Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Apple : How the OnePlus 7 Pro launch in New York ushered in a new smartphone era

Apple : How the OnePlus 7 Pro launch in New York ushered in a new smartphone era

How the OnePlus 7 Pro launch in New York ushered in a new smartphone era

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:17 PM PDT

The OnePlus 7 Pro takes the “never settle” formula of past OnePlus devices and goes even further. It brings a powerful three-camera system, a super-smoother 90Hz display at a sharp QHD+ resolution, and delivers top-level speeds all while keeping the price down to just $669. Here’s all that the OnePlus 7 Pro has to offer.

A top-notch display without the notch 

The OnePlus 7 Pro’s display is truly special. It’s not just sharp, but also smooth. With a QHD+ resolution AMOLED panel, its visuals are crisp and offer high contrast. But, thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate, scrolling and animations are also incredibly smooth for a new level of responsiveness. All that, and there’s not notch at the top of the screen to cut into the viewing experience — it’s all screen.

Triple cameras for extra flexibility

The OnePlus 7 Pro has a camera for every occasion. The new three-sensor system offers focal lengths ranging from 16mm to 78mm, giving you the flexibility you need to get that exact picture. It can take ultra-wide photos, high-res standard photos, or even zoom in 3x for powerful close-ups without any of the typical quality reduction you’d get from digital zoom. And, the cameras can work together for advanced background blurring effects in still images.

A pop-up selfie camera just when you need it

The OnePlus 7 Pro pulled off the all-screen display by hiding the front-facing camera inside the phone body. When you want to take a selfie, the 16MP front-facing camera slides up from the top of the phone in half a second. Some might worry about its durability, but OnePlus has tested its survival. It can 49 pounds pulling down on it and it can pop out 150 times a day for five years — OnePlus says it’s good for 300,000 times — without breaking. It even knows when the phone is falling and automatically retracts.

OnePlus 7 Pro is built for speed

When we mentioned that the OnePlus 7 Pro was speedy, we didn’t just mean its display. It comes with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset for some of the fastest performance from an Android smartphone. The octa-core processor that offers up to 45% faster performance and 20% less power drain than the earlier generation chipset.

Ensuring your phone can keep running all its apps smoothly, the OnePlus 7 Pro also comes with up to 12GB of RAM to allow up to 64 apps to run simultaneously. Say goodbye to apps needing to reload when you switch back and forth between them.

Your apps, videos, and files will load quickly, too, thanks to the new UFS 3.0 storage standard. Reading and writing to the drive is sped up by up to 79%. So, get ready for every single thing to feel that much snappier.

A battery that’s slow to drain and quick to charge

All of this is powered by the largest battery ever in a OnePlus smartphone. The 4,000mAh cell will last all day. And when you’re going extra hard and need a top up, Warp Charge 3.0 is ready and waiting.

Warp Charge is now faster than ever before, and charging speeds are up 38% over previous OnePlus devices. Now, you only need to charge for 20 minutes to get a 50% charge!

The OnePlus 7 Pro has a lot of screen and a lot of power, so it’s naturally got a lot of battery. It packs a 4,000mAh battery to last through the whole day with ease. And, when the battery does get low, all it takes is a few minutes to pump plenty of life back into it.

The phone uses the new Warp Charge 30 technology. In just 20 minutes, Warp Charge 30 can recharge the OnePlus 7 Pro up to 50%. So, if you ever forget to charge overnight, you can plug it during breakfast or a morning shower and know you’re good for the day.

All that and still a low price

While all the specs of the OnePlus 7 Pro may sound like what you’d find in a $1,000 phone, OnePlus isn’t charging nearly that much. OnePlus 7 Pro models start at just $669 and max out at only $749.

The OnePlus 7 Pro comes in Nebula Blue and Mirror Gray with an Almond color coming in June. Here’s the breakdown of the different models and prices:

You can get the OnePlus 7 Pro at OnePlus.com and in T-Mobile stores throughout the US. T-Mobile is the only carrier offering the OnePlus 7 Pro, and it has a 0% down, 0% interest deal on offer for customers.

