from everyone else. The best headphones have changed considerably over the years. There are now plenty of fancy features packed into the latest pairs of cans, in the form of noise-cancellation of Hi-Res Audio playback over Bluetooth. But in many ways a quality pair of headphones you bought 10 years ago could still stand up to some options today. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be considering an upgrade – especially if you have specific requirements, like a secure pair of fitness or noise-cancellation for lots of travel. Another reason to find the best headphones on the market today is to get the best features on offer right now, as well as a solid build quality that'll last into next year and beyond. There are always lots of options to buy discount-bin headphones when you're waiting in line to pay, but they're unlikely to make it through the year. That said, it's our mission to hook you up with a pair of great-sounding headphones - the best headphones money can buy, even when you're on a budget. We've put hundreds of headphones through their paces over the years of every make, model and variety to create list-after-list of the best noise-cancelling headphones, the best wireless headphones, the best true wireless headphones, the best earbuds, and many more. We encourage you to take a look at all the headphone lists here on TechRadar. But if you're in a hurry and just want to find out the best headphones your money can buy, you've come to the right place. Image credit: Burst / Pexels
Image credit: Sony If there’s anything surprising about the new Sony WH-1000XM3 it’s that they’re so consistent with what Sony has released in the last two years in the form of the Sony WH-1000XM2 and Sony MDR-1000X. To wit, they’re a dominant noise-cancelling pair of headphones that can beat out anything Bose has with both arms behind its back. That’s because, while Bose has done a tremendous job working out its noise-cancellation algorithm over the years, Sony has spent that time perfecting audio playback while simultaneously creating an adaptability algorithm that doesn’t just create a single sterile sound barrier, but multiple kinds that can adapt to whatever situation you’re in. Beyond being exceptional at keeping external noises at bay, Sony's headphones are Hi-Res Audio-ready, sporting aptX, aptX HD and LDAC codecs, plus offer will offer Google Assistant support right on-board. If you need a headphone that can live up to any challenge and excel in any environment, these are them. Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM3 Image credit: TechRadar After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones we were blown away at just how much value each one gave in their prospective price ranges. For $100 (£100, about AU$168), it’s hard to think of a better sounding and built headphone than the 1MORE Triple Driver. (That said, if you want just that little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price.) There’s very little we can fault the Triple Drivers for. Its rubber cable is annoying and its remote control feels cheap but these are just nitpicks. But, for its price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE's Triple Driver in-ear headphones. Read the full review: 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone
Image credit: TechRadar If you have a tendency to lose or break headphones but still value sound quality, it’s hard to think of a better value than the RHA S500u. These headphones have no business sounding so good for the price: Sound quality is balanced with a slight mid-bass bump. Bass is slightly emphasized but not egregiously and features good impact while maintaining good control. And highs, while sibilant at times, makes music sound more exciting. Read the full review: RHA S500u
Image credit: Grado For your money, you can't do any better than Grado's SR60e. The third-generation of the Brooklyn, NY-based company's Prestige Series is its best and most refined yet. The SR60e in particular is a smart choice if you're looking for an entry-level set of headphones that sounds like it should cost you way more than it does. Its open-backed ear cup design makes them a more breathable experience than what most on-ear headphones can deliver. In a few words, it's our gold-standard when it comes to on-ears. (Our review is for the SR60i, but the newer SR60e headphones are largely similar in design and performance.) Read the full review: Grado SR60e
Image credit: Urbanears While the original Plattan headphones were just fine for a pair of on-ear headphones, Urbanears wasn’t satisfied with being mediocre. The company took customer feedback to heart and addressed many complaints about comfort, sound quality and isolation. For the most part, Urbanears succeeded, making the Plattan II a worthy sequel to the company’s most popular headphone. In short, these are basic headphones without a ton of features. But, because they're feature-light, you get a good-sounding pair of wired headphones for significantly less than you would otherwise. Read the full review: Urbanears Plattan II Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins The Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signatures are simply some of the best-sounding headphones we’ve ever used. They have a tight, refined sound that offers an almost unmatched level of detail. That said, the fact remains that they’re a comparatively feature-light pair of cans. If you want to spend less then you can get a much more portable pair that’ll be better suited to the morning commute or a plane ride thanks to additional features like noise-cancellation and Bluetooth connectivity. But, if you’re looking to invest in a seriously high-quality pair of headphones to listen to a high-quality music collection, then there are few that can match the P9s at this price point. Read the full review: B&W P9 Signature
Image credit: Audio-Technica Audiophiles typically shun wireless headphones because of poor sound quality. However, Bluetooth audio has improved tremendously over the years. There are now plenty of wireless headphones that can please the music enthusiast, with Hi-Res Audio support being more and more prevalent. That said, the Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT feature some of the best wired and wireless sound quality for a headphone under $200 (£150). They play well with all music genres and offer a near-flat response curve. They're extremely comfortable for long listening sessions and are well built. Battery life is equally impressive with nearly 40 hours of playback from a charge. And while they lack some features of more expensive wireless headphones like active noise cancelling and multi-device pairing, these are tradeoffs worth making for phenomenal sound. Read the full review: Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT
Image credit: TechRadar Despite being nearly identical to the already-excellent Bose QuietComfort 35 teh Bose QuietComfort 35 II is updated for 2018 with Google Assistant. This means you still get the class-leading noise cancellation Bose is known for, good sound quality and incredible comfort, plus a convenient assistant to answer any inquiries you might have while traveling. Taken as a whole, the Bose QC35 II NC is an excellent headphone for travelers and commuters. Bose has found a good balance of features that will satisfy most mainstream listeners. While we don't love them as much as the better-sounding Sony WH-1000XM3, they're still top of the class for noise cancellation. Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Image credit: Beyerdynamic The Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless are the best-sounding wireless headphones you can buy, period. Sound is spacious, detailed, and makes you want to rediscover your music library. Their bulky design and average noise isolation make them terrible for travel but if you’re looking for the best sound from a wireless headphone, this is it. Read the full review: Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless For years, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 were one of our favorite wireless headphones because of their excellent sound, build quality and features. Unfortunately, though, they were also kind of expensive. For a lot less ($150, £140, AU$240), Plantronics now sells the still-very-good BackBeat Go 810, which uses less premium materials but sounds nearly identical to its more expensive predecessor. That being said, we feel the Go 810 are an affordable pair of ANC headphones that will please travelers and commuters who don’t want to spend too much money on headphones. Read the full review: Plantronics BackBeat Go 810
Image credit: TechRadar The Focal Stellias sound absolutely fantastic. Their wide-open soundstage and detailed, accurate sound treatment means they make any genre of music sound brilliant. If you listen to songs you think you know inside out, the Stellias' precise separation of the frequencies means that you will probably hear details you’ve never noticed before. If you like to keep things minimal in the headphones department, you probably won’t like the showy, opulent design of the Focal Stellias, and they can feel a little chunky for wearing on the commute into work. But if luxury is your thing, the full-grain leather cups, woven cables, brushed copper accents, and matching carrying case are likely to appeal. That luxury feel is translated right down to the presentation of the user manuals in a neat little leather-style wallet – and you may well expect to find this level of detail in exchange for parting with $3,000. Ouch. Read the full review: Focal Stellia headphones Image credit: TechRadar After spending several weeks with the RHA MA390 Wireless, we came away extremely impressed with the package RHA has come up with. The headphones are built extremely well, have a fun sound signature, and can take a beating. And all at an affordable price. It’s main rival, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless, are also excellent, however we give the nod to the RHA MA390 for its more dynamic sound and better build quality. Read the full review: RHA MA390 Wireless
Image credit: RHA Although the TrueConnect is RHA's first true wireless headphone, the company showed they did their research and development by making it one of the best true wireless headphones on the market today. The combination of sound quality, battery life, and wireless reliability means these are a pair of headphones you can rely on everyday. The Jabra Elite 65t (our previous title holder) set the standard for what true wireless headphones should be and, regardless of what RHA has done here with the TrueConnect, they’re still great headphones ... it's just that we prefer reliability and balanced sound quality of the RHA TrueConnect. All said, if you’re shopping for a pair of true wireless headphones, the $170 (£150, about AU$265) RHA TrueConnect should be at the very top of your list. Read the full review: RHA TrueConnect
Press on to page two to see how to pick out a good pair of headphones along more of our recommendations. Check out our videos below for a roundup of the best headphones available. There's usually more to a set of headphone than meets the eye. As such, we've provided a breakdown of what you can expect to find in each kind of headphone. Not only will learning more about headphones help you make a more informed purchase, but you'll know when you're really getting your money's worth. What headphones should you buy? Check out our video below for everything you need to know. In-ear headphones1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones This type of headphone, more commonly referred to as an earbud or earphone, is usually the cheapest and easiest way to pump audio into your ears. If you've purchased an MP3 player, or more recently, a smartphone, it's likely that a set was included with the purchase. Earphones rest in or just outside the ear canal, creating a tight seal to keep air out and sound in. Compared to other types of headphones, these are the most discreet ones you'll find. Their small form-factor also makes them the king/queen of portability and the prime choice for athletes. You're not likely to find strong performers at the low-end of the price spectrum. Their sound delivery is generally muddled, lacking bass and overcompensating for that with harsh mids and highs. That said, it won't cost you much money at all to find a value-packed option complete with inline controls and a microphone. On-ear headphonesGrado's GW100 Wireless on-ear headphones While similar to over-ear headphones in appearance, they fit to your head a little differently. Instead of enveloping your ears with a soft cushion, on-ear headphones create a light, breathable seal around your ear. Thus, the noise isolation is much less effective than in-ear or over-ear options. This might be a dealbreaker for some, but there are big benefits to consider here. On-ear headphones are usually more portable than their over-ear brethren, and as such they appeal to travellers and the fitness crowd. Taking a walk or a jog around town is also safer, as you can hear traffic go by and be aware of potential hazards. Over-ear headphonesThe Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones This ear-muff style of headphone generally provides greater richness and depth of sound, which allows listeners to pick apart the instruments and sounds much easier. Additionally, over-ear, or circum-aural headphones, go around the ear and offer a generous amount of padding. The price range for a set of on-ear headphones begins around $100 and from there, the sky's the limit. For example, the Oppo PM-1, while excellent, are priced exorbitantly at $1,099. It's definitely not necessary to spend that much. That said, you tend to get what you pay for. If your headphone budget is in the $2-300, you'll start getting into options that have excellent build quality, premium materials and amazing sound and features like ANC (active noise cancellation.) Wireless headphonesThe Apple AirPods This style of headphone doesn't limit you to a specific form factor like the others. In fact, you can find in-ear, on-ear and over-ear headphone styles sans wire. Opting to go wireless will cost you a premium of anywhere between $50-100 over the price of wired cans. Going futuristic isn't cheap. One important thing to consider is that your music player must support the Bluetooth wireless protocol, as it's required to use this type of headphone. Speaking of Bluetooth, it has become exponentially more reliable over time, but it's always susceptible to disturbances in the force. In short, any little thing, from the understandable (conflicting Wi-Fi signals, microwaves, cordless telephones), to the absurd (sticking a hand in the space between the device and the headphones) can sometimes interrupt a wireless listening experience.
