Apple : Best wireless routers 2019: the best routers for your home network

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• Best wireless routers 2019: the best routers for your home network
• Best Intel processors 2019: the best CPUs from Team Blue
• Mario Kart Tour: everything we know so far
• The best Verizon Wireless plans in May 2019
• Mario Kart Tour mobile game is out in closed beta for Android users
• The new Xbox Game Bar adds a fresh layer to gaming on Windows 10
• Box update makes it easier to sort out your storage
• Ghost of Tsushima: release date, trailers and news
• Honor 20 Pro vs OnePlus 7 Pro
• The CEO of EE just made the best case for 5G yet
• Zendesk boosts CRM capabilities with Smooch deal
• Cyberpunk 2077: release date, trailer and news
• Google's Huawei ban: what does it mean for you? [Updated]
• Pokémon Sword and Shield: everything we know about the 2019 Pokémon RPG
• Apple WWDC 2019: date and keynote predictions
• US could blacklist up to five Chinese surveillance firms
• Memorial Day TV sale at Walmart: deals on Samsung, LG, and Vizio 4K TVs
• Apple WWDC 2019 invites go out ahead of iOS 13 and macOS 10.15 unveilings
• AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation benchmarks leak, showing blistering performance

Best wireless routers 2019: the best routers for your home network Posted: 22 May 2019 02:39 PM PDT The best wireless routers have never been more important, especially when you consider that nearly everything we do is online. We work online, play online, do our business online, even socialize online. So, investing in a top-notch router can make a world of difference. Whether you only want to watch your favorite programs on Netflix, or top the leaderboards in the best PC games, nobody wants a poor connection. That’s why finding the top wireless router for you is essential.  Before you go and upgrade your internet service, you should think about grabbing a router that’s touted as one of the best. 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. Whether you’re looking for an epic gaming router or a top-of-the-line wireless mesh router with tons of coverage, the best routers are crucial in 2019. But, what makes for the best wireless router? Well, there are a couple things you must take into account. MU-MIMO is a priceless feature, as it will allow every device in your home to access the Internet without bottlenecking other devices. This is especially important considering all the connected devices we rely on in our daily lives. Then, there’s the speed rating – a rated speed of AC1900 should be more than enough for most people. Keep in mind that among the hundreds of wireless routers on the market, it’s hard to find one that ticks all the boxes. That’s why we’ve selected all the best wireless routers we’ve tested recently. So, whether you’re getting the Google Wifi or 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 position them in strategic locations around your home. Then, simply scan a QR code and you’re good to go – it’s not only the best wireless router you can buy today; 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 router manufacturing machine. Beyond the garish design, however, is hardware that, for its price, easily beats almost anything else on the market. You’re not paying a premium here for a gaming device, and if you’re looking for a high-speed connection with an affordable price tag, the Asus RT-AC86U is a terrific choice. Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U  When the Netgear Orbi first hit the streets, it completely changed the wireless router scene. Then, in 2019, Netgear launched the Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23, a more affordable option for casual users who don’t need to cover a stately mansion. It boasts fewer antennae and ethernet ports than the original, yet it’s more than enough to offer very solid network coverage. Plus, the smaller form factor means that it can effortlessly blend in so you won’t feel the need to conceal it. Read the full review: Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23  Now that smart homes are becoming more and more common, more people need wireless routers that can also moonlight as a smart home hub. This doesn’t just do wonders for convenience, but it also would alleviate the clutter created by having multiple routers, modems and hubs. The Samsung Connect Home does exactly that. It’s not the most feature-rich wireless router on the market, but it can hold its own against the Google Wifi, while still packing in the SmartThings hub. It’s still easily one of the best routers – especially if you have a ton of smart devices. Read the full review: Samsung Connect Home This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Google Wifi.  If you’re on the hunt for one of the best wireless routers, and a ‘90s sci-fi design won’t put you off, the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 might be the right one for you. Sure, it’s not exactly the most good-looking 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 sizeable home, you can’t go wrong with this.  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 should 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. You’ll have to shell out a bit of cash, 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 have no complaints – 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 most excellent choices for smart home fanatics. It’s a bit expensive, but with all the features and performance you’re acquiring, it’s worth it.   Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M9 If you want to jump on the mesh wireless router bandwagon, but you don’t want to break open the piggy bank, the D-Link Covr C1203 may just be a top option for you. Not only does it offer similar coverage to the Google Wifi while being more affordable, but it also looks futuristic good. Sure, it’s not quite as fast as Google’s legendary router, but it will still be fast enough for most users. It’s hard to complain about an affordable and attractive device, and that’s why the D-Link Covr C1203 is, without a doubt, one of the best wireless routers money can buy today.  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, the Eero Home Wi-Fi system might just be what you’re looking for. It’s more costly than your standard router, but it gives users complete control over their network, while still offering a secure connection through AI. Better yet, 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 high-cost wireless routers on this list, but thanks to its modern, clean look, it should find a dedicated audience. While aesthetic isn’t high on everyone’s priorities, it does help encourage users to install it in central locations, which helps boost the router’s signal. This wireless router boasts excellent performance and a stylish design 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 Images Credit: TechRadar We’ve also picked out the best best wifi extenders of 2019 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best Intel processors 2019: the best CPUs from Team Blue Posted: 22 May 2019 02:27 PM PDT The best Intel processor is a fine way to get a sweet new gaming PC up and running if you're looking to choose among the best processors to buy. And, while the debate between AMD and Intel is always raging, we went ahead and gathered up the best Intel processors, tested them and created this list.  For years, Intel processors have been some of the best for gaming thanks to their high IPC (instructions per clock) performance, paired with high clock speeds. And, while that’s still true, you’ll find Intel processors in more than just a gaming rig. Intel Basin Falls Refresh processors rule the HEDT (high-end desktop) space, with high-performance processors (at an equally high cost) that are perfect for serious creatives and professionals. And, even if you’re on a budget, something like the Intel Pentium G4560 is perfect for making a bang-for-your-buck build.  So, no matter what kind of CPU you’re looking for, Intel has you covered. And, we went ahead and gathered up all the best Intel processors right here, along with our exclusive price comparison tools, so you can spend less time shopping, and more time building. Image Credit: Intel Intel Core i7 processors have always been the go-to for anyone looking for the best Intel processors. They traditionally deliver excellent performance, without breaking into the high prices of HEDT chips. The Intel Core i7-9700K continues in this tradition, but without the hyper-threading that defined earlier generations. Instead, the focus is on delivering high clock speeds – the 9700K boosts up to 4.9GHz right out of the box. This makes the Intel Core i7-9700K the best Intel processor for most people, as most everyday tasks won’t require more than eight threads.  Read our hands-on review: Intel Core i7-9700K Image Credit: Intel While there are certainly plenty of games that take advantage of multi-threaded processors these days (looking at you, Battlefield V), PC gaming is still mostly a single-threaded world. And, that’s why something like the Intel Core i5-9600K makes for such a great processor for gaming. Single-threaded performance is out of this world, which should help make high frame rate gaming feasible. The best part? This Intel processor is affordable, so you can spend more money on one of the best graphics cards. Image Credit: Intel If you’re building a home theater PC, shelling out for a beefy Intel Core processor doesn’t make much sense – playing HD video doesn’t take a lot of horsepower. But, that’s where the Intel Pentium G4560 shines. For less than a hundred bucks, you can get decent performance that, while not the best for gaming or productivity work, is more than enough to watch some movies. Plus, the Intel Pentium G4560 has integrated graphics, so you don’t need to shell out for a new graphics card.  Image Credit: Intel If you’re looking for the best performance you can get out of a mainstream Intel Core processor, you’re going to want to take a look at the Intel Core i9-9900K. This thing is packed with 8-cores, 16-threads and boosts up to 5.0GHz right out of the box. Whether you’re playing the best PC games or balancing 20 different spreadsheets, the Intel Core i9-9900K is the best Intel processor when you need raw horsepower. Just be aware that all this raw power comes with a high price tag. Read our full review: Intel Core i9-9900K Image Credit: Intel If you looked at that price and felt your jaw drop, there’s a reason why: the Intel Core i9-9980XE is an extremely expensive processor. However, for that price you’re getting 18 cores and 36 threads that can power through virtually any creative or professional workload without breaking a sweat. At the end of the day, the Intel Core i9-9980XE is one of those products where if you need to ask the price, it’s probably not for you. But, if it is for you, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better Intel processor.  Read our full review: Intel Core i9-9980XE Make sure you pair your Intel processor with the best motherboard This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Mario Kart Tour: everything we know so far Posted: 22 May 2019 02:13 PM PDT Despite a somewhat inconsistent record with smartphone games, Nintendo is continuing to add to its roster, revealing that its next effort will be a mobile Mario Kart. Update: Mario Kart Tour is out in closed beta on Android, and we've updated this piece with what we know. In short: it looks to bring a faithful (though vertically-aligned) Mario Kart experience, though there seems to be a lot of in-game currencies and microtransactions you'll have to deal with to get all your favorite characters. First announced as in-development in February 2018, Mario Kart Tour is still something of a mystery as Nintendo didn’t proffer any details on its gameplay, pricing model or even a firm release date. But we've started to see footage from the game's closed beta, which launched in May, and it seems like the Mario Kart gameplay we know and love has been faithfully reproduced. Following the failure of Miitomo, Mario Kart Tour is a good sign that Nintendo is going to be investing in mobile adaptations of its more popular IPs, rather than trying anything more weird or new any time soon.  