Bose Noise Cancelling 700 pack in eight microphones and two voice assistants

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:02 PM PDT

For years the Bose QuietComfort 25 were the reigning champs of noise-canceling headphones for travelers. Now, Bose might have just figured out a way to hook the everyday office worker too thanks to the new Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

The headphones, which are coming out on June 30 and cost $399 (around £300, AU$575), will offer two built-in personal assistants – the default Amazon Alexa and also Google Assistant – plus Bose’s new voice system technology that uses an eight-microphone array to eliminate noise and focus on your voice.

In short, while Bose has always been known for its great noise-cancellation technology, the Bose Headphones 700 looks to up the headphone-maker's audio game even more for those of us who are constantly on phone calls.

"The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have been engineered from the ground up as an integrated system, with a new acoustic and electronics package, new digital signal processing, and a new eight microphone system for the most complete, effortless headphone experience ever," Bose said in an official press release. 

"Six microphones dramatically cancel noise, so it doesn’t reach your ears. Two of those microphones combine with two others to dramatically improve voice pickup. A beamform-array isolates your speech, suppressing everything else that’s audible. A rejection-array adds a second line of defense, tracking then blocking the most disruptive remaining sound — from a coffee grinder to other dialogue nearby. It all happens in real-time — adapting as you move, turn your head, and your environment changes."

That being said, sometimes you don't want complete isolation – like, say, when you're waiting for an announcement at the airport or you're out running and you want to be aware of your surroundings. That's why Bose will also introduce a new Conversation Mode that lets you hear others speaking to you, and a complete transparency mode that pipes all outside audio into the headphones.

Image Credit: Bose

In-ear noise-cancelling? Bose has that, too 

Alongside the new Noise Cancelling 700 Headphones, Bose also unveiled two new in-ear earphones that will scale down its noise-cancellation tech to a smaller size. To that end, we can also expect to see the new Bose Earbuds 500 and Noise Cancelling Earbuds 700 join the Bose headphones family in the near future.

According to Bose, the truly wireless Bose Earbuds 500 are super-compact, versatile, and will be available this year, while the truly wireless Bose Noise Cancelling Earbuds 700 will follow next year with more details to come as we get closer to launch.

While there aren't any more details to go off of right now, the timing is interesting – especially as rumors continue to swirl about Apple's noise-cancelling AirPods that we expected to see this year, only to receive the less-than-ideal Apple AirPods 2.

If Bose and Apple square off next year with new noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds, well, that could be a win-win for everyone. 

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E3 2019: everything we expect to see at the Electronic Entertainment Expo this year

Posted: 29 May 2019 01:38 PM PDT


No matter how it changes over the years, E3 is still the biggest event in gaming. Whether it’s held at a hotel, a convention center or somewhere out in Hollywood, it is the definitive industry event of the year, where gamers from around the world get together to see what comes next for consoles, handhelds, PCs, mobile phones and everything in between.

That said, while E3 2019 has the heritage of the world’s most illustrious gaming convention, this year’s show will be a bit different: EA announced recently that it wouldn’t hold a traditional press conference and would opt instead to host several smaller live stream events, while Sony says it won’t be attending the conference at all. 

  • Update: EA has announced its livestream lineup for EA Play on Saturday, June 8. The event starts at 9:15am PST with a pre-show event, before jumping into trailers for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Apex Legends, Battlefield V, FIFA 20, Madden 20 and The Sims 4. You can see the full lineup in our EA section down below!

If E3 is your go-to source for gaming news, that may raise a few questions: Will E3 still be the same? Is it dying? Does that mean we’ll all get a discount on a conference pass? The answers to all of the above, for now, are no.

While we won't be sure exactly what’s going to be different about this year’s event until we get there, we can hopefully provide some insight - and some predictions - as to the games we’ll get to see at this year’s show.