Noise-cancelling headphonesBose's QuietComfort 35 II headphones This category, like wireless headphones, isn't limited to a form factor. You can find this clever mix of technologies integrated into the ear pieces of in-ear and over-ear headphones alike. Many companies falsely claim to offer true noise cancellation with just the padding included around the ear cups. Don't believe it. This is PNC (passive noise cancellation), and it doesn't amount to much. You can even replicate this effect by cupping your hands around your ears, so why shell out the big bucks for it? On the other hand, ANC (active noise cancellation) is the real deal. This technique employs a set of external microphones, which detect the decibel level outside. Once it has an idea of the incoming noise level, the headphone speakers inside transmit a noise generated to dampen the racket. The end result is an effect that hushes the outside noise, allowing you to focus.
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| Best Bluetooth speakers 2019: the best portable speakers for any budget Posted: 08 May 2019 02:12 PM PDT Best Bluetooth Speakers Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's expert round-up of the best portable speakers you can buy in 2019. Portable Bluetooth speakers are a great gadget to take to days at the beach, nights out by a bonfire and picnics at the park. However, that doesn't mean a great portable speaker isn't extremely useful to have on hand at home while you take a relaxing bath or work in the garden. That means, for many of us, we need to find a Bluetooth speaker that'll see us through all kinds of occasions. Luckily, we've created a guide to help you find which portable, Bluetooth speaker is right for you. [Update: We've added the new Sony SRS-XB501G party speaker to the #9 spot on our list. If you're looking for a powerful outdoor speaker for your next party, this Sony speaker has you covered.] How to pick out the best Bluetooth speakerThere are so many speakers on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which Bluetooth speaker you need. Although it may seem like the choice is endless, there are plenty with unique selling points that'll suit your needs. Some speakers are built with ultimate durability in mind, others are weather and waterproof for camping and tunes by the pool and some aren't fit for the outdoors and would look pretty inside your home instead. If you're having trouble figuring out which speaker might be best for you, start by picturing where you're going to use it and find a speaker that matches that setting. That means if you're a beach person, water- and dust-proofing are key. If you're a party person, you might want the ability to connect two speakers together or a speaker with multi-point pairing that allows multiple devices to connect at a time. Battery life and sound quality are paramount for all speakers, and we've our best to take these in the utmost consideration when creating our list. That said, here are 10 of our favorite Bluetooth wireless speakers, ranked by their price-to-performance ratio, that will surely work for you. UE Boom 2 While we weren't as impressed with the UE Boom 3 as we were with its predecessor, this is still the best Bluetooth speaker money can buy in 2019. This is a speaker that can get loud and not distort at higher volumes; be light enough to carry on a camping trip but remain durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected. It's both water- and dust-proof, and now has a one-touch mix button that lets you pull up your favorite playlists without ever picking up your phone. There are certainly more detailed speakers out there (see: Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin down below), but at a price that's relatively affordable to all, the UE Boom 3 hits all the right notes for the third year in a row. Ultimate Ears now lets you customize your UE Boom 3, so you have even more options when it comes to color and pattern combinations. Read the full review: UE Boom 3 Fugoo Style The Bose SoundLink Revolve is an excellent sound speaker for folks looking for true 360-degree sound. It’s great for sharing music during a party or for moving around the room without losing audio fidelity. However, the Bose SoundLink Mini II sounds slightly better and is slightly cheaper to boot. On the debit side, it’s also not fully dust or waterproof so you’ll want to think twice before bringing the Revolve to the beach. For half the price, the Wonderboom is a great speaker that is completely dust and waterproof and while it can’t match the audio fidelity or features of the Bose, it's still great for on-the-go listening. If bass is your game, the JBL Charge 3 is an excellent fully waterproof speaker that sounds great, but is big and heavy along with it. Read the full review: Bose SoundLink Revolve JBL Charge 4 For the money, the JBL Charge 4 is a definite no-brainer. For just $150 (£160, AU$200), you get a speaker that lasts all day, sounds great, can put up with all kinds of abuse, and tops your phone up in a pinch. Yes, there are better sounding speakers but you’ll have to spend much more money. While the JBL Charge 4 only offers minor updates to the previous generation, it remains an excellent value in wireless speakers - and is one of the best waterproof speakers around. Read the full review: JBL Charge 4 Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless The new Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless is a beautiful piece of design. It's a solid, reassuringly weighty wireless speaker delivering on all the B&W audio heritage which the British audio maestro has been building up throughout its lifetime: The sound is clear and natural, delivering room-filling audio with seriously punchy mid-range, and dynamic, controlled bass. Its price might put a bit of a damper on your wallet, but if you have audiophile tastes that extend into the portable speaker space, the Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless is the only speaker you should be considering. Read the full review: Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Bose SoundLink Mini II The Bose SoundLink Mini II is relatively ancient, having been released in June 2015. However, writing off the SoundLink Mini II because of its age would be a mistake, as it remains one of the best sounding wireless speakers. That said, it punches way above what its size would suggest, producing deep bass, sparkling highs and a lush midrange. While most wireless speakers sound OK, the Mini II proves that small speakers don’t need to compromise on sound, and other Bose conveniences like a charging pad. Read the full review: Bose SoundLink Mini II Anker Soundcore Flare Anker has a history of making excellent budget wireless speakers. While we weren’t entirely impressed with the Anker SoundCore 2’s sound, we couldn’t be too mad since the speaker was so affordable. So what happens if you can stretch your budget? For around $20 more you get the Anker Soundcore Flare, an excellent waterproof Bluetooth speaker that can stand toe-to-toe with the competition. The Soundcore Flare is an amazing value in the sub-$100 wireless speaker segment. Competitors like the UE Wonderboom (listed above) give the Flare a run for its money in terms of build quality but we give the Flare the slight edge with sound quality. We recommend the Flare for anyone looking for a wireless speaker that can do it all without breaking the bank. Read the full review: Anker Soundcore Flare UE Wonderboom When someone asks us for a recommendation for a waterproof speaker, the UE Roll 2 was always on the top of our list. We loved the Roll 2’s unique form factor, 50-foot wireless range and, obviously, it sounded good, too. Where it was lacking was in the bass department. Logitech, UE’s parent company, has fixed the Roll 2’s lack of bass by creating the appropriately named UE Wonderboom. In our eyes, the UE Wonderboom bests the Roll 2 in just about every way –except for the Roll 2’s handy bungee cord. Still, ignoring that, if you’re looking for one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers on the market today, it’s hard to do better than the UE Wonderboom. Read the full review: UE Wonderboom Bang and Olufsen Beoplay P2 The Tribit XSound Go shouldn’t sound this good for the price, but it does. The speaker impressed with balanced sound, is near distortion-free at high volumes, and lasts and incredible 20+ hours of playtime at medium volume. Plus, the speaker is IPX7 water and dust resistant so it’ll put up with a day at the beach or pool without a problem. While its design may be forgettable, you won’t care once you hear how good the XSound Go sounds. In terms of competition, you’ll have to spend a lot more for better sound quality. The UE Wonderboom is an excellent outdoor speaker, but will cost twice the money and doesn’t last as long as the Tribit. However, the UE Wonderboom does offer 360-degree sound and multi-speaker pairing if that matters to you. The JBL Flip 4 is also a good alternative if you want more bass emphasis and 360-degree sound but, if you're on a budget, you can't beat the XSound Go. Read the full review: Tribit XSound Go Sony SRS-XB501G The SRS-XB501G is a big speaker that offers a light show, tripod mount, big sound, and Google Assistant. This is a speaker that you can truly use on the go and in the home after a day of partying. On the go, the speaker is brilliant, playing loudly and for up to 16 hours. But at home, it’s dated design and average voice detection are compromises compared to dedicated home speakers. Competitors like the LG PK7 sounds slightly better and has a light show that actually reacts to your music, however it doesn’t have the Google Assistant built in. If you’re looking for an actual portable speaker that you can fit in a bag that also supports Google Assistant, the JBL Link 20 is a good choice. Just don’t expect it to pump out as much bass or offer as wide of a soundstage. To that end, the XB501G is a good all-around compromise that fills multiple purposes. It's not the best wireless speaker, nor the best smart speaker, but it's a solid entry in both categories and one of a select few to exist in both camps. Read the full review: Sony SRS-XB501G Denon Envaya (DSB-250BT) The newest speaker in the Denon Envaya line is one of the first speakers to absolutely blow us away in 2018. It offers powerful, room-filling sound that will sound great to most ears, plus comes with an IP67 rating, make it both dust and waterproof. It's also built like a tank, making it one of the most durable speakers we've ever laid our hands on. Despite a nearly flawless performance, the Envaya isn't perfect: While sound quaity is full, powerful and rich, it doesn’t have the treble bite some like and the buttons located along the side can feel stiff and difficult to operate. These are ultimately minor complaints, however, and the Denon Envaya remains a great Bluetooth speaker – easily one of the best you can buy this year. Read the full review: Denon Envaya (DSB-250BT)
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| Best wireless earbuds: the 10 best Bluetooth earbuds and earphones in 2019 Posted: 08 May 2019 01:53 PM PDT You'd be forgiven for thinking Bluetooth headphones aren't as good as wired ones. That's because, back in the day, Bluetooth headphones weren't a great way to listen to your favorite music. Luckily, times have changed. Thanks to improvements in wireless transmission standards, such as aptX and innovations in battery technology, Bluetooth earbuds are quickly becoming the most popular way to listen to music. So the big question is: which brands have emerged as the best when it comes to big Bluetooth improvements and the future of audio innovation? Audio companies like Jaybird, Plantronics, Nuforce, RHA and Jabra all are great options, as they've all committed a great deal deal of times and money to improving audio quality without sacrificing battery life. Sony, Apple and Google make good headphones, too, however. Read on for our top wireless Bluetooth earbud picks. What are the best wireless earbuds?Image credit: TechRadar NuForce have really crafted something special here with the BE Sport4 earbuds. Sleek and solidly-built, these are high-performance buds that improve on their already five-star predecessors. They're ideal for exercise, although any urbanite will also find their lightweight functionality and impressive sound isolation highly appealing. Proof that wireless headphones can now compete with the best of them. Read the full review: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 Image credit: RHA If you don't mind rocking the neckbuds, the Moto Surround hits all the high notes in terms of price, performance and battery life. After spending several weeks with the RHA MA390 Wireless, we came away extremely impressed with the package RHA has come up with. The headphones are built extremely well, have a fun sound signature, and can take a beating. And all at an affordable price. It’s main rival, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless, are also excellent, however we give the nod to the RHA MA390 for its more dynamic sound and better build quality. Read the full review: RHA MA390 Wireless Image credit: TechRadar OnePlus is most known for its “flagship killer” phones like the OnePlus 6, but the company also makes headphones – the best example of which are the company’s excellent Bullets in-ears. But wired headphones weren't the end for OnePlus' audio escapades. Instead, OnePlus created a wireless version of its Bullets headphones and, for $70 (£70, about AU$124), they offer an incredible value in the neck-bud headphone category. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless are so good, in fact, that they’ve unseated the NuForce BE6i and Beats X in our list of the best wireless earbuds. This is a pair of wireless earbuds that we have no hesitation recommending to anyone. Read the full review: OnePlus Bullets Wireless Image credit: TechRadar The Jaybird Tarah Pro headphones are wireless sport headphones for the endurance runners, athletes and fitness nuts out there. With a neck cable to keep the earbuds together, they aren’t quite ‘true wireless’, but will be practical for those concerned about dropping and losing a costly earbud in the heat of a race or training session. It’s been a big year for Jaybird devices, with launches for the budget Jaybird Tarah, more mid-range Jaybird X4, and now the Tarah Pro to boot. As the first in Jaybird’s new ‘Pro’ range of earbuds and aimed at offering higher quality audio and materials, the Tarah Pro will suit anyone not willing to sacrifice audio quality in harsher outdoor conditions or indoor workouts. Read the full review: Jaybird Tarah Pro Image credit: Beats There will always be those who are ready to complain about the sound performance of Beats headphones, but the inclusion of Apple's proprietary W1 chip has been a boon for the strength of their wireless connectivity. The Beats X hence make up for their slightly bassy sound with a rock solid connection and a pairing process that, on iOS devices at least, is as painless as it's possible to be. Functionally that makes these wireless earbuds a joy to use, just don't expect the most detailed or broad soundstage. If you’re shopping for a no-fuss pair of earbuds that charge in 5 minutes and don’t mind spending a little extra money on them, the Beats X are for you. Read the full review: Beats X Image credit: TechRadar Life is full of compromises, and it's no different with the Bose QuietControl 30s. On the positive side you get a level of noise cancellation that comes close to what's offered by the brand's over-ear headphones, but the concession here is on sound fidelity, which just isn’t on the same level as that of other in-ear or over-ear headphones we’ve tested. There's also that neckband which adds an unfortunate level of bulk to what should otherwise be a slimline pair of headphones. Read the full review: Bose QuietControl 30 Or, cut the cord with these true wireless modelsImage credit: TechRadar Although the TrueConnect is RHAs first true wireless headphone, the company showed they did their research and development by making it one of the best true wireless headphones on the market today. The combination of sound quality, battery life, and wireless reliability means these are a pair of headphones you can rely on everyday. The Jabra Elite 65t set the standard for what true wireless headphones should be and, regardless of what RHA has done here with the TrueConnect, they’re still great headphones. Compared to the RHA TrueConnect, the Jabra has more features with its useful ambient noise mode to help with situational awareness and an app that lets you tailor sound. The RHA doesn’t have either of those features but we didn’t miss them, thanks to better sound quality and wireless reliability. The RHA also feels more like a premium product than the all-plastic Jabra. All said, if you’re shopping for a pair of true wireless headphones, the $170 (£150, about AU$265) RHA TrueConnect should be at the very top of your list. [Looking for a more stylish design? It comes at a price, but the Earin M-2 true wireless earbuds look as good as they sound.] Read the full review: RHA TrueConnect Image credit: Jabra If you want a pair of high quality truly wireless earbuds that aren’t the Apple AirPods, then the Jabra Elite 65t should be at the top of your list. After spending over a month with them, we came away impressed with the well-rounded package that Jabra managed to create: The earbuds offer a subtle, mature look and a reliable wireless connection, which isn’t always the case with truly wireless earbuds. Plus, they sound great compared to the competition. If you only have the budget for one of these, go for the Elite 65t. Read the full review: Jabra Elite 65t Image credit: TechRadar The NuForce BE Free5 wireless earbuds show just how accessible truly wireless headphones are today. For around $100 (about £75, AU$134) they feature a more polished design than the more expensive BE Free8, and even sound better to boot. However, we found the left earbud would drop out briefly more than we’d like, and we hope NuForce can address this issue. The connection dropouts combined with the frustrating controls keep it from claiming the top spot on our list, but the BE Free5 offer undeniable value in the truly wireless headphone market. Read the full review: Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Image credit: TechRadar The second generation Apple AirPods, the AirPods (2019), aren't quite the AirPods 2 we were hoping for, but they still some cool features. They still feature the iconic design of the original AirPods (a good or bad thing depending on your point of view), and sound quality hasn't changed at all. The bulk of the upgrade comes from the new H1 headphone chip, which improves connectivity and battery life, and allows for a new ‘Hey Siri’ voice activation feature. The AirPods (2019) also come with an optional wireless charging case means you can use a Qi-compatible charging mat to power the case, rather than sticking a cable into the Lightning charging port in the bottom of the case. Like their predecessors, they are super easy to pair, but they are very much optimized for using with iPhones – and they aren't exactly cheap. Apple has now stopped selling the AirPods, but many stores are still trying to sell off their remaining stock – head to our round up of the best Apple AirPods prices, sales, and deals for up to date information on any discounts.
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| Best Smart TV 2019: every smart TV platform ranked, rated and reviewed Posted: 08 May 2019 01:24 PM PDT Smart TVs are so common now that using the word 'smart' almost seems unnecessary. It's rare you'll find a new TV that doesn't come with some form of smart capability - whether that's LG's WebOS, Samsung's Tizen or Google's Android TV that's used on Sony and Hisense TVs. And while the majority of these smart TV platforms function similarly by giving you access to apps, streaming services and basic smart home functionality, they each have their pros and cons - and for that reason we've put together a guide to the best smart TV platforms you'll find on new sets in 2019 and beyond. We've come a long way from the early days of TV smart capability, marked by awful performance, non-existent software updates, and a general lack of manufacturer support. We want to explore what makes new platforms so great and provide you some insight as to which screens have the best performance. Smart TV: The State of the UnionSo just where do we stand on Smart TVs? Do you know your Roku TV from your SmartCast? Your Tizen from webOS? If not, this section is for you. In 2018, there are five main smart operating systems: Android TV, webOS, Tizen, Roku TV and SmartCast that are used by Sony, LG, Samsung, TCL and Vizio, respectively. In the UK, you'll find that Philips also uses Android while Panasonic uses its own proprietary system called MyHomeScreen. The vast majority of TVs use the operating systems listed above - but not all TVs. At lower price points, you probably won't find any of the above as most TV manufacturers offer a narrow proprietary service instead. These will vary between manufacturers, however, by and large, they're not as good as the ones listed above for the sheer reason that they aren't updated as frequently. When in doubt, try to buy one a TV with one of the above. That said, if you're completely undecided on which smart TV to buy, it's worth considering the value of each of these smart systems - which we'll list below. (Scale: Awful, Bad, OK, Good, Better, Best) Android TV (found on 2019 Sony 4K and OLED TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: OK | Number of apps: Better | Universal search: Better
Android TV is the nearest the smart TV universe has to a standardized operating system, but there are still variations between brand executions. Sony has the most comprehensive Google solution. For UK viewers, it has rather cleverly layered a YouView program guide platform on top, deftly addressing one of Android TV’s big weaknesses – catch-up TV provision. This YouView app ensures that all the main catch-up services are provided, and accessible via a roll-back 7-day EPG. Other supporters of Android TV are Philips (via maker TP Vision) and in the US, Sharp and Hisense. It’s also available on the Nvidia Shield streaming device. While other TV platforms make a virtue of their minimalism, Android stacks the screen with various layers of content: There’s also a row of specific Sony selected content, followed by apps for Netflix, Amazon Video, links to the Google Play Store, Google Play Music, Google Play Movies and TV, YouTube and so on. Owners of Android phones/tablets can use their device to control Android TVs via Sony’s TV SideView app, and Google Assistant continues to get more and more useful with its own Android TV integration. Android TV devices also have Chromecast built-in, which simplifies streaming from mobile Android devices (iOS users can download the AirBuddy app to Google Cast). Controllers from Logitech and Razer also promise gaming without needing a console. There is a caveat though. In our experience, Android is the least stable of the various smart platforms, with Sony TVs exhibiting more than their fair share of failures – it’s not unusual to be notified that various aspects of the Android platform have stopped working, and some of these messages are completely inscrutable (usually the best option is to simply restart the TV). To be fair to Google, this is becoming less of an issue as successive Android TV updates roll out – the latest incarnation is particularly slick on the Nvidia Shield, for example – but there's still room for improvement. WebOS (found on 2019 LG OLED, Nano Cell and some UHD TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Bad | Universal search: OK
LG rewrote the rulebook for smart TV platforms with its webOS, starting the trend for minimal, simplified user interfaces back in 2014. Since then it's been gradually refining its offering, leading us to the all-new WebOS 4.5 that's going to make its debut in 2019. The UI, which is still built around a Launch Bar for apps, inputs and features, remains tidy and customizable this year, plus you can change the running order to best suit how you use the set. If you like to Miracast images from your smartphone, grab the Screen Share app with LG's cursor-based Magic Remote and move up further up the pecking order. App support is excellent. Netflix streams 4K with both HDR and Dolby Vision, as well as Dolby Atmos audio when available. There's also Amazon with UHD HDR and YouTube in 4K. Other options include Now TV, Sky Store, Wuaki.TV, plus all the main channel catch-up services. As we’ve seen on earlier webOS builds, these streaming apps remain open and live, even when you navigate away from them. This means you can pause Star Trek Discovery, browse the TV listings for The Walking Dead, and then return to the action. Other cool features recently added to the platform include 360-degree video playback (from 360-degree videos on YouTube), support for both Google Assistant and Alexa, and an OLED still image gallery. LG screens also have Freeview Play in the UK, which means a full larder of catch-up television. For US viewers, there's Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and Google Play TV and Movies, as well as Hulu, VUDU, MLB.TV, and FandangoNow. Tizen (found on Samsung 2019 QLED and NU-Series TVs) Setup: Good | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Bad | Universal search: Bad
Samsung is another brand keen to keep things simple - its Tizen OS clearly owes much to LG's webOS interface, in so much as it consists of icons, apps and shortcuts all accessible via icons held a horizontal strip across the bottom of the screen. A dynamically changing ‘Recent’ box in the far-left corner cycles between recently used apps and TV channels. But it’s not overly intelligent as it stands right now, but that could change in the future when Samsung integrates its TV AI into Tizen. For now, we like the fact that on-screen icons can be changed: a sense of identity is welcome when it comes to some AV inputs and key apps you use everyday. The OS cuts down on clutter, although this sometimes works against navigation – there are plenty of occasions when it's necessary to go hunting for a specific app. Thankfully that's made easier by a Smart Hub multimedia page that divvies up content from apps and from your own USB sticks/home network. On some of the higher-end TVs, you'll also get Bixby built-in as well as Samsung SmartThings that allows your TV to act as the center of your connected home. Roku TV (found on 2019 TCL and Hisense TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Better | Speed: Better | Number of apps: Good | Universal search: Best
Despite Android TV and all the proprietary portals available, there's still room for other connected smart offerings. In Europe, Vestel has its own stripped back smart platform, which is used for TV companies it manufactures for, including Toshiba and JVC. It’s unfancy but does the basics. In the US, TV maker Element now offers a screen with Amazon’s Fire TV OS built in. But perhaps the most interesting second-division smart OS is Roku TV. Announced back in 2014 for TCL TVs, Roku TV has found support with low-cost US TV suppliers. Today, you can find Roku TV on quite a few Haier, Hisense, Insignia, Sharp and TCL TV models. As a platform, Roku TV borrows the interface and feature set from the company's popular media streamers, like the Roku Streaming Stick. What that means is that you'll find a universal search function able to scan over 30 different apps like Netflix, Google Play TV and Movies, Amazon, VUDU and more to find you the lowest price on the TV show or movie you want to watch, as well as around 4,500 channels of content to watch. Add to that some neat features like a dedicated app that helps you keep track of upcoming movies and TV shows via the My Feed section, and a private listening mode (via headphones that plug into the remote) when you want to watch TV without disturbing the whole house. SmartCast (found on 2019 Vizio TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: OK | Speed: Bad | Number of apps: Good | Universal search: OK
SmartCast, on paper, is a great idea. It's all the fun extras of the Android TV platform - including the ability to Cast content to your screen - with a more logical layout. When you turn on a SmartCast TV be prepared to see three rows - one featured row that has huge marquee images to point you to specific shows or movies; one row for recommended content and one row for all your apps. If you want to drill down into specific content categories or settings, you can move to one of the other tabs (there's a tab for movies, TV shows, Support and Extras) or go to the top right of the screen to perform a search. Unfortunately, while SmartCast provides a lot of versatility in what you can stream, it's also one of the slower smart platforms and can misbehave on occasion. MyHomeScreen (found on 2019 Panasonic TVs) Setup: OK | Ease of use: Good | Speed: Better | Number of apps: OK | Universal search: OK