While we don’t know too much about the game thus far, this is everything we do know, and we’ll keep updating this page as more details are revealed. Cut to the chase What is it? Mario Kart on mobile! When can I play it? It'll be released any time between April 2018 and March 2019 What can I play it on? Nothing confirmed but it's likely to be iOS and Android Mario Kart Tour – when can I play it? Mario Kart Tour's exact release date is yet to be revealed, with Nintendo giving us a pretty wide window. We know the game will be coming, but we don't know when. Fortunately, it has been released in closed beta on Android, which is promising. We'll take this as a hopeful sign for a 2019 release. We were right to be a little pessimistic, as the game went far past our expectation of an 'early 2019' release. Nintendo’s mobile titles have historically been subject to delays, and given the fact that Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing Pocket Camp are still undergoing updates, we’re not sure when the time is right to push another big IP title out. Mario Kart Tour – how much will it cost? Going on Nintendo’s past mobile releases, we can't be absolutely sure whether Mario Kart Tour will be a free-to-play title with microtransactions, or a one-time purchase game with no paid extras. Now that the closed beta has come out, chock-full of microtransactions and multiple in-game currencies, we're pretty sure this is how the final game will be monetized. A recent report from the Wall Street Journal has said that the game will be ‘free-to-start’. While this is a little unclear, Super Mario Run is also a free-to-start game which does give us some idea as to how the model could translate to Mario Kart Tour. It's still possible that Mario Kart Tour will – like Super Mario Run – be released as a free trial which gives access to one or two tracks and a limited number of characters and cards. After players have gone through this trial, they’ll then be able to purchase the full game for around $10/£10 and get access to all of the game’s features as well as free updates at later stages.  It's possible that the game will be set up like Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, which is free to download but has certain content which can only be accessed for a fee. Although this is a model that would also work for Mario Kart Tour; we could quite easily see the game being free to download with certain tracks, characters and cars requiring an additional purchase. But it's far more likely that Mario Kart Tour will go the route of previously-released free-to-play Nintendo titles like Fire Emblem Heroes that run on gacha-style pay-for-a-random-item/character via in-game currency, which can always be bought with IRL cash.  It's a setup that has worked well for Nintendo: two years after Fire Emblem Heroes launched, players have spent a combined $500 million on the game, per Sensor Tower. Hopefully the monetization mechanisms in Mario Kart Tour won't be too obnoxious – Nintendo did just tell its partners to rein in the microtransactions. Mario Kart Tour – which platforms will it be on? Though Nintendo hasn’t confirmed anything here just yet, we think it’s safe to assume that Mario Kart Tour will be released on both iOS and Android as other mobile titles have been. Mario Kart Tour – how will it play? Unfortunately, Nintendo hasn’t released any official details on how Mario Kart Tour will actually play. But if the closed beta is anything to go by, the game looks to be a streamlined version of the console games. Take a look at this beta footage and explainer: Characters automatically drive forward while you drag your finger on the screen left and right to turn. Some items (like invincibility stars) are automatically used if you pick them up, others are activated just by touching the screen. It's a lot like how Super Mario Run, Nintendo's first mobile game, was simplified from its console versions. There’s even room in this kind of control system for motion controls, whereby players turn their phone onto its side and turn the screen like they would a steering wheel, though we haven't seen that gameplay implemented yet. As in the latest Mario Kart games, players pick a driver, kart and glider, then they’re matched against seven other players online. Maps are a mix from the entire series: the initial Toad Cup features courses from SNES, 3DS and GameCube versions of Mario Kart. There is a purported list of maps collected in a ResetEra thread. How the multiplayer element will come into the game has yet to be confirmed, too, though the beta information does suggest it will be 8-person multiplayer connecting over the internet. Nintendo’s mobile games usually require that the player be online but whether they’ll face off in live races or simply race around an AI populated track and try to establish themselves on a variety of leaderboards is currently unclear.  A big part of the fun in Mario Kart is the unpredictability of facing-off against real opponents, so we’d definitely like to see live races rather than a leaderboard system.  While details are limited just now, keep checking back because we'll keep updating as we hear more about Mario Kart Tour! These are the best games on the Nintendo Switch This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best Verizon Wireless plans in May 2019 Posted: 22 May 2019 01:50 PM PDT The best Verizon plan for you is going to depend largely on what you need to use it for. Verizon has a wide variety of plan types, from premium unlimited data plans to cheap prepaid plans with a touch of data to let you check emails now and then. To figure out which Verizon plan is best for you, you’ll want to consider how much data you’re really going to need and what extra features you want to get from your service. Its shared data plans and prepaid plans come at low prices, but don’t offer exciting extras. Meanwhile, its unlimited data plans feature extras like Apple Music, fast mobile hotspot data, and more. Verizon is the first carrier to launch a true 5G network, with support for both the Moto Z3 and Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. So, you have the option of jumping onto one of its top unlimited data plans for access to that service, which we’ve seen deliver data speeds in excess of 1Gbps in a 5G speed test. It’s currently only available in Chicago and Minneapolis, but coming to more urban areas this year. The wide variety of plans and pricing details leave you with a lot to think about. So, whether you’re shopping alone or with friends and family members, we’ll help you understand Verizon’s mobile plans and what you’ll pay. In almost all cases, the plans will be cheaper per-person if you activate multiple lines. For example, the monthly rate for one line on an unlimited plan would be $75 while getting four lines would bring the per-person cost down to $40 per month. We've gone through the details, both the major and the fine print, to find out everything we can about Verizon's various plans so we can help you find the best one. Whatever your needs, we’ll help you understand Verizon’s best plans so you can make the right choice. Jump straight there: View the plans at Verizonwireless.com See also: The best Verizon Phones available this month Shopping for Internet services? Internet provider deals (USA) | Broadband deals (UK) Verizon Wireless unlimited plans: Explained Verizon offers three tiers of its unlimited plan: Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited, and Above Unlimited. All three include unlimited talk and text in the US, Verizon Up rewards, unlimited mobile hotspot, video streaming, and support for talk, text, and data while abroad in Canada or Mexico.  The way these plans differ is in the speeds, 4G LTE data thresholds, and perks they offer. Go Unlimited support mobile hotspots at 600Kbps, while Beyond Unlimited offers 15GB of hotspot at 4G LTE speeds, and Above Unlimited steps that up to 20GB. Go Unlimited also limits video playback to DVD quality (480p), but the other tiers support HD (720p) streaming. The plans handle network congestion differently as well. Go Unlimited may reduce your speeds at any time if the network is congested. Beyond Unlimited offers 22GB of data and Above Unlimited offers 75GB of data at 4G LTE speeds before you should see reduced speeds due to network congestion. Above unlimited also offers 500GB of cloud storage and some extra travel perks. Both Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited also offer access to Verizon's 5G network where it's available and on supported devices. This includes 4K video streaming, mobile hotspot at 5G speeds, and full 5G data speeds without data deprioritization. Small: 2GB - $35/Month Medium: 4GB - $50/Month 5: 5GB - $40/Month Large: 8GB - $70/Month Go Unlimited: Unlimited - $75/Month Beyond Unlimited: Unlimited - $85/Month  Above Unlimited: Unlimited - $95/Month The best Verizon Wireless plans for you Let's take a close look at what each of these plans has to offer for the price. Afterward, we'll also go over some of Verizon's alternative plans in case these aren't a fit for you. Whether you're a modest web surfer, a heavy Netflix-user, or just pull your phone out a few times a week, there should be a plan to fit your needs. Verizon Wireless plan: Small | 2GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | $35/Month If you don't do a lot of music or movie streaming, this plan will probably be a good choice for you. 2GB is enough data to do regular surfing and watch the occasional YouTube video. It's also one of Verizon's cheapest plans, so if you have your budget in mind, look no further. This is a Shared plan, which includes an access charge of $20 per phone added to the plan, including the first phone. View this plan: at Verizonwireless.com Verizon Wireless plan: Medium | 4GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | $50/Month If you think you're likely to bump up against the 2GB limit on Verizon's cheaper plan, you may want to consider the 4GB plan. For $15 more, you get an extra 2GB at full 4G LTE speed. Plus, with these plans, you can carryover unused data into the next month, in case you want to save up some data for a new Netflix show. This plan can also be shared and has a $20/line access charge. View this plan: at Verizonwireless.com Verizon Wireless plan: 5| 5GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | $40/Month When 4GB is too small and 8GB is too much, Verizon also offers a 5GB plan for $40 a month plus the $20/line activation fee. This plan is a good fit for two people who will split the data a small amount of data, and it has a curiously obvious value over the 4GB plan. View this plan: at Verizonwireless.com Verizon Wireless plan: Large | 8GB | Unlimited calls and texts | $70/Month If you really can't hold off on the occasional movie or TV show streamed over your data plan, this might be a reasonable option for you. However, since Verizon's cheapest Unlimited plan is just $5 more, it may be worth jumping up to that plan and not worrying about how much data you use each month. Like the other Share plans, this one has a $20/line access charge. View this plan: at Verizonwireless.com Verizon Wireless Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited, and Above Unlimited plans | Unlimited data | Unlimited calls and texts | $75/Month, $85/Month, or $95/Month Heavy data users who don't want to worry about running up against data limits, and want to stream TV, movies and music to their hearts' content may want to go with one of these options. If there's network congestion, you may get reduced speeds, but it won't be because you accidentally fell asleep with Netflix streaming and went over your data allotment.  If you don't want your speed reduced during periods of high network traffic, you may want to get the Beyond Unlimited plan. And, if you want extra Wi-Fi hotspot data and cloud storage, check out the Above Unlimited plan. These plans also allow you to add extra lines at reduced rates. You can see what you'll pay with a calculator Verizon provides on its site. For four lines, the per-line price drops to $40, $50, and $60, respectively. View these plans: at Verizonwireless.com Verizon Wireless: Prepaid plans If the above Verizon plans aren't what you're looking for, there are also a number of monthly prepaid plans. They all include unlimited talk and text in the US and unlimited text to over 200 international destinations. They also allow data carryover and mobile hotspot usage (except the unlimited plan). They range in price from $30 a month for 1GB to $75 a month for unlimited data comparable to the Go Unlimited plan.  One current deal that offers great value is just $45 a month for a plan with 16GB of data (it's the 8GB plan, but Verizon is offering an extra 8GB of data at no extra charge). View Verizon Wireless prepaid plans here If you just have a basic phone and want simple service, Verizon also offers a basic plan with unlimited talk and text and 500MB of data for $30 a month. See that plan here.  Phones are more expensive, unfortunately Since Verizon Wireless eliminated the two year contract and switch to these new types of plans, it has unfortunately done away with the old subsidies on new phones that came with 2-year contracts. That means instead of paying a flat $200 for every new phone you get, you'll have to pay whatever that phone actually retails for. For a new flagship, that can be anywhere from $600 to over $1000. Verizon Wireless does offer installment plans for customers, though. So if you're shopping for a new phone and plan and have good credit, you can likely find a phone that you'll be able to pay for over the course of a couple years.  See all available Verizon Wireless phones  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Mario Kart Tour mobile game is out in closed beta for Android users Posted: 22 May 2019 01:17 PM PDT The next Nintendo mobile game, Mario Kart Tour, is officially out, but only in closed beta in the US and Japan and only on Android. Players and news outlets have already reported it’s a faithful 3D racing experience...with microtransactions and multiple in-game currencies. That’s right – it’s free to play, at least in this beta version. It’s important to remember that the game may change based on feedback, especially its monetization, though Nintendo doesn’t shy away from the roulette-style “gacha” item buying, which appears again in Mario Kart Tour. But the gameplay at least seems fun, and appropriately simplified for mobile, which, yes, means it's played vertically. Characters automatically drive forward while you drag your finger on the screen left and right to turn. Some items (like invincibility stars) are automatically used if you pick them up, others are activated just by touching the screen, according to Kotaku. As in the latest Mario Kart games, players pick a driver, kart and glider, then they’re matched against seven other players online. Maps are a mix from the entire series: the initial Toad Cup features courses from SNES, 3DS and GameCube versions of Mario Kart. There is a purported list of maps collected in a ResetEra thread. And then there’s the in-game item economy. In a word: collecting. In a few words: very easily-monetizable collecting. Not surprised, but hope for more There are three currencies (of a sort) in the mobile game. The first, and most anodyne, are Grand Stars – you get these when you finish races or challenges, Stars unlock gifts, which might have the second and more important currency, green gems. Five gems gets you one item straight from a warp pipe – this is where you’ll get new drivers, karts and gliders to expand your collection. Each gets particular bonuses on different maps, with rarer ones granted advantages on more maps, at least what we’ve seen thus far. You can see where this gacha train is choo-chooing to. If you played Nintendo’s other wildly profitable mobile game, Fire Emblem Heroes, you know how the company has used this in the past: lure players into paying for more and more rolls of the dice to get the characters/items they crave (and it works: the playerbase spent $500 million on the free-to-play game in the two years after its February 2017 launch, per Sensor Tower). It seems like Nintendo is setting up to do the same with Mario Kart Tour. Players can already buy gems. They can’t buy the third currency, gold coins – which are awarded based on performances or found mid-race – but you can spend gems to enter coin-collecting mini-races.  Oh, and there’s a heart-based stamina bar (like the “energy” in other F2P games) that diminishes over time, and when you run out, you can’t play. You can wait until they refill naturally...or pay gems to get back on the track. We’ll see how the game plays, as even a little F2P Mario Kart action is better than nothing, and look to what Nintendo may change before the game’s full release date (which is still TBD). What will you play Mario Kart Tour on? Here's our best gaming phones list This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The new Xbox Game Bar adds a fresh layer to gaming on Windows 10 Posted: 22 May 2019 01:10 PM PDT The Xbox features in Windows 10 have been fairly simple, with quick tools for capturing game footage and sharing it. That's changing today, just after the launch of the Windows 10 May 2019 Update.  Now, the Xbox Game Bar includes extra overlay options for social features, audio, Spotify and more. Microsoft presented the details in an Inside Xbox announcement. Before, pressing "Windows Key + G" while gaming would open up a simple overlay with tools to begin recording, capture screenshots, broadcast to Mixer and other tools related to capturing your gameplay. While those tools are still present in the new Xbox Game Bar, you'll now be able to pull up other players' streams while you game. And, those features have got a lot more company to make the Game Bar increasingly useful. The audio tool will serve as a volume mixer so you can balance the audio coming through different apps. The Xbox Social and Xbox Chat tools will let you easily connect with and chat with your Xbox friends. And, a Looking for Group feature can help you find other gamers to play with. Microsoft has also integrated Spotify into the Game Bar, so you can control streaming music playback in the overlay. And, finally, no gaming overlay is complete without a system performance monitor to see how your CPU, GPU and other parts are working while you game. This is what we want to see in the next Xbox Here are the details on Microsoft's Project xCloud streaming service This is everything we know about the PS5 A crowded field The Xbox Game Bar's new features may be on point, but they're entering a space that already has competition. Steam has its own overlay, as does Ubisoft's uPlay and EA's Origin. The popular voice chat app Discord also has an in-game overlay. And, for capturing features, Nvidia's GeForce Experience is readily accessible on computers with recent Nvidia graphics cards. Microsoft may have one key advantage, though. While the other overlays require the specific software to be running in order to use them (or hardware and software in the case of GeForce Experience), the Xbox Game Bar comes at the OS level. Any computer running Windows 10 will have the Xbox Game Bar available across almost any game. It should work with games from Steam, Origin, uPlay and more. That ubiquity could be a strong point in favor of the Xbox Game Bar, but limitations like streaming via Mixer only could hold it back for now. We'll have to see if Microsoft has even more in store for the tool at E3 2019. Here's what's exepcted at Microsoft's E3 2019 keynote Via The Verge This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Box update makes it easier to sort out your storage Posted: 22 May 2019 12:42 PM PDT Cloud content management company Box has announced its all new Box Relay to help simplify business processes across organization's extended enterprise of employees, partners and customers. The company's revamped version of its key workflow product features a powerful new workflow engine, simplified user experience and a rich menu of triggers, conditions and outcomes that will make it easier for businesses to automate processes around content and improve efficiency without the need for intensive IT support. Chief product officer at Box, Jeetu Patel explained why the company chose to revamp Box Relay, saying: “Enterprise workflows built around content like document reviews and approvals and employee on-boarding and off-boarding need to be reimagined. They’re disconnected from the apps teams use every day, locked behind IT, and don’t support external collaboration. The new Box Relay brings powerful automation to improve these critical business processes, whether it’s creating sales proposals and marketing assets, or driving budget sign-offs and contract renewals, and more. Enterprises now have one platform for secure content management, workflow, and collaboration that’s built for how we work today.” IBM and Box bring the power of AI to your work processes The security features you should expect from your work management software Misconfigured Box accounts lead to sensitive data leaks Box Relay Box Relay's powerful new workflow engine includes an extensive list of 'if this then that' (IFTT) triggers and outputs to help businesses automate multi-step processes including both sequential and parallel workflows. It also supports conditional logic which gives users the ability to route content based on metadata attributes such as date, dropdown, multi-select or open text fields. A simple no-code workflow builder has been designed from the ground up with business users in mind so that they can build and edit their own processes without requiring additional support from IT. Box Relay also provides users with the ability to assign tasks to customers, vendors or partners so the process does not break down when content flows across or between organizations. Box's workflow product is also deeply integrated with other enterprise workflow platforms including Salesforce, Pega and Nintex. Box Relay is currently in private beta but will be generally available by the end of June. We've also highlighted the best cloud storage This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Ghost of Tsushima: release date, trailers and news Posted: 22 May 2019 12:04 PM 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: It looks like Ghost of Tsushima will still be a PS4 release. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase What is it? A brand new PlayStation exclusive IP from Sucker Punch  When can I play it? No release window just yet  What can I play it on? PS4  Ghost of Tsushima release date Though 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 trailers PlayStation 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 features It'll still be on PS4 Information on Ghost of Tsushima has been appropriately hard to find these days and a recent job listing for a narrative writer on the game has had some fans concerned that Sucker Punch will be releasing its new IP on the increasingly-discussed PS5 rather than the PS4.  However, Sony seems to have put these worries to bed by confirming in a leaked presentation (via GamesRadar) that it will continue to be committed to the PS4 for the next three years with "an outstanding roster of exclusive AAA games still to come". These games will include upcoming exclusives The Last of Us 2, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima, as indicated by images of the games on the PS4 slide which was part of the presentation. That doesn't mean Ghost of Tsushima won't be playable to the PS5 though - there's a lot of talk about backwards compatibility and it's likely that the game will straddle the generations, taking players from their current console to their next. If you're not going to be ready to leap into the next generation, though, don't worry - it looks like Ghost of Tsushima will still be an option. Job 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.  Will Ghost of Tsushima make it onto our list of the best PS4 games? This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Honor 20 Pro vs OnePlus 7 Pro Posted: 22 May 2019 12:02 PM PDT While the Honor phones have typically packed trickled-down features from top-line Huawei phones at a cheaper price, the Honor 20 Pro is specced so highly that it could easily go toe-to-toe with other ‘budget flagships’ that have cropped up. Lo and behold, one recently launched that’s ideally poised to compete with the Honor phone’s best aspects: the OnePlus 7 Pro.  We’re going to figure out which of these two admirable smartphones is better, and inevitably, which makes it into our best smartphones list.  As with all our versus pieces pitting competitive phones against each other, these are both great picks. But we’d be remiss not to point out the current events that may leave Huawei locked out of Android, which could affect the phone’s features down the road given the uncertainty that Google will allow the company’s devices access to Android updates and the Google Play Store. In this category, and at this time, the OnePlus 7 Pro is a safer bet. Politics aside, both phones are well-matched, though keep in mind we’ve had a little more time with the OnePlus 7 Pro, so we’ll mention where uncertainties with the Honor 20 Pro leave comparisons a little murky. Without further ado, let’s dive in to which is truly superior. OnePlus 7 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar) Honor 20 Pro vs. OnePlus 7 Pro design Both smartphones are pretty similar in design, following the ethos of their predecessors: the Honor 20 Pro has a flat front and curved rear edges with a camera blister in the top right corner (much like Huawei’s P-line), while the OnePlus 7 has both edges curve to meet each other at the sides and a centrally-aligned camera bump on the back. Between the two, we prefer not to have the Honor 20 Pro’s lopsided bulge. In effect, this makes the OnePlus 7 Pro just a little more luxe – as does its signature feature, a pop-up periscope that houses the front-facing camera. In effect, this leaves the front display unblemished thanks to an eye-catching cool trick.  The OnePlus 7 Pro again takes the cake in biometrics with its in-screen fingerprint sensor; the Honor 20 Pro’s side-mounted sensor within the power button is a nice out-of-the-way touch, but it’s less easy to activate while the phone is lying flat. By a respectable margin, the OnePlus 7 Pro wins this round, though both are attractive and well-designed by 2019 phone standards. Honor 20 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar) Honor 20 Pro vs. OnePlus 7 Pro display We’ll cut to the chase here: by all metrics, the OnePlus Pro 7’s display is superior, though the Honor 20 Pro’s screen is no slouch. It comes down to resolution, refresh rate and holes for the front-facing camera – the Honor 20 Pro has one as a punch-hole, the OnePlus 7 Pro does not. You'll also find a 90Hz screen refresh rate on the new OnePlus, so it scrolls and plays games more smoothly than the standard 60Hz refresh rate.  