If you live in the UK, Panasonic's My Home Screen 2.0 is one of the most customizable smart TV platforms around. Built on the open-source code of Mozilla’s Firefox TV OS, Panasonic's My Home Screen 2.0 smart TV interface combines an intuitive minimalism with extensive customization options. The platform looks simple but has some inspired functionality: the home screen launches with three buttons (Live TV, Apps and Devices), but you can pin more as required, perhaps for a favorite streaming service, or a specific input. There are now also folders for multiple users, while a My App button on the remote can be customised for faster access to favourite content. A revamped Media Player supports 4K HDR10 and HLG HDR, meanwhile. App provision is good. Netflix streams in 4K with HDR, and Amazon Video and YouTube also offer 4K support. Catch-up TV service support is integrated through the provision of Freeview Play. This includes iPlayer, ITVHub, Demand 5 and All4, and usability is great across the board. The OS is extremely convenient to live with, yet powerful enough to cater for a variety of different users, be they family members who just want their favorite channels pinned to the home screen, or TV enthusiasts keen to dive quickly between multiple sources. What's the best smart TV?The LG C9 boasts the latest iteration of webOS and while this game changing platform remains largely the same, there have been a few tweaks. For a start there’s now a second tier on the launcher bar that’s very reminiscent of the one found on Samsung’s Tizen system. It’s rather ironic that LG should take inspiration from Samsung, especially when you consider that Tizen copied webOS in the first place, however the second tier is a useful feature, making it quicker to access content and adding an AI Preview that makes recommendations based on your viewing habits. There’s also a new Intelligent Edit feature that lists your apps based on how often you use them. That’s very handy because the C9 has a lot of apps; not to mention a comprehensive selection of streaming services that includes Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Now TV, Rakuten, and all the UK TV catch-up services. The AI-enhanced recommendation feature monitors and analyses your viewing habits based not only on content but also the time of day. It will then make recommendations according its analysis, although there’s the option to turn this feature off if it gets annoying. There’s a new Home Dashboard that collates all connected mobile, input and home IoT devices into a single hub. You can monitor and control just about any connected device in your smart home, and LG will be adding support for Homekit later this year. LG’s ThinQ open AI platform already includes Google Assistant, and the company plans to add Amazon Alexa via a future firmware update. You can access Google by pressing the mic button on the remote, and then voice control your C9 or simply use it as a smart assistant. Other new features include the ability to setup your C9 using an LG smartphone, and the ability to auto-detect connected HDMI devices. There’s also a mini-browser, a new TV channel banner, and an expanded Gallery mode with world famous travel attractions seasonally curated by TripAdvisor.
Panasonic’s My Home Screen smart platform is decidedly simple compared to much of the competition, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Currently on its third generation, it remains largely the same as the Firefox OS on which it was originally based. When you press the Home button on the remote, you get a choice of three options: Live TV, Apps, and Devices. This simplicity is the platform’s greatest strength, making it easy to navigate and find things by helpfully storing all the apps in single location; you can also pin your favorite apps to the home page for quicker access. Since the smart platform is relatively simple, it doesn’t require a vast amount of processing power to operate, which makes it responsive, robust, and free from crashes. My Home Screen isn’t fragmented like some platforms, nor does it bombard you with recommendations – it simply delivers all the streaming and catch-up services you need. Thanks to Freeview Play, a comprehensive list of catch-up services are included, covering BBC iPlayer, ITVhub, All4, My5, BBC News & Sport and UK Play. The iPlayer app supports 4K and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma – the broadcast version of HDR), both of which the BBC trialled during the World Cup. There’s also Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, all of which support 4K and HDR, along with services like Rakuten and Chili Cinema. In fact the only major streaming service missing is NOW TV.
The A9F is unquestionably Sony’s best OLED offering to date, and arguably a strong contender for high-end screen of the year. When it comes to image quality and audio performance it’s deliciously impressive. While we experienced some minor issues with Android Oreo, the UX is now logical and inclusive. It no longer feels like you’re wrestling with an octopus. Oreo introduces plenty of nice new features, including a recently watched content rail, curated recommendations and a favorite channel listing. Thankfully, the UI is also significantly faster than previous Android TV OS implementations. It’s a massive upgrade all round. If you can live with the slightly idiosyncratic design, and afford the asking price, it’s a glorious UHD display.
While the 65Q9FN’s Smart TV system is based closely around the Eden platform Samsung has been busy refining for the past couple of years, expect a few tasty new morsels that add to the experience without taking anything away. For starters there’s now compatibility with Samsung's SmartThings platform, which provides an on-screen hub for monitoring and even controlling other smart devices (fridges, washing machines, lights etc) on your network. There’s also much better integration of the TV listings and live broadcasting into the TV’s content searching features: there are now hour-by-hour show recommendations, for instance, as well as TV shows getting much more prominence in the content browsing menus. Samsung has delivered enhanced interactivity with your smartphones and tablets too, as well as some seriously cool new gaming related features. Overall, a slick, easy to use and helpfully customizable interface belies the impressive sophistication and comprehensiveness of Samsung’s latest smart TV engine.
Once you get this TCL TV up and running, you’ll be met with the familiar veneer of Roku TV – an egalitarian operating system that handily retains its top spot as (arguably) the best operating system year after year. It’s intuitive to use, if a bit boring, and its lack of ties to a particular streaming platform allow it to point you to all the places content can be found without bias. That last bit is important, especially if you’ve ever used an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV, both of which would much rather have you stream from their ancillary streaming services over any of the third-party ones. Because Roku doesn’t have ties to a major streaming service – other than a vague deal to include FandangoNow on the home screen of the OS – it doesn’t push you any direction you don’t want to go and happily supports everything from Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV and Amazon, to lesser-known channels like Pluto.tv, tubi, Crackle and others. That’s to say nothing of Roku’s own streaming service that it launched at the end of last year, which provides its own collection of entirely free movies that change in and out every few months. Most aren’t anything to write home about, but you do get the occasional gem in there. While it’d be nice to see the inclusion of artificial intelligence and personal assistants on Roku TV – similar to what LG is doing with webOS and Samsung has done with Tizen and SmartThings – all things considered, this is still one of the best TV operating systems and a fantastic TV overall.
Vizio's 2018 P-Series is a great choice if you're after a TV that performs at an above-average level with great pricing. It has a number of top-shelf features with good black levels, but its operating system is a bit slow. Thankfully, there’s nothing to complain about with the TV’s 4K HDR performance. In fact, considering how much work it takes for other screens to come close to natural colors, the P-Series is supremely good right out of the box.
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| WordPress revamped with new security features Posted: 08 May 2019 12:51 PM PDT WordPress is getting some much needed new security features in its latest update, WordPress 5.2, which is rolling out now to websites around the world. The world's most popular content management system (CMS) is adding support for cryptographically-signed updates, a modern cryptography library, a Site Health section in the admin panel and White-Screen-of-Death (WSOD) protection. Beginning with WordPress 5.2, the WordPress team will digitally sign its update packages using the ED25519 public-key signature system. This will allow a local installation to verify the update package's authenticity before applying it to a local site and can even help prevent supply-chain attacks on all WordPress sites.
Chief Development Officer at Paragon Initiatives Enterprises, Scott Arciszewski explained how WordPress 5.2 will make launching attacks against the platform more difficult for cybercriminals to ZDNet, saying: "Before WordPress 5.2, if you wanted to infect every WordPress site on the Internet, you just had to hack [the WordPress] update server. After WordPress 5.2, you would need to pull off the same attack and somehow pilfer the signing key from the WordPress core development team." WordPress 5.2WordPress is aiming to improve website security with its new “Site Health” section in the admin panel's Tools menu which includes two new pages: Site Health Status and Site Health Info. The Site Health Status page runs a set of basic security checks and delivers a report with the findings and recommendations on how to fix any issues it discovered while the Site Health Info section provides a wealth of useful information about a website and its server setup. Information is also provided about the WordPress install itself, file storage usage, plugins and themes. The Serverhappy project is another new security feature included in the latest release of WordPress. While WordPress 5.1 included the ability to show warnings when WordPress installs were running on servers with outdated PHP versions, WordPress 5.2 includes WSOD protection that works as a safe mode for WordPress sites. WSOD protection can temporarily disable themes and plugins when a PHP fatal error is encountered so that site admins can access their sites' backends and fix the error. Improved security for a system used on 33.8 percent of the world's websites is certainly a welcome addition especially after Alert Logic recently discovered a vulnerability in the WP live chat plugin for WordPress that could allow attackers to upload arbitrary malicious files to vulnerable systems.
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| New PlayStation VR bundle deals available with this year's hottest VR game Posted: 08 May 2019 12:42 PM PDT If you've been waiting for a PlayStation VR bundle with one of the hottest games on the virtual reality device, we've got some great news for you. Walmart have just opened pre-orders for a brand new package that comes with Blood and Truth, a first-person shooter that's one of the most promising titles we've played on Sony's headset. PlayStation VR has had some fantastic reductions since its launch a few years back and deals like this come with the essential PS4 camera bundled in too - PSVR won't work without it. There are actually two new bundles going on sale today. The Blood and Truth one also comes with two motion controllers (fantastic for VR games) and Everybody's Golf and costs $349. If you're after a cheaper bundle then another offer for $299 includes Five Nights at Freddy's and Trover Saves the Universe, but you don't get the discounted motion controllers there. If those games aren't taking your fancy though, there are plenty of other options to consider. Our PlayStation VR deals page even has cheaper options, albeit with older games. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 4K TV deal: get the LG 65-inch OLED TV at its lowest price ever Posted: 08 May 2019 12:02 PM PDT If you're looking for a large-screen TV with premium features, then look no further than this killer deal from Newegg. Now until Sunday, you can get the LG 65-inch 4K TV on sale for $1,849. That's a whopping $847 discount and the lowest price we've seen for the top-rated OLED TV. The LG TV also includes AI ThinQ which means you'll be able to turn your TV into a smart home hub. Just connect your compatible Amazon Alexa or Google Home devices to the TV, and you'll be able to control all of your smart home devices with your voice. This is not only an excellent deal but also a fantastic price for a 65-inch TV with premium features. Like we mentioned above, this limited time deal ends on Sunday, so you should act fast before it's gone. See more of the cheapest OLED TV prices and deals and shop other cheap TV deals and sale prices that are currently going on. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Lenovo updates ThinkPads with Ryzen Pro mobile processors Posted: 08 May 2019 11:50 AM PDT Lenovo is giving enterprise and business users even more computing power with the announcement of three new additions to its ThinkPad portfolio which will include GPUs and CPUs from AMD for the first time. The T495, T495s and X395 Windows 10 laptops can be outfitted with up to the 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen 7 Pro Mobile Processors with Radeon Vega graphics to cater to today's increasingly mobile workforce. Lenovo has continued to focus on design and engineering with its latest ThinkPad laptops which offer businesses the mobile experience they demand without compromising on key features such as security, performance, manageability and durability.
Vice President of the company's Intelligent Devices Group Commercial Product Portfolio, Jerry Paradise praised the new T495, T495s and X395, saying: “These new flagship ThinkPad series mark the first time AMD benefits are inside our thin and light T, Ts, and X laptops. With these ultra-mobile systems, users will experience premium, first-class computing.” Expanded features and improved securityThe new T and X series laptops can last up to four additional hours on a single charge and offer increased performance by up to 18 percent when compared to the benchmarks of the prior generation. Lenovo has also made its latest laptops more durable by adding an extra G-force crash hazard shock procedure to its already exhaustive ThinkPad Mil-Spec tests. This means that the new T and X series are tough enough to withstand added wear and tear from a hard day's work. The company has even improved the video conferencing experience by matching the dual far-field microphones on its AMD-powered models for improved 360 degree reception. Now users will be able to communicate with their teams clearly even while working in noisy environments. The new ThinkPad models include Lenovo's integrated camera security cover ThinkShutter to physically protect users from malicious webcam snoopers. As an extra level of security, the company has integrated an optional ePrivacy filter, the ThinkPad PrivacyGuard, on both the T495s and X395. Finally, the new devices will feature the company's end-to-end security platform Lenovo ThinkShield which can help protect against data and device loss as well as identity theft. The ThinkPad T495 will be available this month while the ThinkPad T495s and x395 are expected to be available in June.
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| Intel's Project Athena aims for more efficient laptops Posted: 08 May 2019 11:23 AM PDT Intel is making a move toward a more power-efficient future with its Project Athena initiative. The company is following up on the project it had announced at CES 2019, which will see Intel offer guidance to equipment and PC component manufacturers to create future laptops. This week, the wraps came off the plan, as Intel gathered with hundreds of members of the PC manufacturing industry in Taiwan. This is where one of the Intel's Project Athena Open Labs is located – specifically in Taipei – with another in Folsom, California.
How Project Athena will workIntel's Project Athena Open Labs will work as a resource for equipment and component manufacturers to test their products. Intel has brought engineers with system-on-chip (SoC) and power optimization expertise to these Open Labs, and they'll conduct testing and offer guidance to manufacturers on how to improve their products. The goal is ensure a wide range of Project Athena-compliant components that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can depend on to work in more power-efficient laptops. Component manufacturers will submit their products to the Project Athena Open Labs to see if they can meet the specifications. These components can include everything from displays, audio devices, haptic feedback motors, SSDs, wireless modules and more. By covering the whole range of components, the program should allow OEMS to easily choose components for devices that follow Project Athena specifications and more or less guarantee better power efficiency. Project Athena is aimed toward 2020 and beyond, with future devices featuring 5G connectivity and AI in mind. But, we won't have to wait until 2020 to get the first laptops offering Project Athena specifications. The first batch of Project Athena devices is slated for the second half of this year. And, while Project Athena is focused on the components, not the complete computers, the news hasn't said which chips will be at the heart of the experience. Intel's Ice Lake processors could be coming at the end of the year, and with their 10nm architecture, they may be an ideal candidate for more power efficient laptops.
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| Is Canon readying a 32MP DSLR? Posted: 08 May 2019 11:08 AM PDT Is the Canon EOS 7D Mark III on the way? Canon hasn't updated its EOS 7D line for over four years, but now it appears that a successor to the respected but aging EOS 7D Mark II may well be on the way. Japanese camera rumors site Nokishita has spotted registration information for a new camera codenamed DS126801, which has the figures 6960 and 4640 among its details. These relate to the 3:2 aspect ratio of the sensors inside the company's DSLRs and mirrorless cameras – and multiplying the two figures gives us a total of 32.29 million, which is a perfectly logical figure for a sensor inside a new mid-range or high-end body. Long overdueOther details include the presence of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, together with the mention of a 7.2V 1800mAh battery. This matches Canon's longstanding LP-E6 and LP-E6N batteries, which are compatible with many of its models, from the EOS 7D Mark II and EOS 5D Mark IV through to the recent EOS R mirrorless camera. Canon has stated that, despite the launch of its EOS R mirrorless stable, it plans to continue to support its DSLR line; but while the recent arrival of the Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D appears to back this up, the company hasn't made any changes to its mid-range and professional DSLR lineup since the EOS 6D Mark II two years ago, and its EOS 5D Mark IV and EOS 7D Mark II are both showing their age. An upgrade to the EOS 5D Mark IV is also expected, although this is more likely to sport a sensor with a far higher resolution than the 30MP inside that camera. It's also entirely possible that such a sensor could be used inside an EOS R-series mirrorless body, but with the 30MP EOS R only having been announced in September of last year that seems less likely. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Rage 2 release date, trailer, news and rumors Posted: 08 May 2019 10:57 AM PDT The run up to the reveal of Rage 2 has been somewhat fitting for a game that seems like it’s going to revolve around chaos and anarchy. Between leaks, tongue-in cheek teasers and even more leaks we now officially know that Bethesda is going to be following up 2011’s Rage with a sequel titled Rage 2. From everything we've seen so far Rage 2 will be another post-apocalyptic thrill-ride that will bring players into a world that’s a cross between Mad Max, Fallout and Borderlands. With, of course, the fast-paced shooting we've come to know Bethesda games to have. [Update: Rage 2 has gone gold and as its release date approaches Bethesda has announced the recommended system specs for PC. Read on to find out more and don't forget to check out our Rage 2 first look review.] Cut to the chase
Rage 2 release dateBethesda originally confirmed a Spring 2019 release date, and we now know it'll be on May 14, 2019. Start your engines, survivors. Rage 2 trailersDanny Dyer comes to Rage 2 You can check it out in action below: Wasteland Superhero trailer Game Awards 2018 open-world trailer QuakeCon 2018 extended gameplay trailer Take a look: E3 2018 gameplay trailer Official Trailer Gameplay trailer Overall, Rage 2 looks like it's going to be a fast-paced, chaotic and utterly silly game (in a good way, of course). The trailer promises a more open world, more vehicle gameplay and some seriously big guns. With more expletives than that. Watch it for yourself below: Rage 2 news and rumorsSystem Specs Rage 2 has now gone gold and we're racing towards its release date. If you're thinking about picking it up on PC, you might want to make sure your hardware is up to scratch with Bethesda's official system specs. Rage 2 minimum specs OS: Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 (64-Bit versions) Processor: Intel Core i5-3570 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X Memory: 8GB RAM Graphics: Nvidia GTX 780 3GB or AMD R9 280 3GB Storage: 50GB available space Rage 2 recommended specs OS: Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 (64-Bit versions) Processor: Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X Memory: 8GB RAM Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1070 8GB or AMD Vega 56 8GB Storage: 50GB available space The PC version of the game boasts an uncapped framerate and support for ultra-wide and super ultra-wide resolutions as well as the ability to toggle HUD, motion blur and depth of field. Those playing on console won't need to worry about these pesky specifications but that doesn't mean no limitations. When it comes to resolutions the PS4 version will run at 1080p/30FPS, while the Xbox One caps out at 900p/30FPS. Those on the 4K consoles, PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, can look forward to 1080p/60FPS. Cheat codes In addition, Bethesda has promised more cheats will be dropped into the game on a rotating basis, and additional cheats will be added to the lineup post-launch. But how can you access Rage 2 cheats? According to Bethesda, the Rage 2 Deluxe Edition comes with three cheats right off the bat. But while these cheats will be accessible to anyone with any version of the game, those without the Deluxe Edition may have a bit more legwork to do. "Cheats are given to you by the Wasteland Wizard," senior gameplay programmer Peter Hastings explains on Bethesda's official blog. "He’s a mystical sage with universe-altering powers, who can be found wandering the wasteland." The Wasteland Wizard will sell players cheats for in-game currency (if you can find him), so you don't have to actually pay real-life money for extra cheats. QuakeCon 2018 Set 30 years after the events of Rage, Rage 2 takes place in the aftermath of a global catastrophe which essentially turned Earth into a wasteland. Although the world is beginning to recover, with wildlife slowly making a return, the Authority is using extreme measures to shape the wasteland in the way it sees fit – even if that means taking out non-mutant humans. Alongside the Authority, the wasteland is home to an array of bandits and rebels, such as the hyper-violent Goon Squad and the technologically-advanced Immortal Shrouded. Each faction has its own weapons, settlements, combat styles and vehicles. Some even travel in monstrous convoys - but they're no match for your mortar. Explore jungle, wetlands and desert biomes on your mission to take down the Authority and cause utter chaos. E3 2018 The gameplay trailer As far as story is concerned, information is still pretty thin on the ground but we do know there will at least be one. Bethesda says that players will take the role of Walker, “the last Ranger of the wasteland." As Walker "you will tear across an unforgiving wasteland battling sadistic gangs to find the tools and tech needed to crush the oppressive rule of The Authority once and for all.” The trailer leak Following the teasing that a trailer for Rage 2 would be released on May 14, Gematsu reported that the trailer had leaked in a YouTube pre-roll advert. The trailer apparently revealed in front of several videos tied to gaming on YouTube and outside of Gematsu’s report, Tweets from Wario64 and others appeared online. The trailer was quickly set to private and anyone that managed to mirror capture the trailer and re-upload it to YouTube has seen their videos taken down. The Twitter captures, however, remain. They show a range of Mad Max-style characters screaming, shooting and lifting weights while plumes of neon smoke billow in the background. The Twitter teasing Clean up on aisle 6 – Walmart Canada has sprung a big leak Naturally at this point, Rage 2 wasn’t a certainty since the list did have some spurious titles on it – Forza Horizon 5, for example. However, it also appeared alongside some games we both know are coming such as Beyond Good and Evil 2 and The Last of Us 2, as well as games that haven’t been announced but seem likely such as Gears of War 5 and Splinter Cell. (Image credits: Bethesda) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Low-code could lead to improved job satisfaction for IT developers Posted: 08 May 2019 10:53 AM PDT Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotic process automation (RPA) are putting increased pressure on IT developers who say that having access to faster and easier development tools can greatly improve their job satisfaction. According to Appian's new Impact of low-code on IT satisfaction survey, IT developers believe that low-code technologies can help improve the worst aspects of their jobs while simultaneously supporting IT business goals for the coming year. The survey revealed that the worst aspects of IT developers' jobs are time spent troubleshooting application issues, time constraints and deadline pressures, time wasted on repetitive coding tasks and a lack of opportunity to work on strategic projects.