The rest comes down to a numbers game. The Honor 20 Pro has a 6.26-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, for about 412 pixels per inch. The OnePlus 7 Pro’s 6.67-inch AMOLED display is 1440 x 3120 pixels for a whopping 516 PPI, giving a sharper screen in the same 19.5:9 ratio.  Whether you like bigger phones might tip your own scales (the OnePlus 7 Pro is half an inch bigger diagonally), the higher quality of the OnePlus phone’s display wins it this round.  Honor 20 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar) Honor 20 Pro vs. OnePlus 7 Pro camera and battery This category might be the biggest slugging match between the two phones – and ironically, the one we might have the least justification to answer, since we haven’t had time with the Honor 20 Pro to properly compare camera samples. Await our full review to fully compare the two. In terms of sheer specs, the two are...nearly evenly-matched. As in, their camera suites are almost identical: both have 48MP main cameras (f/1.4 for Honor, f/1.6 for OnePlus), 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide lenses, and 8MP f/2.5 telephoto shooters with 3x optical zoom.  The Honor 20 Pro may have the slight advantage with an extra 2MP f/2.4 macro camera as a fourth lens, which could be super convenient for those who want to take photos of subjects from up close. We’ll have to see how much it comes in handy in our full review. As for selfie shooters, the Honor 20 Pro again has an edge, with a 32MP front-facing camera compared to the 16MP lodged in the OnePlus 7 Pro’s pop-up tab. Plus, we don’t know how durable that periscope mechanism is – not until we’ve tested it, or at least seen whether it breaks in accidental falls. For cameras, the Honor 20 Pro slightly edges out the OnePlus 7 Pro, but this could change when we see photo samples. As for battery, both have a 4,000mAh capacity – though the OnePlus 7 Pro’s 30W fast-charging beats the Honor 20 Pro’s 22.5W fast-charging. OnePlus 7 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar) Honor 20 Pro vs. OnePlus 7 Pro power This one’s a little trickier to compare since we haven’t tested the Honor 20 Pro, but we can make a bit of an educated guess. The Honor 20 Pro packs a Kirin 980 processor, which debuted in the Huawei Mate 20 Pro late in 2018. It’s also featured in a more recent phone, the Huawei P30 Pro, which in our testing scored 9,669 in a Geekbench 4 CPU test.  The OnePlus 7 Pro is powered by an even newer chip, the Snapdragon 855, and scored a 10,960 on the same Geekbench 4 test. In sheer numbers, the OnePlus 7 Pro comes out on top, and is a little bit more future-proof. In terms of other specs, the Honor 20 Pro has only one configuration of 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage. The OnePlus 7 Pro starts at 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, upgradeable to 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage (or even a 12GB RAM model). The OnePlus 7 Pro is the winner here, but you’ll have to pay for the privilege. Otherwise, both phones come with Android 9 out of the box – though given Huawei’s trouble potentially getting cut off from Google support (and Android/Google Play Store access), OnePlus 7 Pro wins for long-term safety. Honor 20 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar) Honor 20 Pro vs. OnePlus 7 Pro price The Honor 20 Pro costs €599 (around $668, £471, AU$971), which puts it right at the $669 / £649 (around AU$971) starting price of the OnePlus 7 Pro. This is a price deadlock, and as you’ve seen above, their features are very comparable, with differences that might come down to taste. And yet, for some readers, the OnePlus 7 Pro comes out ahead purely by accessibility. Even before the recent ban on US companies working with Huawei, it was difficult to acquire the company’s phones in America and other regions who followed the US’ lead in keeping them out of stores and far from carriers. The OnePlus 7 Pro, on the other hand, is available in the US in T-Mobile stores and online. OnePlus 7 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar) Takeaway This isn’t the most fair competition, as we haven’t had time to unpack a complete understanding of the Honor 20 Pro. But from what we know, the OnePlus 7 Pro is simply, if barely, the better phone. Its sharper (and unblemished) display paired with slightly faster charging makes up for one less (inconclusively useful) rear camera lens. Plus, in our professional opinion, it’s a bit prettier of a phone. But that shouldn’t dissuade anyone from picking up the Honor 20 Pro, which is a strong contender for smartphones at this cost category – the “budget flagship,” as it were. Unfortunately, both of these creep close in price to the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10e, which are arguably better phones than both of these.  But if you don’t want to spend the ~$100 to get to those higher-quality devices, the Honor 20 Pro and OnePlus 7 Pro are both smart picks. See how these phones stack up to our best phones list This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The CEO of EE just made the best case for 5G yet Posted: 22 May 2019 11:59 AM PDT We've known 5G is coming for a while now, but so far we've been struggling to comprehend why tech companies are so keen on the new standard. Sure, it's quicker and more reliable than 4G, but isn't 4G enough? Who needs faster internet than we already have? We've been promised that cloud gaming will be great on 5G phones, and that you'll be able to download Netflix shows in a heartbeat – but we've got Wi-Fi for that, haven't we? However Marc Allera, CEO of telecoms company EE, spoke at the company's launch of its 5G network in London, and he gave an example of why we'll embrace 5G – and it makes a lot of sense. These are going to be the first 5G phones Could the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 support 5G? These are the best camera phones Allera compared 5G to 4G – when that was coming up, people said it would be unnecessary too, but we were soon using it as part of our everyday lives to do things we wouldn't dream of being able to do on 3G. As an example, Allera pointed to apps like Uber, Instagram and Spotify, which use 4G networks to great effect. You wouldn't be able to order and track a taxi on 3G, nor would you be able to view and upload pictures or download songs, and these are things we'd barely knew we wanted to do before we could do them. Now we use our phone for these tasks every day, and it's become so normalized that we do it both with Wi-Fi, and using 4G networks when out and about. In effect, Allera's saying that instead of hunting for a reason to use 5G, we should just embrace it and see what useful features and functions pop up along the way. That's quite a vague plan, but the comparison to 4G is a very valid one, so in a few years our roster of most-used apps could be completely different to those we use before. To some the future of 5G may look cloudy, but others can see the sun peaking through those clouds, and there could be many useful functions to 5G that we discover once we're connected. Google Stadia could be the first good use for 5G phones This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Zendesk boosts CRM capabilities with Smooch deal Posted: 22 May 2019 11:42 AM PDT Zendesk has announced that it has acquired the Montreal-based company Smooch which provides a platform to help connect businesses with customers across a wide variety of messaging platforms both on the web and on mobile. The acquisition will help the customer service software company deliver the best omnichannel experiences by connecting conversations between businesses and their customers on any messaging channel with support for the world's leading messaging apps including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Currently Smooch is one of the largest providers of WhatsApp Business integration and Zendesk customers will soon be able reach the app's 1.5bn users to manage service interactions and engage with customers directly through Zendesk Chat as part of its early access program. Start experimenting with AI to improve your customer service today What are the best smart tools and solutions for your business? Beyond the bot: why AI in customer service means more than just chatbots Founder, CEO and chairman of Zendesk, Mikkel Svane praised Smooch's progress in advancing the conversational experience, saying: “We live in a messaging-centric world, and customers expect the convenience and interactivity of messaging to be part of their experiences. As long-time partners with Smooch, we know first hand how much they have advanced the conversational experience to bring together all forms of messaging and create a continuous conversation between customers and businesses.”  Future of CRM As Smooch offers an API and SDK-based development platform build on AWS, Zendesk's acquisition of the company furthers its commitment to an open and flexible CRM that businesses can utilize to build and offer differentiated customer experiences. Co-founder and CEO of Smooch, Warren Levitan explained how the deal will allow Zendesk to boost its CRM capabilities, saying: “With their launch of Sunshine last year, Zendesk took the bold and disruptive step required to compete for and win the future of CRM. The decision to combine forces with Zendesk and help further their CRM strategy will allow us to supercharge our existing mission for building the best customer experiences. We are thrilled to be joining the entire Zendesk team, so many of whom we have had the pleasure to work with over the past three-and-a-half years.”  Together the two companies will drive the next wave of connected conversations on wide variety of messaging channels including, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, LINE, WeChat, Telegram, Twitter DM, Viber, Kakao Talk, SMS and RCS through native web, iOS and Android apps. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. We've also highlighted the best CRM This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Cyberpunk 2077: release date, trailer and news Posted: 22 May 2019 11:38 AM PDT Cyberpunk 2077 is a neon cyberpunk game that has The Witcher 3 developer CD Projekt Red moving from a gritty, high fantasy world to an equally gritty, science fiction world metropolis. It's based off the pen-and-paper RPG of the same name, but plays a hell of a lot like The Matrix game we've always wanted. We caught our first peek at the game behind closed doors at E3 2018 – you can check out what we saw in the 48-minute walkthrough video below – and all signs point to another big showing at the expo this June. Cyberpunk 2077 is a game that looks vastly different from its developer's The Witcher series, with towering neon skyscrapers, bionic enhancements and a focus on vertical movement rather than wide open plains. It's also all in first-person.  The internet is crawling with news and rumors about this PC, Xbox One and PS4-bound game, so we’ve collected everything that's been said about Cyberpunk 2077 here for your convenience and we'll be constantly updating this page as more details emerge. [Updated: It wouldn't be E3 season without a spiel of rumors about what we'll see at the show. The latest Cyberpunk 2077 rumor (and nothing more than rumor) is that fans could see a release date announcement. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the Chase What is Cyberpunk 2077? A brand new IP from CD Projekt Red What's the Cyberpunk 2077 release date? Hopefully 2019, but possibly as late as 2021 What systems will Cyberpunk 2077 be released on? PS4, Xbox One and PC (almost certainly 4K consoles too) Cyberpunk 2077 trailers After a veritable truckload of hype, CD Projekt Red released 48 minutes of gameplay footage, based on the demo journalists saw at E3 2018.  In it, you'll see what gunplay looks like, character creation and backstory assignment, plus how you'll upgrade yourself via cybernetic enhancements. You'll meet some of the characters in Cyberpunk's seedy crime circuit and explore the city on foot and in vehicles. (Quick warning: the trailer contains nudity, violence and swearing.) Check it out below: We were treated to a brand new Cyberpunk 2077 trailer during E3 2018 which you can watch below: In March 2019, we got yet another video, this time of the development team gearing up for the E3 2019 showcase event. Those hoping for a 2019 release may want to start to brace themselves however – though the game remains without a release date, the suggestion of the video below is that development is still in full swing, and a release date may be some time away yet: Cyberpunk 2077 is the game that could make me leave meat space for good Waiting for Cyberpunk 2077? Here are nine games to play until release Henry Cavill is bewitching in first clip from Netflix's Witcher series Cyberpunk 2077 release date In the game’s first official teaser trailer, it’s stated that the game will be coming “when it’s ready.” Though we'd hoped that would mean a 2019 release date, it's starting to appear as though it will slip into 2020. This is despite an investor call in early 2016 that suggested that Cyberpunk 2077 would be released before June 2019. It was also said in this call that CD Projekt Red is planning to release two new triple A RPGs before 2021.  