When asked about low-code development's ability to impact these areas of low IT satisfaction, 80 percent of the 150 IT leaders and 150 IT developers, engineers and architects surveyed agree that low-code is useful for automating repetitive development tasks such as coding forms and business rules. At the same time, two thirds (68%) agree low code is viable for the development of mission-critical applications and nearly 80 percent believe it could help free up developer time to work on higher level-projects. Increased pressure on IT developersEmerging technologies are increasing pressure on the IT organization according to 86 percent of IT developers who feel overburdened by requests for new emerging technology applications and requests to integrate emerging technology with legacy systems and data. IT developers said applications that improve the customer experience or increase customer engagement (68%), applications that optimize internal operations and processes (61%) and applications that enable innovation (57%) are the most in demand at their organizations. However, while customer experience apps are the most requested, less than 50 percent of all respondents say their organization is extremely or very effective at integrating AI and RPA into customer service workflows. To make matters worse, IT developers say service reps must open an average of five screens to get a full view of the customer today. The number one obstacle faced by organizations is developing more intuitive and user-friendly apps followed by ensuring data security and enabling the use of emerging technology for greater customer insights. Appian's survey found that faster and easier development tools are the one thing that IT developers believe could help their organizations the most when developing applications which utilize emerging technologies.
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| UFC 237 live stream: how to watch Namajunas vs Andrade from anywhere Posted: 08 May 2019 10:51 AM PDT Are you prepared for the battle in Brazil? Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade are the headline act this Saturday in Rio de Janeiro and you're in the right place to discover how to get a UFC 237 live stream - it doesn't even matter where in the world you are. The UFC's big brawl in Brazil is looking like one not to be missed and the Women's Strawweight title bout is just the tip of the iceberg. A particularly brutal iceberg. One of the key highlights for fans wanting to see a local hero, Anderson Silva is just the ticket. He may be from Sao Paulo, but the former middleweight champion had one of the very longest title reigns in history of UFC, making him a favorite of Brazilians all over the country. He's set to fight Jared Cannonier. And then there's José Aldo fighting Alexander Volkanovski, with the former a three time UFC champion and currently still one of the best fighters in the featherweight division. The Rio crowd will blow the roof off if he wins on the night. And that's all before you even get to Namajunas vs Andrade. Whoever you're cheering on during this weekend's MMA action, we’ll show you how to live stream UFC 237’s main card from anywhere in the world - for US viewers, you should just head straight to ESPN+.
Live stream UFC from outside your countryWorry not if you're a huge UFC fan but aren't in the US to watch that ESPN+ coverage this weekend. If you find the coverage is geo-blocked, you can try using a VPN to change your IP address to a US server and watch this week's main card just as if you were back at home. How to watch UFC online in the US exclusively on ESPNGone are the days of watching UFC on cable television as ESPN+ has now secured the rights to show UFC 237 as well as all upcoming UFC Fight Nights. ESPN+ has already made a name for itself by hosting big-ticket tennis, soccer and boxing events. If you don't already have a subscription, then the way to go seems to be a UFC Bundle, costing you $79.99. That won't just buy you the UFC 237 PPV, but you’ll get a year-long subscription to ESPN+ (that would normally cost $60 alone). For those that already have an ESPN+ subscription, you can still buy access to UFC 237 for $59.99. Got your subscription or bundle sorted but find yourself outside the US this weekend? Scroll up the page and take a look at our advice for using a VPN to watch the UFC 237 live stream from outside your country. Live stream UFC 237 in the UKThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Final Fantasy 7 remake: trailers, release date, news and features Posted: 08 May 2019 10:43 AM PDT First released in 1997, Final Fantasy 7 immediately cemented its place as one of the best JRPG titles around and introduced millions of gamers around the world to the genre. Due to the success of Final Fantasy 7 over 20 years ago (and the pleads from die hard fans), Square Enix is releasing a remake. The path to release hasn’t been smooth for this game, though. Four years after it was announced, we’re still not entirely sure when we’ll see the Final Fantasy 7 Remake released. With news and rumors still churning around the great wide web but official information pretty thin on the ground, we’ve gathered up everything we know has been confirmed and everything fans suspect right here for your perusal. [Update: Will PlayStation's May 9 State of Play will bring some Final Fantasy 7 news? That's the rumor, read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
Final Fantasy 7 trailer and screenshotsThe first trailer for the game was released upon the remake's announcement at E3 2015. The trailer is largely cinematic and you can watch it for yourself below: A further trailer (this time featuring gameplay) was revealed at PSX in 2015: Square Enix has also released a number of screenshots from the game which we've collected together below. Final Fantasy 7 release dateThe Final Fantasy 7 remake has had something of a troubled development, so unsurprisingly we still don’t have a solid release date. It's also very possible that the the game will end up having several release dates, as Square Enix has confirmed the game's story would be told episodically. The game has been in the works since 2014 but there have been few significant official updates since the E3 2015 reveal. In this time, development of the game has moved from external developer CyberConnect2 to Square Enix’s in-house team. Overhauls like this can cause big delays to a game’s progress but according to Square Enix's Naoki Hamaguchi the decision was made out of a desire to maintain “control quality as well as keeping the schedule stable.” Things may be further along than we think, however. In an interview with Famitsu, the game's director (Tetsuya Nomura) said that some parts of Final Fantasy 7 such as cutscenes are further along in development than the now-released Kingdom Hearts 3. This gives us hope that we may see the first portion of the Final Fantasy 7 remake at some point in 2019 still. Maybe. Perhaps. Something we do know is that the game will be available to PlayStation 4 players “first” as was promised at its E3 reveal. Saying “first” suggests this isn’t an outright exclusive and that the game will eventually come to Xbox One and PC. However, there was no indication as to how long the agreed exclusivity period would be. The recent timed exclusive Rise of the Tomb Raider ran for 11 months on the Xbox One before coming to the PS4, while Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 was exclusive to PS4 for just three months. Given this variation it's hard to say how long FFVII's timed exclusivity might last. We're also expecting Final Fantasy 7 remake to be a cross-generation release, likely releasing on both PS5 and the next Xbox alongside current generation consoles. Final Fantasy 7 news and rumorsState of Play rumors It's safe to say that at this point Final Fantasy fans are positively starving for news on the game's progress and there are rumours that this news could come from PlayStation's State of Play stream taking place on May 9 2019. The rumour comes from ResetEra administrator and industry analyst ZhugeEX who posted that the stream will include the "re-reveal of a third party game that was announced long ago." Now, this could be any number of games but given Final Fantasy 7 was indeed announced a very long time ago and skipped E3 2018 entirely, it's a good contender. Adding to the excitement, Square Enix producer and Final Fantasy brand manager Shinji Hashimoto has taken time to tweet about the upcoming State of Play. It could be nothing, but it could be everything and fans don't have to wait long to find out. The State of Play stream takes place on May 9 at 3pm PT/ 6pm ET/ 11pm BST. Nomura admits an announcement was premature "I am well aware of the fact that we announced it too early," Nomura told Italian gaming mag Multiplayer (translated by Kingdom Hearts Insider) . "But even in the industry, word was beginning to spread that we were working on the game, so we just decided not to keep it more secret and officially reveal it." Could the release date be a long way off? In fact, according to a report from The Lifestream (via Destructoid) we might not see it for another five years. Reports of turbulence in the games development emerged around a year ago and if they're true it's likely that they slowed progress somewhat. A recent behind-closed doors conversation between producer Yoshinori Kitase and development lead Naoki Hamaguchi suggests the game could be as far away as 2023. The conversation apparently took place at a recent Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary celebration event and a translated transcription has been uploaded by a Lifestream user. The conversation doesn’t give much solid information in terms of release date or progress but Kitase and Hamaguchi say that they want the Final Fantasy VII Remake to have launched before Final Fantasy’s 35th anniversary in 2023. Now, even if this conversation did take place the transcription makes it hard to read any kind of tone from this. It could very well be a joke in reference to the long development process that they also say is now running "smoothly." With no official comment from Square Enix on the matter we say take this with a pinch of salt for now. It's highly likely that we'll hear more about the game's progress and maybe a potential release window during Square Enix's E3 presentation this year. It’s a reconstruction, not a shot-for-shot remake Considering it’s so beloved there’s a lot of pressure on Square Enix to not stray too far from the original source material but according to director Tetsuya Nomura it won’t be a completely direct recreation. In an interview with Wired, Nomura said “We're not intending for this to become a one-to-one remake, or just the original Final Fantasy VII with better graphics.” Nomura has said that he wants the remake to "apply to the current era" and "the current generation of players." He added the caveat that he doesn't "want to change it so much that it's unrecognizable" but it has to be offering something "fresh and new." To accommodate modern consoles and gamers, changes will naturally have to be made to the game both in terms of gameplay, mechanics and perhaps even to some elements of the story. For starters, early trailers show a game more akin to Final Fantasy XV mechanically, with fixed viewpoints and static backdrops swapped out for full-3D terrain, and a turn-based battle system removed in favour of a real-time action-orientated one. It’s episodic The reasoning behind the decision, according to series producer Yoshinori Kitase is that “a proper HD remake” just wouldn’t fit into one instalment and maintain the “same feeling of density of the original.” “We've seen everyone's comments and reactions to the news that Final Fantasy 7 remake will be a multi-part series and many have speculated correctly as to the reason why we have made this decision,” he said, “If we were to try to fit everything from the original into one remake instalment, we would have to cut various parts and create a condensed version of Final Fantasy 7. We knew none of you would have wanted that. “I hope that by explaining a little more about our design decisions that you can appreciate the size of this project and what we have planned for this remake. Going beyond the scale and depth of the world, narrative and gameplay from the original to deliver something that feels familiar yet new. As I said before, we like delivering surprises.” Each episode will apparently be its “own unique experience” but as yet we don’t know how many episodes there will be or how they’ll be structured in relation to the original story. No more turn-based battles In an interview with Famitsu, Nomura said that battles in the remake will be “action-based” rather than command-based. Nomura didn’t go into much more detail with regards to the game’s combat system but it’s widely expected that we’re going to see a formula more similar to Kingdom Hearts and FFXV. This would mean a more active and seamless style of battling involving party members whom the player will be able to switch between. Though the loss of turn-based combat will be mourned, a move towards a system like Kingdom Hearts will be more accessible to new players. A PS5 release? (Image credits: Square Enix) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ghost of Tsushima: release date, trailers and news Posted: 08 May 2019 10:26 AM PDT First announced at 2017’s Paris Games Week, Ghost of Tsushima is a brand new IP from Sucker Punch which will be exclusive to PlayStation 4. Though Sucker Punch is largely known for the inFamous games, the developer is departing quite significantly from the inFamous formula with this new game. Saying so-long to high-rise cities and neon superpowers, Ghost of Tsushima will be a historical open world adventure that will take players back to Feudal Japan. Sound like your kind of thing? This is everything we know about the game so far. [Update: Sucker Punch has posted a job listing for a narrative writer. Read on to find out what this could mean for Ghost of Tsushima's progress.] Cut to the chase
Ghost of Tsushima release dateThough we know development of Ghost of Tsushima is underway and we’ve seen some gameplay footage, there’s not been any inkling of a release date just yet. News on Ghost of Tsushima has been fairly thin on the ground since its E3 gameplay reveal in 2018, however a job listing for a narrative writer (via Gamasutra) in April 2019 suggests that development isn't quite as far along as hoped and the game's release date could still be some time away. With Sony stirring up hype for the next generation it's worth wondering if Ghost of Tsushima could be a PS5 release. Ghost of Tsushima trailersPlayStation showed us more of Ghost of Tsushima than ever during its E3 2018 conference with a brand new lengthy gameplay debut. The trailer shows a huge open world that almost looks like a painting with a soaring atmospheric soundtrack. We see our samurai challenge Mongol invaders in a combat style that reminded us of Assassin's Creed. But as well as up front and outright combat, there will be an emphasis on stealth with players using the element of surprise to avoid being outnumbered. Check out the gameplay debut trailer below: Before this we saw the announcement trailer that was released at Paris Games Week. Though it was captured in the game engine, it doesn’t feature much in terms of gameplay. What it does show, however, is the game world we’ll be playing in and it’s clear that Sucker Punch is aiming for a stunning aesthetic. You can watch it for yourself below: It doesn't focus on in-game footage or gameplay but there was also an enlightening panel held at PSX with several members of the game's development team. Watch below for details on the above trailer and what kind of research has gone into it. News and featuresJob Listing After very little news for quite a while, in April 2019 Sucker Punch posted a job listing for a narrative writer on its Ghost of Tsushima team. This posting was not especially reassuring to fans who believed the game was quite far along in its development and suggests that any kind of release date or further news could be a while away. The job listing (via Gamasutra) asks that applicants be prepared to "write high quality dialogue" and contribute ideas to other narrative areas of the game. However, it also says that the applicant must be able to write to "tight deadlines" which could mean that development is moving apace and Sucker Punch could be looking to bolster its existing team with a new member able to neatly tie up any secondary narrative strands. Until any news comes from Sucker Punch itself, of course, all of this is simply conjecture. The main character is Jin Sakai - but he's not alone Ghost of Tsushima focuses on samurai Jin Sakai but you will also gather allies such as archer Masako (who was you might remember from the trailer). It’ll be set in Feudal Japan As revealed by the game’s announcement trailer, Ghost of Tsushima will be set in 13th century Japan - the time of the Mongol invasions. In the year 1274, the Mongols made their first stop on the island of Tsushima. You'll play Jin, one of the last of the samurai on the devastated island, determined to quash the invasion and push the Mongols out despite the odds being stacked against him. The game's art director, Jason Connell, stated in a recent PSX panel for the game that the team are taking an "inspired by" approach to the game with the setting serving as a "jumping off point" for a completely original story. There will be an open world and you’ll play in the third-person Though it’s very different from Sucker Punch’s previous games in many ways, Ghost of Tsushima will bear one similarity to inFamous with its third-person perspective; this time players will take up the role of a samurai called Jin. The game will have a huge open world. Specifically, the setting will be the large island of Tsushima, located off the coast of Japan. Tsushima is a geographically diverse place and the game’s trailer shows that players will be able to travel from lush forests, to rugged mountains and towns filled with interesting characters. Judging by trailer footage it looks likely that the player will do the majority of terrain traversal on horseback. Gameplay We’ve seen very little of gameplay thus far, but given the setting and overarching storyline it has the potential to be interesting. Playing a samurai unsurprisingly means there will be both action and stealth elements but there seem to be some plans to mix up the formula. The samurai the player will take control of, for example, is the one of the last of his kind and as a result he’s forced to shed traditional samurai tactics and form a new method of fighting call the ‘Way of the Ghost’. While we don’t know what this Way of the Ghost actually involves, we're interested because it’s an entirely new method of fighting necessitated by there being only one samurai facing an entire army. All of this together makes us think there will be a heavy emphasis on tactical stealth and the use of enhanced (perhaps mildly supernatural) powers. According to the game's listing on the New Zealand PlayStation Store, players will be building the legend of 'the Ghost' in a tale "inspired by classic samurai stories." There will be a range of weapons Naturally weapons will be key in this game and from the trailer we can see that there will be a wide range of them. Alongside the traditional samurai katana, we also glimpsed long bows, armored horses and plenty of fire. The villain will be interesting Alongside an intriguing protagonist, we’re also anticipating a villain of substance. The player will be facing the Mongol Empire, known for its advanced horseback and archery skills as well as its ferocity. The leader of this army will be the player’s main enemy and Sucker Punch has described this leader as being an “uncomfortably reasonable killer.” How this will manifest itself in the game is unclear but it suggests an engaging story line and hero/villain dynamic. We're expecting to hear more about Ghost of Tsushima at this year's PlayStation Experience taking place in early December. Keep checking back here for more updates! It could use Japanese dialogue During a recent panel at PSX, the game's creative director Nate Fox asked the audience if they'd be interested in playing the game with Japanese dialogue. After applause that couldn't be mistaken for anything other than affirmation, he stated "Noted, thank you." While this isn't a confirmation of anything, it does suggest that Ghost of Tsushima could very well go down the route of games such as Nier: Automata with dialogue entirely in Japanese alongside English subtitles. It would certainly compliment the efforts the development team has clearly gone to in going on research trips and asking for expert advice to achieve cultural authenticity.
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| FreeSync monitors for G-Sync: get the best Nvidia G-Sync display for less Posted: 08 May 2019 09:57 AM PDT Nvidia G-Sync was first launched more than five years ago, and it promised the end of visual artifacts and screen tearing. And, while the technology has certainly faced plenty of controversy, it’s grown into one of the most coveted technologies in our gaming monitors. Recently, at CES 2019, Nvidia decided to port its G-Sync technology to FreeSync monitors designed to work with AMD graphics cards. After testing 400 FreeSync monitors, Nvidia recently announced that 15 of them were worthy of G-Sync, opening the tech up to more affordable displays. But, how do you find the best FreeSync monitor for G-Sync? So, if you’re looking for a FreeSync monitor that supports G-Sync, you should take a few things into consideration. The first thing you need to keep an eye open for is a high refresh rate. Because G-Sync automatically changes the refresh rate to match your framerate in game, shoot for the highest refresh rate you can find, that way, you won’t be held back by your monitor. A 144Hz refresh rate will be more than enough for most people – not to mention graphics cards. Then, of course, you’re going to want to find a monitor with fast response time. If you’re big into esports, finding the fastest monitor is literally game-changing, so 1ms should be the goal. However, if you’re more into laid-back adventures, like Astroneer, this is not as big of a deal. This is a lot to take in, but we here at TechRadar have your back. We’ve picked out the five best FreeSync monitors for G-Sync, so you can spend less time shopping and more time gaming. Image Credit: Asus TN panels make for great gaming monitors, even if they aren’t the most beautiful things in the world. They’re fast, affordable, and they’re color accurate enough for games, without going to the extremes needed for professional work. That’s why when we heard that the Asus MG278Q was one of the FreeSync monitors approved for G-Sync, we were appropriately excited. This monitor checks all the right boxes for an esports monitor, without driving the price through the roof. Read the full review: Asus MG278Q Image Credit: AOC This isn’t the fastest gaming monitor in the world (look at our #1 pick for raw speed,) but it may be one of the prettiest. One of the prettiest that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, at least. Not only is this a FreeSync monitor that supports G-Sync, but it also supports HDR 400, so games that support it will look more vibrant, on top of being free of screen tearing. We wouldn’t recommend it to esports players, but everyone else should keep their eyes on this monitor. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG322QC4 Image Credit: Asus Let’s say you’re practicing to become the next big CS:GO or Overwatch world champ, but you just don’t feel like your monitor can keep up. You could go for some 144Hz panel, but why not go all the way? Why not go for a 240Hz 1080p panel, especially one packed with RGB lighting and a slick 1ms response time? We’ll that’s what you’re getting with the Asus ROG Strix XG258Q, and while that price tag seems high, it’s worth it for buttery-smooth frame rates. Image Credit: Acer We know we’re not the only ones that love tech that looks as good as it performs, and the Acer XG270HU definitely fits the bill. This beautiful red monitor is packing a 27-inch TN panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response times. This is one of the best FreeSync monitors for G-Sync, and it’s got the style to back it up – even if we wouldn’t exactly call it the ‘gamer aesthetic.' Image Credit: BenQ BenQ’s Zowie monitors are beloved for their esports cred these days, so when the BenQ Zowie XL2740 showed up on Nvidia’s list of FreeSync monitors for G-Sync, we were excited. This pro gaming monitor features a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time and decent color accuracy for a TN panel. These specs, combined with an attachable screen shield make for a gaming monitor that esports players will want to take to every tournament.