It was later clarified in forums that Cyberpunk 2077 would be the first of these games to arrive and work on the second would not start before Cyberpunk 2077 was finished.  Considering The Witcher 3 took around three and a half years to develop, a 2019 release didn't seem unmanageable for the studio. But the scale of the development, as well as rumours of the game being a cross-gen Xbox Two and PS5 title, is starting to make it appear as if the game will take longer than initially anticipated. As well as a deadline they’ve no doubt set for themselves, the studio also has a deadline from the Polish government.  In December 2017 they were given a grant of more than $5 million from the government to research new game techniques related to multiplayer, animation and city creation. The sizeable sum came with a project deadline attached, and if it does relate to Cyberpunk 2077 then it’ll mean the game really does have to be released in 2019. The government said so, which ironically isn’t particularly Cyberpunk.  In a 2017 financial presentation, CD Projekt Red revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 is under "intensive development" and that at the time there were more than 300 developers actively working on it. For context, there were 100 developers working across Gwent and the Witcher 3's 4K patch.  Cybperunk 2077 news and features E3 2019 could bring a release date announcement Now, any rumor in the run up to E3 should be taken with a pinch of salt but those looking forward to CD Projekt Red's next offering will be excited about this one. A user on NeoGAF (via PCGamesN) has posted a thread in which they list a number of things likely and unlikely to happen at this year's show. Something they believe is coming is a release date announcement for Cyberpunk 2077. While it definitely doesn't seem outside of the realms of possibility that the release date will be announced at this year's show as we know that the game will be there and we've now seen a significant amount of gameplay, nothing is certain and this remains nothing more than conjecture. Fortunately, E3 2019 is closer than ever and we don't have long to wait.  Vampire Bloodlines and Deus Ex were inspirations for the game Given it’s based on a tabletop roleplaying game and Cyberpunk is already a massive sub-genre in science fiction, we knew Cyberpunk 2077 hadn’t been totally pulled from the ether without any kind of influence. But we’re always interested to find out about some of the more subtle influences on the game and the way it plays, some of which Quest Director Mateusz Tomaskiewicz has revealed in a recent interview with gaming publication AreaJugones. Tomaskiewicz said that games such as Deus Ex, Vampire Bloodlines and Elder Scrolls had influenced him in his work on Cyberpunk 2077's quests. He cites the original Deus Ex as a particular influence and praises the ways in which it gives players the freedom to complete missions in multiple ways. This suggests we can expect a great deal of freedom and complexity and non-linearity in Cyberpunk 2077’s missions as well as in the protagonist you'll be using to cause havoc in the game world which is something quite different from the tight gameplay-loop found in The Witcher.  CD Projekt Red is working on two AAA titles – both to be released by 2021 CD Projekt Red has confirmed it still plans to release two AAA titles by 2021. While we know one of these titles will definitely be Cyberpunk 2077, we're still in the dark about what the second title could be. This release window was reaffirmed on the official CD Projekt Red forums, with moderator Donata Popławska confirming the studio is sticking to its original roadmap. "As far as the strategy of the CD Projekt Capital Group for 2016-2021 is concerned, its plans to release the second AAA game by 2021 remain unchanged," the moderator wrote (translated via Resetera user Antiax).  However, Popławska did not expand on what the second AAA title to be released in this time frame could be. "We are currently focusing on the production and promotion of Cyberpunk, so we do not want to comment on further projects," they continued. Cyberpunk 2077 will be at E3 2019 According to a tweet from the official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account, CD Projekt Red will be at E3 2019. So hopefully that means we will be seeing more gameplay footage from Cyberpunk 2077. Lady Gaga could be making an appearance? According to french site ActuGaming, Lady Gaga and CD Projekt Red are collaborating for Cyberpunk 2077 and the artist has already visited the Polish studio to take part in motion-capture – suggesting she will have a character role in the game itself. In addition ActuGaming claims the collaboration will be officially announced at E3 2019, with Gaga rumored to be making an appearance at the gaming convention. Last year Gaga tweeted a strange mix of letters and numbers, which the official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account replied to with "Of course! Of course we will!", suggesting the A Star is Born actress would be involved with the game in some way or another. E3 2018 confirmed features We got to spend some time watching a demo of Cyberpunk 2077 during E3 and we learned some interesting things about the game.  It's a first person RPG set in a huge open world known as Night City – a metropolis split into six districts, each offering a different environment to explore. During the demo we only saw a small part of one of them.  Players can create their own character called V and embark on their journey to crawl up from the criminal underbelly. This is a dark game and though The Witcher series is mature, this takes it to a new level.  As you'd expect, the game lets you augment your body using various bits of tech – illegal or otherwise – and you can use drugs to enhance your combat, or a kind of digital brain-hack called 'Braindance'. We know weapons are wide ranging and seriously creative, with smart guns and bullets as well as terrifying Mantis Blades for melee. There are no loading screens in Cyberpunk 2077 and the story and side quests are branching and numerous, and your choices genuinely impact the outcome. You can read more about how impressed were were by what we saw. E3 2018 secret message CD Projekt RED used the Xbox Showcase to show its latest trailer for Cyberpunk 2077. But it's more than just a trailer. Spotted by Polygon, there's a moment in the trailer with hidden text with more information on the game which is revealed when you enhance the image. In the message CD Projekt first apologises for "staying silent longer than we planned" but following the release of The Witcher 3 Blood and Wine the developer wanted to wait until it had "something meaningful and substantial" to show. It goes on to say that the vision for Cyberpunk is "an alternative version of the future where America is in pieces, megacorporations control all aspects of civilized life, and gangs rule the rest." This game will, CD Projekt says, be a "true single player, story-driven RPG" where you'll be able to create your own character. At the moment the developer isn't ready to confirm any kind of release date and asks for more patience. It also says it has "no bloody clue" about how big the game is but does say it's "seriously big." It could be on the next generation of consoles CD Projekt Red has hinted that Cyberpunk 2077 could be developed for both current and next gen titles. GamingBolt has reported that during a presentation at the Pareto Securities Gaming Seminar 2018 event, the studio's CFO Piotr Nielubowicz and CEO Adam Kiciński mentioned Cyberpunk 2077 hinted that it may be being developed for future hardware. The slide in question stated the team was developing the title for “current and next-generation technology”. Given the game's current timeline, it's possible it could be a dual launch title on current and next-gen systems: PS4 and PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Two alike. It will be on Steam Good news Steam fans: Cyberpunk 2077 will definitely be coming to the platform. At the Pareto Securities Gaming Seminar (via PCGamesN) the studio’s CEO Adam Kiciński gave a presentation in which he confirmed that the game would not be exclusive to GOG. There's been a lot of furore over the Metro Exodus being 'removed' from Steam and onto the Epic Games Store, but it looks like CD Projekt Red is steering clear of that minefield. It’s going to be bigger than The Witcher 3 It would have been a pretty safe guess to say that Cyberpunk 2077 is going to be a big game, but in an interview with MCV in 2015 visual effects artist Jose Teixeira said it’s going to be “far, far bigger” than anything the studio has ever done.  In fact, he said that The Witcher 3 was being treated as a learning experience and that they could do better. To do better, the studio has doubled in size with studio head Adam Badowski saying that after The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077 needs to be “even better, even bigger, even more revolutionary” than what had originally been planned.  You’ll be travelling on more advanced tech than boats and horses So, we know the game map is going to be intimidatingly big. How will we get around it, then? Well fortunately, moving out of the high fantasy realm gives CD Projekt Red a little more freedom when it comes to creating vehicles. Don’t expect horses and basic boats here – a job listing for a Senior Vehicle Artist for the studio said they’d be expected to work on “incredibly complex vehicles, planes, bikes, robots and mechanics.“ There may be multiplayer It was confirmed years ago that the game would have multiplayer elements but what exactly they’ll be is unclear. It was said, though, that the game would mainly focus on single player.  The company president said in March 2018 that these elements are not on the table right now, so it's possible that they'll be introduced after the game's release in a sort of online world like GTA Online.  There will be online As well as multiplayer, CD Projekt's CEO has confirmed that there will also be online elements to the game. In an interview with Polish tech site Strefa Inwestorow Kiciński stated that “Online is necessary, or very recommended if you wish to achieve a long-term success. At some point, we have mentioned that there will be a certain online element related to Cyberpunk.” Whether or not the online elements will feed into the multiplayer is unclear. But there won't be microtransactions The studio also tweeted to quell fears over microtransactions in online components, stating that Cyberpunk 2077 will be "nothing less than" the Witcher 3, adding that players will "get what [they] pay for" with "no hidden catch." It appears that while many studios are feeling the need to move to a service model to ensure their titles make money, CD Projekt is staying committed to the story-driven single player experience with Cyberpunk 2077, one which served them very well with The Witcher.  Things we'd like to see Combat inspired by the original tabletop RPG We know that the designer of the tabletop RPG Cybperunk on which Cyberpunk 2077 is based is heavily involved in the creation of the game. We hope his involvement extends to the game's combat because the combat system he created in his own game was fairly revolutionary for the tabletop genre. Rather than involving drawn out and long turns, it was fast, brutal, gritty and overall perfectly suited to the spirit of Cyberpunk. A big part of Cyberpunk combat involves upgrading your body with new abilities and robotics which would be perfectly in line with a video game character development system like those created by CD Projekt Red.  In Pondsmith's game bodily enhancement has to be carefully considered – it's a balancing act where every benefit has a drawback. When a player makes robotic additions to themselves they reduce their humanity and empathy leading to an uncontrollable state of cyberpsychosis. This has the potential to be a really interesting system if it's adapted for the game and could be used in a similar manner to excessive consumption of combat-enhancing potions in The Witcher.  Keep checking back here for all the latest Cyberpunk 2077 news  (Image credits: CD Projekt Red) Read more: Waiting for Cyberpunk 2077? Here are nine games to play until then This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Google's Huawei ban: what does it mean for you? [Updated] Posted: 22 May 2019 11:31 AM PDT Update: we have altered this article to include information on the moves from Microsoft to remove Huawei laptops, as well as reports of the potentially crippling move from ARM to stop working with the brand. The news that Google has blocked Huawei’s future access to Android updates – for both apps and timely security updates – not only casts doubt over the entire future of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer’s business, it also could have wide-ranging implications for the future of the global smartphone market. After US President Donald Trump placed Huawei on the ‘entity list’, limiting the business US brands could do with Huawei, Google has been forced to restrict the company's access to the Google Play Store, which means that in the future users won’t be able to gain access to popular titles, nor to speedy security updates to the Android OS. On 20 May, the US Commerce Department has issued a temporary license for Huawei to work with businesses in the US, meaning Google can resume its partnership with the brand.  