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| Posted: 08 May 2019 09:57 AM PDT If you’re looking for the best Asus laptop money can buy in 2019, then you’ve come to the right place. There’s a number of reasons why you’d want to buy one of the best Asus laptops as your next notebook. The fact is, Asus simply makes some of the best known and beloved laptops in the world today, and Asus laptops are getting better every year. The Taiwanese manufacturer has been hard at work, steadily releasing some of the best laptops one after the other (not to mention the best PCs, PC components and smartphones) for years now. That’s why we gathered together this list of our favorite Asus laptops. From Chromebooks and other budget Asus laptops to behemoths of gaming laptops and some of the best Ultrabooks you can buy today, Asus laptops cover a wide range of budgets and use cases – and they all look good while doing it. So, when it comes to finding the best Asus laptop for your needs, you’re in good hands. We’ve put our laptop expertise to the test, picking out some of the best laptops in every category. And, as a bonus, we’ve included our exclusive price comparison tool, so you can be sure you’re getting the best Asus laptop deal. Image credit: TechRadar If you're looking for the very best all-round Asus laptop, then the Asus ZenBook 3 is the one to get. This is an exceptionally light Asus laptop, measuring less than half an inch thick, and weighing only two pounds. Asus's ZenBook range of ultra-thin laptops have shown the world how you can make gorgeously-designed thin and light laptops, while still packing them with powerful components. It's a pricey laptop, but if you're after the very best of what Asus has to offer, the ZenBook 3 is a fantastic choice. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook 3 Image credit: TechRadar Asus has struck gold with its new refresh of its ZenBook Flip S 2-in-1 laptop, with the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370. Asus has shown its competitors how you can make a truly impressive 2-in-1 laptop that doesn't feel like a compromise in any way. Not only is the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 one of the best, if not the best, convertible laptops money can buy right now, it's one of the best Asus laptops in general. Asus has packed this laptop with a new Kaby Lake R 8th-generation processor, plenty of RAM and a super-fast PCIe SSD in certain models. Plus, its 2-in-1 design means you can use it as both a laptop and a tablet. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370 Image credit: TechRadar The Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is not only the best Asus gaming laptop in the world right now, but it's the best gaming laptop of 2019 – period. This is because Asus has packed in a 6-core Intel processor, and the latest RTX 2080 graphics from Nvidia. However, not only does this make it one of the most powerful gaming laptops ever made, Asus has also managed to keep the Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 impressively thin and light. Most gaming laptops are big chunky affairs due to their high power components, but Asus has pulled off some brilliant design magic to make the ROG Zephyrus S GX701 not much thicker or heavier than many standard laptops. It's incredibly expensive, though, but for the price you're getting an amazing machine, and one of the best Asus laptops ever made. Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 Image credit: TechRadar The best Asus laptops aren't just premium all-singing, all-dancing devices with huge price tags, as the excellent Asus Chromebook Flip C302 demonstrates. The Asus Chromebook Flip C302 brings a lot of what we love about Asus laptops to an affordable Chromebook that's ideal for day-to-day tasks and for students working on their homework. That means it's got excellent build quality, a fantastic design and packs some great hardware that makes it one of the best Chromebooks on sale in 2019, with an Intel Core processor, full 1080p display, touchscreen, backlit keyboard and USB-C port. Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip Image credit: TechRadar As we mentioned earlier in this buying guide to the best Asus laptops of 2019, Asus's ZenBook range are flagship laptops that offer plenty of power and thin and light designs. While many of them are expensive, it doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune on a great Asus ZenBook, which is why we've included the Asus ZenBook UX310 in this list of the best Asus laptops. With still-good 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake processors, a 178-degree viewing-angle QHD+ display, a USB-C port and an aluminum build, it’s still one of the best Ultrabooks out there, even after all this time. Read the full review: Asus ZenBook UX310 Image credit: TechRadar While the Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 earlier on in this list is undoubtedly the best gaming laptop Asus has ever made, its high price means it just won't be for everyone. The good news is that there are a number of great Asus gaming laptops that are more affordable. The Asus ROG Strix GL502 is a great example that offers excellent performance at 1080p. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GL502 Image credit: TechRadar One of the best things about Asus laptops is that there are premium laptops and powerful gaming devices, but Asus also does some brilliant budget and affordable laptops as well. The Asus VivoBook S15 is in our view the best budget Asus laptop that runs Windows 10. It comes with decent specs, including an Intel Core i7 processor, considering the price. Meanwhile, its 15-inch screen offers full 1080p for enjoying movies and TV shows on, and its a decent productivity tool as well. Read the hands on review: Asus VivoBook S15 Image Credit: TechRadar If you're after a budget Asus laptop that can double as a tablet, then the Asus Transformer Mini is perfect. This tablet brings plenty of power and ports to the table – not to mention a fingerprint sensor, stylus and keyboard cover – all in the box. This is all topped off with a whopping 11 hours of battery life. Because of its cheap price and robust design, this is a brilliant Asus laptop for children and students, as it can be easily thrown in a bag and carried around without worry. Read the full review: Asus Transformer Mini T102HA
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| The best Asus gaming laptops 2019 Posted: 08 May 2019 09:56 AM PDT Welcome to our list of the best Asus gaming laptops. Every year PC gaming gets bigger and bigger, and the hardware that powers it gets more powerful. But, what if you want to take that power on the road? Well, there are plenty of Asus gaming laptops that will let you do just that. Asus gaming laptops are almost universally packed with powerful hardware, beautiful displays and svelte builds. But, picking the right Asus gaming laptop for your needs is harder than it sounds. You need to ask yourself what you plan on doing with your Asus gaming laptop: do you want to play Apex Legends on the go, trying to be the last one standing? Or, do you want to die again and again in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice? Whichever games are on your list, there will be an Asus gaming laptop for you. And, we went ahead and gathered up some of the best Asus gaming laptops on the market, so you can spend less time shopping and more time in game. We’ve also included our exclusive price comparison tool, so you can find the best Asus gaming laptop deals. Make sure you check out our pick of the best Asus laptops as well, if you're not just looking for an Asus gaming machine. Image Credit: Asus If you travel a lot, but you don’t want to be separated from the best PC games when you do, finding a thin and light Asus gaming laptop like the Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is a dream come true. Rocking up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080, there isn’t a AAA game out there that will be out of reach. Plus, it’s so thin, light and stylish that you’ll want to take it everywhere you go. Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 Image Credit: Asus Sometimes a thin and light gaming laptop just isn’t going to cut it. Sure, they’re fun to carry around to play games on the subway or something, but when you need to pull out the big guns, a thick desktop replacement like the Asus ROG G703 is going to be your best bet. This beast only comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 and can be packed with up to 64GB of RAM so you’re going to cut through everything without a problem. As long as you have the cash, this is the most powerful Asus gaming laptop you’ll find anywhere. Read the full review: Asus ROG G703 Image Credit: Asus When you go out looking for an Asus gaming laptop, you’ll find plenty of budget options and a lot of extremely expensive devices. However, the Asus ROG Strix Scar Edition is the best of both worlds, bringing performance on par with the best gaming PCs without setting you back thousands of dollars. It’s not the slimmest laptop in the world – not even the slimmest laptop on this list, but in terms of hardware, you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for, and we can’t complain about that. Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix Scar Edition Image Credit: Asus The Asus ROG Strix Hero II is marketed as a laptop for esports, and while its 144Hz display and RTX 2060 GPU is great for that, this Asus gaming laptop is capable of so much more. At 1080p, this attractive mid-range laptop should be able to play most, if not all, AAA games at 1080p with all the settings maxed out. It is a bit on the expensive side, but so are all Nvidia RTX laptops. Read our hands-on: Asus ROG Strix Hero II Image Credit: Asus We here at TechRadar love a thin and light gaming laptop, the ability to bring the best PC games on the road without having to compromise on performance is a win. And, while many super thin gaming laptops come with an extremely heavy price increase, the Asus Zephyrus M manages to keep things reasonable. We haven’t been able to get our hands on it for testing but, trust us, this isn’t a gaming laptop you’re going to want to pass on. It has yet to be refreshed with Nvidia RTX graphics, and while that’s a bummer, it does mean that you’ll likely find some sweet deals.
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| Best wireless routers 2019: the best routers for your home network Posted: 08 May 2019 09:55 AM PDT The best routers have never been more important, especially when you consider that nearly everything we do is online. We work online, play online, even socialize online. So picking up one of the best wireless routers can make a world of difference. Whether you’re just trying to watch your favorite programs on Netflix, or top the leaderboards in the best PC games, no one wants a poor connection. That’s why picking up the best wireless router is so important. Before you go and upgrade your internet service, though, you should think about grabbing one of the best routers. Even if you have the fastest internet service in the world, it won’t do much good if it’s held back by a less-than-stellar wireless router. So, whether you’re looking for an epic gaming router or a fancy wireless mesh router with tons of coverage, the best routers are critical in 2019. But, what makes for the best wireless router? Well, there are a couple features you need to keep an eye out for. These days, a router with MU-MIMO is priceless, as it allows all your devices to access the internet without clogging up the bandwidth – this is especially important with all the connected devices we have these days. Then, there’s the speed rating – a rated speed of AC1900 should be more than good enough for most users. But, keep in mind that among the hundreds of wireless routers out there, it’s hard to find one that checks all the boxes. That’s why we’ve picked out all the best wireless routers we’ve reviewed recently. So, from the Google Wifi to the TP-Link Archer C5400, you can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. The days of traditional wireless routers is coming to its end – the age of the wireless mesh router has arrived. Google Wifi is the best proof we can think of for this mesh revolution. You can finally say goodbye to the days when the only way to achieve wireless freedom was to install a bunch of wireless extenders. The premise of Google Wifi is simple – buy a set of points and place them in key locations around your home. Then, just scan a QR code and you’re good to go – it’s not just the best wireless router you can buy, it’s also the easiest to get going. Read the full review: Google Wifi If you’re familiar with Asus, particularly its gaming products, you’ll know what to expect with the Asus RT-AC86U. This wireless router looks like what would happen if you poured Doritos and Mountain Dew into a wireless router manufacturing machine. Beyond the garish design, though, is hardware that, for its price, easily tops almost anything else on the market. You’re not paying a premium here for a gaming device, and if you’re looking for a fast connection at a great price, the Asus RT-AC86U is a great wireless router. Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U When the Netgear Orbi first hit the streets, it completely changed the wireless router game. And, in 2019, Netgear is offering the Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23, a more affordable router for casual users that don’t need to cover a stately mansion. It features less antennae and ethernet ports than the original, but it’s still enough to offer very solid network coverage. Plus, the smaller size means that it can more easily blend in – you won’t feel the need to obscure it. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23 Now that smart homes are becoming more and more common, we need wireless routers that can also serve as a smart home hub. This doesn’t just do wonders for convenience, but it would clear out some of the clutter made by multiple routers, modems and hubs. And, the Samsung Connect Home does exactly that. It’s not the most feature-rich wireless router out there, but it’s competitive enough with the Google Wifi, while still packing in the SmartThings hub that it’s still one of the best routers – especially if you have a ton of smart devices. Read the full review: Samsung Connect Home
If you’re looking for one of the best wireless routers, and a ‘90s Sci-Fi aesthetic won’t put you off, the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 might be for you. Sure, it’s not a trendy mesh router, but it’s unique in that it can bridge consumer and enterprise users by featuring high-end functionality at an affordable price point – with an easy setup to boot. It definitely looks weird, but if you’re looking for a wireless router that can cover a large home, you can’t go wrong here. Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 If you’re ready to bring your office’s networking into the modern age with one of the best wireless routers, you need to take a look at the Netgear Orbi Pro. It’s a modular Wi-Fi mesh router, but it takes some design and performance cues from business-grade products. It’s not cheap, but if you run a business where you can’t afford anyone slowing down due to poor Wi-Fi, it’s worth every penny. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi Pro These days, wireless mesh routers are everywhere, and we love it – the level of coverage these routers offer is beyond anything we’ve seen in the past. And, with devices like the TP-Link Deco M9, we can see how wireless routers keep getting better. By integrating IoT smart home support, on top of industry standard speeds and coverage, the TP-Link Deco M9 is easily one of the best routers for smart home fanatics. It’s a bit pricey, but with all the features and performance you’re getting, it’s worth it. Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M9 If you’re looking to jump on the mesh wireless router trend, but you’re trying to save a few bucks, and don’t really care about some advanced tech mumbo-jumbo – the D-Link Covr-C1203 might just be the best wireless router for you. It offers the same type of coverage as something like the Google Wifi at a lower cost, but with slightly slower speeds – it’ll still be fast enough for most users, though. It also features an attractive triangular design, which should fit in nicely with your decor – you won’t need to hide it in shame. Read the full review: D-Link Covr-C1203 If you’ve been on the market for a wireless mesh router, but wanted to maintain control over your network, you’ll love the Eero Home Wi-Fi system. It’s more expensive than your standard router, but it allows users complete control over their network, while still providing a secure connection through AI. To make things better, the Eero Home Wi-Fi System includes subscriptions to 1Password, MalwareBytes and Encrypt.me VPN – which should keep everyone on your network secure. Read the full review: Eero Home Wi-Fi System The Amplifi HD is one of the more expensive wireless routers on this list, but with its modern, clean look, it should find a dedicated audience. Aesthetic isn’t high on everyone’s priorities, but it does help encourage users to install it in central locations, boosting the router’s signal. This wireless router features excellent performance and stylistic flair to match, but you’ll be paying for it. Read the full review: Amplifi HD Joe Osborne, Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
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