However, this only lasts until August 19 and it's unclear how Huawei will be able to gain the full license to work with US brands while the government considers it a threat to national security. So it seems, for now, that this is nothing more than a delay to a hugely difficult time for Huawei and in a few months the brand will no longer be able to offer access to crucial Google apps. Of more worry for the brand is the news that UK-based chip designer ARM has ceased all activities with Huawei, thanks to being placed on the Entity List. This means the Chinese brand will find it incredibly difficult to manufacture key parts of the phone at all - casting its future as a smartphone brand into doubt if it can't get the ban permanently lifted. Is this ARM news truly damaging? The latest issue facing Huawei is that chip designer ARM isn't going to work with the brand for the short term. That may seem odd, as it's a Japanese-owned brand headquarted in the UK, but as its designs use US-based technology, there's a fear this could fall foul of the trade restrictions. It should be noted that this hasn't been confirmed as yet, but the BBC is claiming to have seen internal memos that order employees to cease activity with Huawei. If Huawei can't use ARM reference designs in its chipsets, it would be incredibly difficult and costly for the brand to replace them - and it may prove to be impossible, which would cast further doubt over the future of Huawei's phone arm. A Huawei spokesperson told the BBC: "We value our close relationships with our partners, but recognise the pressure some of them are under, as a result of politically motivated decisions.  "We are confident this regrettable situation can be resolved and our priority remains to continue to deliver world-class technology and products to our customers around the world.”  The upcoming Kirin 985 chipset is not believed to be affected, which would mean Huawei might be able to release another cycle of smartphone before the ban truly causes issues, but partners and networks are already starting to react to the US' trade license suspension. What does that mean if I have a Huawei phone? Perhaps the most useful piece of information about current Huawei phones is Google's statement issued to TechRadar: “We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications. For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices,” a spokesperson told us. However, there is one nugget of good news if you’ve just spent large amounts of money on a Huawei P30 Pro: as alluded to above, current devices from the Chinese brand will continue to get security updates and access to the Google Play Store for the foreseeable future, as Google has promised not to leave those out in the cold. The temporary lifting of the ban will also allow the brands to prepare better Android support for current and future models, meaning that Huawei will be able to do bueinsess as it has been for a little longer - so current customers will be able to benefit for longer. Huawei has also told us that it will continue to do all it can to support all its phones currently out in the wild, and is looking at other implications of Google's decision. The company told us: “Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. As one of Android’s key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefited both users and the industry. The Honor sub-brand of Huawei is also subject to the same constraints. Image credit: TechRadar  "Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after-sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products, covering those that have been sold and that are still in stock globally.” Huawei Australia has echoed the sentiment, and also claiming that  “those that are planning to buy a Huawei device in the near future” will not have to worry about the sanctions, according to Huawei Australia’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Jeremy Mitchell. We've asked for comment regarding the recent lifting of the ban, but Huawei declined to comment. Whether this will allow the flexible Mate X to launch with 'full fat' Android remains to be seen, but that's likely to be a huge target for the brand as it's spent enormous sums marketing that model since the unveiling in February and is keen to lock in its reputation as a technological leader. It looks like the Mate X will, at least, be delayed though - the CEO of UK network EE said, during the launch of its 5G networks, that the brand had temporarily paused stocking the phone while it worked to understand the implications of the trade ban. So while the fact current models will be offered updates, it's unclear how long these will last for, and the fact networks are already getting jittery about the sanctions isn't going to make anything easier for Huawei. While most smartphone brands will only honor security updates for two to three years after launch of a new handset, one might expect this to be much shorter in the case of Huawei phones, given these new restrictions from Google. What about future Huawei phones? Image credit: TechRadar The move from Google means it will no longer work with Huawei directly on issuing updates to its system, and won't give the company access to the Google Play Store. This is a potentially critical blow to the brand, which only recently spoke out about its plans to be the world's largest smartphone manufacturer. This means that if Huawei wants to keep using the Android operating system, it will need to use the Android Open Source Platform (AOSP), which is a free platform that any brand can use as an underlying foundation for its products. However, it along with the Google Play Store it won’t have access to the core Google apps like YouTube, Google Maps and Chrome – these are core elements of Google's business that it's not duty bound to make available to anyone. Without access to the Play Store, Huawei would be forced to work directly with developers to get them to create versions of their wares for its phones. This situation would be similar to that of Amazon’s Fire OS, which is based on AOSP but has its own app store, as the retail giant seeks to control the platform its Fire tablets and Echo devices run on. If Huawei does have to use AOSP, the consequences could be devastating, as access to a fully-stocked app store is crucial to the success of any modern smartphone – Nokia and Microsoft failed to make Windows Phones a viable alternative to Android and Apple’s iOS, even though both brands poured millions into developer tools and enticing the top app creators onto their platform. However, Huawei has claimed that it's been developing its own alternative to Android for nearly seven years, calling it a ‘Plan B’ that’s ready to go should it lose access to the services listed above. In the latest statement to TechRadar, Huawei said: “We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally,” which sounds like it already wants to generate some positive hype around its alternative OS. How this would work is currently unclear, as Huawei also said it would rather continue working with brands like Google and Microsoft (whose Windows operating system runs on Huawei laptops) to offer the best experience. However, Huawei’s CEO of Consumer Business Yu Chengdong said its alternative operating system will be launched either at the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020, and would work across “mobile phones, computers, tablets, TVs, cars and smart wearable devices.”   What's more surprising is that the CEO confirmed that it would work with current Android apps, although it would still have to convince app developers to bring their wares over to its platform, and keep them udpated - otherwise Huawei won't be able to retain or attract consumers to its smartphone devices. The Google Play Store is a key part of attracting users. Image credit: TechRadar. ”Huawei has been working hard on developing its own AppGallery and other software assets in a similar manner to its work on chipset solutions.” Ben Woods, Chief of Research at CCS Insight, told TechRadar. ”There is little doubt these efforts are part of its desire to control its own destiny.” It seems unlikely, however, that the Chinese brand would have developed viable alternatives to all the top Android apps for its next round of smartphones. If Huawei loses access to the Google Play Store, it would take an enormous amount of investment to attract developers to create app options that would keep users of its smartphones happy – and you have to wonder whether the brand would feel it was worth continuing to make phones at all when faced with that kind of hurdle. The same would also apply to Honor, the sub-brand of Huawei phones, in the future. Honor might have tried to distance itself from its parent company, but it’s been confirmed that it will be subject to the same sanctions. However, the launch of that brand’s Honor 20 smartphone went ahead as planned and made no mention of the issues facing its parent company – so it’s clear that devices currently created and in the supply chain are still going to be supported in the Android ecosystem. What about other brands? What does this mean for the wider smartphone world? Image credit: TechRadar While these sanctions don’t currently affect other brands, the message being sent is clear: global politics can have dramatic implications for the manufacturing and marketing of consumer devices that have become indispensable for billions of people. While there’s currently no issue with brands headquartered in other parts of the world, a similar sanction could see other smartphone manufacturers forced into a costly rethink. A few years ago Samsung seriously threatened a breakaway move from Google’s Android operating system, as it felt the search giant had too much control over the operating system on its Galaxy smartphones. It worked to develop the Tizen OS, which is still used on devices like Samsung's Galaxy smartwatches, triggering negotiations with Google about allowing more freedom for manufacturers. (It’s worth noting that while Samsung did release smartphones based on Tizen, they were budget models, and didn’t come anywhere close to the success of its Galaxy phone range). The big beneficiary here could be Apple – President Trump has long advocated for the brand to move its operations from China to the US, and exempted Apple from the trade tariffs imposed on China so that the brand wouldn’t have to raise its prices. Huawei has been a thorn in Apple’s side of late, with the rise of the Chinese brand seeing it usurp its Cupertino-based rival in the worldwide rankings and become a serious competitor in the premium smartphone space – and Trump clearly wants to see the US tech giant do more of its business back home. However, moving its operations from China would be incredibly costly for Apple, and it would still need to source many components from Asia to build future iPhones, so it’s unclear what the effect would be, both on the company and the US economy. The loss of Huawei as a major player in the global smartphone market could also have a wider impact on the smartphones other vendors are pushing out. The Chinese brand’s aggressive development of new technological capabilities has forced rivals to significantly improve their devices and push out new advancements of their own, and any diminution of its influence would likely slow the rate of development. Huawei’s smartphone camera prowess has arguably kickstarted a race to offer cameras that deliver ever-better sharpness, color and overall image quality in the last two years – the quality of the pictures it's possible to take on a premium phone has improved dramatically as the brand's P series has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. The company is also in a race with Samsung to bring out the first widely available foldable phone – and the Huawei Mate X’s mere existence surely forced the South Korean brand to speed up its development of a bending handset, meaning consumers will get access to the technology earlier (although Samsung probably would have rather waited to deliver the Galaxy Fold…). So is it all over for Huawei? There is a glimmer of hope for Huawei’s continued use of Android and the capabilities that offers.  The recent ban lifting means there's a real chance that negotiations can be entered into with the US government, allowing the brand to prove itself 'safe' and move out from the middle of the trade war between China and the US. This is far from certain, but things certainly look a lot less bleak for the brand. Google has also confirmed that it's ‘reviewing’ the situation, and the implications of the US sanctions – it doesn’t want to limit the reach of its Android ecosystem, and US brands like Qualcomm are going to be severely impacted by the Huawei restrictions, so will likely lobby to have this decision re-examined. However, if Google is forced to cut Huawei off from future Android security updates and access to the Play Store, then it could not only make things difficult for Huawei, but may cause consumers to view any Chinese brand with suspicion – and given the proliferation and technological prowess of the latest phones coming out of that country, that would also have a huge impact on the industry. So while this move seems to only affect Huawei right now, it’s going to have a knock-on effect for the entire industry, and will most likely have implications for the next smartphone you buy – and it could also mean the rise of a new mobile operating system, and potentially a serious challenger to Android. What about laptops? Currently, Microsoft can't say This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Pokémon Sword and Shield: everything we know about the 2019 Pokémon RPG Posted: 22 May 2019 11:26 AM PDT Nintendo has finally (finally!) announced the next generation of Pokémon games coming to Nintendo Switch: Pokémon Sword and Shield. Using Nintendo's favored method of new game announcements – Direct presentations – The Pokémon Company has now released a brief trailer giving a quick look at the new Pokémon games.  With a release date set for late 2019, there are only months to go before Pokémon fans get another fix on their Switch consoles. 2018's Pokémon Let's Go: Pikachu and Eevee games acted as a sort of reboot of the original Red and Blue titles for the Nintendo Gameboy, and for many didn't count as a 'core' Pokémon experience. Pokémon Sword and Shield are the first mainline Pokémon games to come to Nintendo Switch, and expectations will be high. So what do we know, and what are we hoping to see when Pokémon Sword and Shield launch this year? Read on to find out. [Update: A recent competition from clothing brand Uniqlo shows that Pokémon Sword and Shield will include the fan-favorite feature: trainer outfit customization. Read on to find out more.] Best Nintendo Switch games: all the must-have titles for your console Cut to the chase What is it? The eighth-generation of Pokémon games When can I play it? It'll be late 2019 What can I play it on? Nintendo Switch Image credit: Nintendo Pokémon Sword and Shield: release date Not long to wait now... The Pokémon Direct confirmed the late 2019 release date we heard from the official Pokémon Twitter account last year. Given the usual releases of mainline Pokémon games, we expect to see Sword and Shield land in mid-November, just in time for the holiday season. Pokémon Sword and Shield: trailers The presentation doesn't give too much away, but you can see the first glimpse of the environments and art style in the trailer below – without any in-game footage.  You also get a first look at three new starter Pokémon: the fire-rabbit Scorbunny, twig-monkey Grookey, and a sad-looking tadpole (sadpole?) called Sobble. Pokémon Switch news and rumors Trainer outfit customization will be a feature While it's not a brand new feature, trainer outfit customization has been popular with Pokémon players since it was introduced in X and Y. And it's a feature which a recent Uniqlo competition has confirmed will be in Pokémon Sword and Shield.  In a collaboration with The Pokémon Company, the clothing brand asked fans to design a top which would then be sold in stores. Now that the winning entry has been chosen (a design featuring Magikarp and Gyrados) it's been revealed that the top will also be wearable in Pokémon Sword and Shield as a trainer outfit. Just how many more outfit options there'll be in the games isn't known yet, but we're hoping to catch a glimpse of some more if Nintendo shows us some new Sword and Shield footage during its E3 conference this year.  Nintendo E3 2019 Direct announced E3 2019 is fast approaching and Nintendo has now confirmed the time and date it will be streaming its Nintendo Direct. The video will go live on Tuesday June 11 at 5pm BST/ 9am PT/ 12pm ET. Nintendo has also confirmed that it will be bringing back its Treehouse livestreams which will go live each day of the show, showing off gameplay from upcoming releases.  Nintendo hasn't released any kind of schedule for either its Direct stream or its Treehouse streams so there's no guarantee of what will appear, but naturally we're hoping that Pokémon Sword and Shield will emerge from the tall grass at some point. The Treehouse livestreams especially would be a fantastic place for Game Freak to show off a little more of the new Pokémon region and how we'll be playing in it live on Switch.  Made for handheld While the Pokémon Let's Go games were developed with TV mode in mind, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has stated that Pokémon Sword and Shield will "emphasize the fun of playing Nintendo Switch in handheld mode." Furukawa made the comments during Nintendo's March 2019 Financial Results Briefing (via Nintendo Life). Gym Masters As spotted by We Got This Covered, a (now removed) tweet by Nintendo of America suggests Pokemon Sword and Shield will see Gym Leaders replaced by Gym Masters. The tweet was accompanied with images showing in-game soccer stadiums, suggesting these will serve as gyms. Image credit: Nintendo A whole new world We know the game is set in a brand new region of Galar, rather than a rehash of Kanto or a previously visited territory. Galar seems to be loosely inspired by England's cities and countryside, with rolling hills and brickwork cities to explore. The trailer also showed glimpses of jewel-encrusted mines and what might even be a football stadium (see the kit below), though we're waiting to see whether competing in a Pokémon-themed Football World Cup will be possible for players. Brand new Pokémon Yup, this is a new generation of Pokémon, meaning you'll be seeing a lot of new faces – as well as a lot of old ones. The trailer gave us a mix of familiar Pokémon like Pikachu and Hoothoot along the new starters, and we're hoping Game Freak manage to keep the new designs interesting (no ice cream or candelabra Pokémon, please.) Modern to the core Sword and Shield look to retain the look and 3D animation style of the Pokeémon Let's Go games that launched on Nintendo Switch last year. Pokémon games haven't been flat 2D games in years, and has increasingly been moving towards full-size avatars and 3D environments. Some may miss the old-school pixel charm of the earlier games – and find the 3D creature models a bit bland – but for better or worse this is what we're getting. Image credit: Nintendo A fully-fledged Pokémon game After the release of the simplified Pokémon Let's Go titles, there had been concern amongst fans that the 2019 RPG wouldn't offer the full gameplay experience they came to expect from mainline Pokémon games. Head of the Pokémon Company Tzunekazu Ishihara assuaged these concerns in an interview with Famitsu magazine (via Siliconera). According to Ishihara, the 2018 Pokémon release will be a "completely different game" to Pokémon Let's Go. "It's is not an entry game," he says, "but a game that we want long term fans of the Pokémon series to look forward to." Unlike the Let's Go games, it looks like Sword and Shield will be maintaining the random encounters so core to the usual series' gameplay, for example. We don't have much to go on aside from the recent trailer, though with a 2019 release we're sure to see more of the titles at E3 2019 in June. Image credit: Nintendo Swords and shields The Sword and Shield titles seem out of character for a series used to using colors and letters to list its titles. The England-setting is curious given the titles, though. Our instinct says we could see a spin on Arthurian legend, maybe with players facing off against the Knights of the Round Table? It certainly wouldn't be the most far-fetched thing we've seen in a Pokemon game. We also wouldn't be surprised if the game's legendaries were based off the two wolves forming part of the Sword and Shield logos... Pokémon Stars what? What still confuses us is that we've been waiting for the long-rumored Pokémon Stars game for over two years now, after a 2016 report published by Eurogamer. published a report in late 2016 that said multiple sources had confirmed a new version of Pokémon Sun and Moon was being developed for the Switch under the code named Pokémon Stars.  While it never materialized, 'Stars' could well have been a code-name for what eventually became the Let's Go games, or could still prove a Switch port for the Sun and Moon games. Pokemon Sun and Moon on 3DS (Image credit: Nintendo) Pokémon Sword and Shield: what we want to see That's everything we know. Now let's get into the things we'd love to see from the rumored game. Better graphics and animations Game Freak pushed the Nintendo 3DS to its absolute limits with Pokémon Sun and Moon (to the point where 3D support had to be removed). That means Game Freak is ready to move beyond the limitations of the 3DS and we’d fully expect to see graphical advancements in the Nintendo Switch version.  Image credit: Nintendo The graphics and animations in Sun and Moon were already excellent, definitely the best we’ve seen so far from a Pokémon game, but moving to Nintendo Switch could very well allow for sharper character and environment models and much more expressive character faces. Integration with Let's Go, obviously As the only other Pokémon games to have come to the Switch, the ability to trade and battle with Pokémon Let's Go games is an obvious feature to include in the new games. Being able to bring new eighth-generation Pokemon to the Let's Go Kanto region, too, would be a neat perk if Game Freak allowed it. Image credit: Nintendo More motion controls The Let's Go games put the Joy-Con controller's motion controls to use for throwing Poke-balls, though we could imagine some other fun uses for Pokémon mini-games. Boxing with a Hitmonchan? Steering a surfing Lapras? Fishing on the Galar shoreline? Just give us things to do. Amiibo Support We want Pokémon Amiibo support. There, we said it. Though Pokken tournament and Detective Pikachu have Amiibo figurines, we want to see even more introduced for the brand new mainline Pokémon game. Whether they unlock new accessories for mini games, new items of clothing, or new moves, we just know these will be highly collectible and probably adorable.  We wonder where Pokémon Switch will land on our picks of the best Pokémon games This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Apple WWDC 2019: date and keynote predictions Posted: 22 May 2019 11:03 AM PDT We just a couple weeks away from Apple's WWDC 2019 keynote and we anticipate a lot of new stuff from CEO Tim Cook and the rest of the company. The Worldwide Developer's Conference is where new mobile, Mac and Apple TV software will almost certainly debut – and perhaps we'll get a peek at new hardware to boot. The first WWDC 2019 date is Monday, June 3, Apple confirmed back in March. Once again, the show will happen at the McEnery Convention Center, where Apple has put on WWDC the previous two years.  The keynote has typically been Apple's showcase to hype new and improved versions of its software suite on a big stage. Developers get inspired by additional features several months ahead of their typical launch date, while the rest of us get teased by all the cool stuff coming down the line. We could potentially see new hardware, too – though that hasn't always been the case. Apple introduced its HomePod smart speaker along with new versions of the iPad Pro WWDC 2017. But the company only unveiled software at last year's event, waiting to unveil the new iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 12.9 at its hardware-focused show later in October. We're also expecting to see how the new softwarae will integrate all the streaming services Apple previously introduced this year. Apple TV Plus is the company's platform to house the handful of prestige shows it's been purchasing and producing over the last couple years, while Apple Arcade is the gaming service to play across every Apple device (except the Apple Watch). In any case, here's what we heavily suspect (if not outright know) Apple will talk about at WWDC 2019. iOS 13 The iOS 13 update is the next big release for Apple's mobile operating system, and it's poised to build on the increased speed in older iPhones and Group FaceTime expansion that arrived in iOS 12.  The next Apple mobile OS update is expected to bring long-awaited features like Dark Mode and perhaps iPad layout changes on the table. iOS 9 and iOS 11 brought big changes to iPad software, so we expect the same from iOS 13.  A Bloomberg report has outlined other features allegedly coming in iOS 13, like one that lets users swipe their fingers around a keyboard to spell words (presumably like SwiftKey), along with expansions of Screen Time and the Health app. Another new feature supposedly enables folks to use their iPad as a secondary screen, while a HomePod upgrade lets the speaker respond to different users' voices. At this point, we don't know which older devices will be compatible with iOS 13. Apple typically requires devices to run a particular chip or newer to run their OS, with iOS 11 and iOS 12 supporting iPhones and iPads with an A7 processor (iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad Mini 2) and better. But a report claims that Apple will move up the threshold, and the iPhone 5S, iPhone SE, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6S all won't be able to upgrade to iOS 13, per SlashGear. Based on previous iOS rollouts, the first iOS 13 beta for developers will likely arrive during or a few days after WWDC 2019. Everyone else will be able to try out the new OS when its public beta launches, which is expected at the end of June. We're anticipating an official release alongside the iPhone 11, which should be coming in October, if Apple follows its usual schedule. macOS 10.15 We loved macOS 10.14 (aka Mojave) for finally introducing system-wide Dark Mode and additional creative tools, but we haven't heard much at all about macOS 10.15 – which doesn't even have a cool nature-themed codename yet (in keeping with recent releases, it will likely reference a California biome). We don't know much about what's officially coming, but macOS 10.15 could include iOS features like Siri Shortcuts (and potentially the Shortcuts app), Screen Time, improved Apple ID management and special iMessage effects. We've also seen rumors that iTunes will be split into four different apps: Music, Books, TV, and Podcasts.  There's also the possibility that macOS 10.15 enables Mac users to link up their iPads as secondary displays. On the other hand, it's also possible that we'll only see incremental improvements, as happened with the move from 10.13 Sierra to 10.14 High Sierra. If that's the case, perhaps we'll see that minimal upgrade in the name – Dry Mojave, maybe? Apple ruffled feathers when it raised minimum system requirements for macOS Mojave and locked out older machines, so we don't expect those thresholds to change this time around. To be specific: we expect anything newer than a 2015 MacBook, mid-2012 MacBook Pro, any late 2012 MacBook Air/Mac mini/iMac, late 2013 Mac Pro or 2017 iMac Pro to be able to run the next macOS. Assuming Apple runs its usual schedule, it will introduce macOS 10.15 and release it in late September. watchOS 6 We haven't heard anything about watchOS 6, but we're assuming that update will be announced at WWDC 2019 for owners of the newer Apple Watches. Perhaps it will be the long-awaited sleep tracker feature (Apple did buy sleep tracking company Beddit two years ago), though that's rumored to be coming to Apple's wearables in 2020. But sources told Bloomberg that Apple plans to sever its wearable's close dependency on iPhone by adding an App Store directly to Watch (and ergo, watchOS). This opens the door to third-party developers (finally!) but Apple reportedly also plans to toss in some basic apps that have been on iOS for years, liek Calculator, Voice Memos, and the ability to send Animoji and Memoji stickers. There will also be two new health apps: one called 'Dose' to monitor pill reminders and the other 'Cycles' to track menstrual cycles. watchOS 6 will almost certainly be compatible with the latest Apple Watch 4 and previous Apple Watch 3, while support for Apple Watch 2 is likely. We don't have high hopes for the original Apple Watch, however, as it stopped getting updates with watchOS 4. We expect Apple to follow precedent and launch a watchOS 6 beta shortly after WWDC 2019, then release a final public version in September. tvOS 13 If you thought we hadn't heard much about Apple's other probable software updates, we know even less about tvOS 13, which we expect to be announced at WWDC 2019.  But Apple TV devices will certainly support the company's new streaming services. Apple TV Plus will have exclusive shows from big names like Oprah, Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and M. Night Shyamalan, and is expected to launch in later 2019. That's around when Apple Arcade is set to launch, which will have a host of games you can play across iOS, macOS and tvOS devices. At last year's WWDC, Apple mentioned very little about the then-upcoming tvOS 12, which brought Dolby Atmos overhead surround sound, Dolby Vision HDR standard and zero sign-on that auto-filled passwords from your home Wi-Fi network (for US users, at least). We don't know about any features coming with the supposed tvOS 13, but if it follows precedent, it will arrive in mid-September. Mac Pro...and more Apple is reportedly considering introducing a new version of the Mac Pro, according to Bloomberg. While we didn't get any details of how the desktop machine might be revamped, but there's plenty to update, given the second and last generation Mac Pro came out in 2013. This fits last year's news that Apple was aiming for a 2019 release of a wholly revisioned Mac Pro, per a lengthy TechCrunch report. Gone is the 'trash can' design, as the company is allegedly considering a ground-up revision. Apple is also preparing its own brand of external monitor (going by the codename J290) that will pack HDR support, per Bloomberg. Other rumors suggest a 31.6-inch 6K screen with mini-LED backlighting, according to Pocket Lint. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

US could blacklist up to five Chinese surveillance firms Posted: 22 May 2019 10:36 AM PDT Following the recent executive order that banned US firms from doing business with Huawei, the US is now considering adding up to five Chinese firms specializing in video surveillance to a blacklist that would bar them from using US components or software. The US could add Hikvision, Dahua and several other video surveillance makers to the US Commerce Department's Entity List alongside Huawei which prohibits the sale of American technology without a special license. The Trump administration has raised concerns over how these companies have helped the Chinese government repress its Uighur minority. Additionally, both Hikvision's and Dahua's cameras ship with facial recognition capabilities that could be used for espionage. Trump order bans US firms from dealing with Huawei The US-China trade war: does this mean more expensive TVs and phones? Amazon offers suggestions on facial recognition guidance The ongoing trade war between the US and China could be escalated further by the move and the recent ban on Huawei has already led shares in US chipmakers Qualcomm and Intel to dip. Hikvision and Dahua After the New York Times first reported on the potential ban, Hikvision and Dahua plunged in Shenzhen with Hikvision's shares dropping by 9.6 percent. Chinese President Xi Jinping's push to keep tabs on the country's 1.4bn people has helped Hikvision become the industry leader in the video surveillance market while Dahua and other firms have also benefited significantly. Hikvision now sells its devices, which use AI to conduct facial recognition on a vast scale, on the global market and its shares on the Shenzhen market are the most owned by overseas investors. By adding these companies to the Entity List, the US risks provoking China further at a time when San Francisco has already banned facial recognition technology and other cities are considering similar measures. Looking for a video surveillance system for your home? Check out the best home video surveillance Via Bloomberg This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Memorial Day TV sale at Walmart: deals on Samsung, LG, and Vizio 4K TVs Posted: 22 May 2019 10:19 AM PDT Memorial Day is almost here, and that means discounts and deals from your favorite retailers. Walmart is participating in the big sale event with TV deals from top brands such as LG, Vizio, Samsung, and more. For a limited time, you can find Black-Friday like prices on a wide array of 4K TVs. If you're looking for other promotions, we've also rounded up the best Memorial Day sales going on right now. If you're looking for a mid-size TV with premium features, Walmart has the Vizio 43-inch 4K TV on sale for just $239.99. That's a $128 discount and the lowest price we've seen for the smart TV. The UHD TV is part of Vizio's D-Series lineup which means you'll get to watch movies and TV shows in stunning resolution with bold colors and sharp contrasts. The smart TV also has Google Chromecast built-in so you can download thousands of apps on your smartphone to stream on the TV. The Vizio TV is also compatible with Amazon Alexa so you can use your voice to search movies, turn down the volume, change the channel and more. This isn't just a killer deal, but also a fantastic price for a 43-inch 4K TV with smart capabilities. This sale will only last until Monday, so you should make sure to take advantage while supplies last. Shop more of Walmart's best Memorial Day TV deals below. Walmart Memorial Day TV deals: Shop more of best cheap TV deals and sale prices that are currently going on. Shop more deals with our roundup of the best Memorial Day sales of 2019. Learn more about Prime Day with our guide on Amazon Prime Day 2019: everything you need to know for the July deals event. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Apple WWDC 2019 invites go out ahead of iOS 13 and macOS 10.15 unveilings Posted: 22 May 2019 10:16 AM PDT Even though we already knew the Apple WWDC 2019 keynote date before today, we just got in the all-important press invite to June's developer conference. That means we'll be able to bring you the story of Apple's next software updates on June 3: iOS 13, macOS 10.15, watchOS 6 and tvOS 13, among other likely beta software launches. It starts at 10am PDT / 1am EDT / 6pm BST. The actual WWDC 2019 invite doesn't offer many keynote hints – all we've got is an illustration of a unicorn head exploding with bits of code and mobile-associated icons bursting from the cranium. Someone has software on the brain. We do see the TestFlight app and Swift programming language logos (this is, after all, a developer conference), as well as the Apple Store games icon (a familiar rocket ship). Apple may shed more light on its Arcade Arcade service at the keynote. Image credit: Apple Will there be hardware? Apple WWDC keynotes have a mixed record on launching new hardware. Last year, WWDC was dedicated to pure software, but the year before saw new MacBook Pros, new iPads, and the premier of the iMac Pro and HomePod. The good news is that while we did see a MacBook Pro 2019 specs upgrade in the last day, we are due a Mac Pro 2019, and we've seen rumors about a cheap or screen-led HomePod 2. So there's some hope that we'll see more than just software in a few weeks. Either way, we'll be reporting on Apple WWDC 2019 live from the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on Monday, June 3 with a liveblog. Ready for 5G phones? This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation benchmarks leak, showing blistering performance Posted: 22 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT We already know that AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors are coming in Q3 2019, and are rumored to be revealed at Computex 2019 – but benchmarks for two of the chips have leaked ahead of the show. These leaks, spotted by Wccftech, reveal a 12-core AMD Ryzen processor, running at a whopping 5.0GHz alongside a 16-core chip clocked at 4.2GHz. That sounds like a lot already, but the results of these leaked benchmarks are very promising.  These new processors will spice up the battle of AMD vs Intel Be sure to check out the best processors Learn everything there is to know about AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation That 16-core Ryzen 3000 chip gives the much more expensive Intel Core i9-7960X a run for its money, scoring 4,278 points to the 3,163 that Intel's chip gets. In fact, the only way the 7960X comes close is when it's overclocked to 4.8GHz.  This is a leak, of course, so you should take it with a grain of salt. But, if it's accurate it means that AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors will not only feature higher clock speeds, but also up to a 10% improvement to IPC (instructions per clock). This is likely thanks to the improved efficiency afforded by the move to a 7nm manufacturing process. Less cores, more speed The 16-core Ryzen 3000 processor is powerful enough, but it looks like the 12-core chip might be of interest for anyone that needs fast single-core performance.  We haven't seen the base speed of this 12-core AMD Ryzen processor, but it looks like it can turbo up to a whopping 5.0GHz, without having to mess with any overclocking.  If this rumored Ryzen chip matches the same IPC improvements as the 16-core chip, it could end up being one of the best processors for gaming. Either way, we'll find out what's really going on with AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation next week at Computex 2019, so stay tuned for our coverage.   Images credit: TechRadar We're sure these new processors will appear in the best gaming PCs This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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