Officially, the 2019 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 2019) will begin on Tuesday, June 11 and end on Thursday, June 13. Those dates, however, are just for the portion of the show held inside the Los Angeles Convention Center.

In reality, the first big event of E3 2019 is the EA Play kick-off event that’s slated for Friday, June 7 at the Hollywood Palladium. While EA has told us not to expect a keynote speech, that Friday afternoon is the first time we’ll be able to play the publisher’s upcoming titles, as well as get some info about games coming out in the next year or two.

Between EA Play on Friday and the opening of the show floor on Tuesday morning you can also expect a press event for Microsoft sometime on Sunday afternoon with a chance of Bethesda, Square Enix, Ubisoft and Nintendo announcing a keynote later.

We expect to be in Los Angeles from Friday until Thursday, and gamers with an entry pass should try to do the same.

FIFA 19 (Image Credit: EA)

Keynote time: The EA Play livestream event kicks off at 9:15am PST, and ticketed fans are welcome to join EA Play at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday, June 8.

EA has an early lead going into 2019 with its plans already detailed on the publisher’s website. To that end, EA says it will be hosting its annual EA Play event on June 8 with free tickets to be distributed shortly.

What can we expect at EA's livestream event? Well, instead of a traditional keynote, EA is doing individual breakout sessions for each of its main franchises. Here's a complete breakdown of the event sent to TechRadar:

9:15am: Countdown to EA PLAY

9:30am: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Hosted by Greg Miller and Andrea Rene)

10:00am: Apex Legends (Hosted by Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez)

10:30am: Battlefield™ V (Hosted by Julia Hardy and Adam Freeman (EA))

11:00am: FIFA 20 (Hosted by Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez)

11:30am: Madden NFL  20 (Hosted by Adam Rank)

12:00pm: The Sims 4 (Hosted by Andrea Rene)

So what's going to be at the event downtown? According to a press release from EA on which games it’s bringing to E3 2019, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order from Respawn Entertainment will definitely be there. It's more than likely we'll hear about some addition to the Titanfall universe - either a second spin-off title or Titanfall 3 - as well as its plans to expand its successful battle royale shooter, Apex Legends.

Elsewhere inside EA’s event we’ll see announcements for the next version of the Madden, FIFA, NHL and NBA Live franchises and, very likely, another expansion for The Sims 4 that might continue StrangeVille’s story-first approach.

Less likely but still possible are new games from EA’s DICE studio, the developers behind the Battlefield and Star Wars Battlefront games who have yet to announce a project for 2019, as well as projects from PopCap (famous for Plants vs Zombies) and Ghost Games, the new stakeholders of the Need for Speed franchise.

Last but not least, BioWare debuted a teaser trailer for Dragon Age 4 at last year’s The Game Awards, and while it's a longshot it'd be nice to hear something - anything - about its development at EA’s event. 

Final Fantasy VII (Image Credit: Square Enix)

Keynote time: Monday, June 10, at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET 

After the long-awaited release of Kingdom Hearts 3 in early January, Square Enix has been fairly quiet. But that looks like that's going to change at E3.

Thanks to a tweet posted to the Marvel's Avengers twitter in late May, we know we're going to see Crystal Dynamic's game at the show, as well as Final Fantasy VII Remake which recently had a key spot during Sony's last State of Play event.

We also know that Square Enix is currently working on Dragon Quest Builders 2 on Nintendo Switch, as it was announced during a Nintendo Direct earlier this year, as well as Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition.

Outside of those games, it’s likely we’ll hear more about the next episode in Life is Strange 2, as well as DLC for Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix might also use the time during its press event to talk about Just Cause 4 and Oninaki. 

‘But is it too early to hear something about Final Fantasy 16?’ Yes. Yes, it is.  

Halo Infinite (Image Credit: 343 Industries)

Keynote time: Sunday, June 9 at 1 pm PST, 4 pm EST and 9 pm BST 

As of right now, Microsoft is the only one of the big three console makers that’s definitely going to E3 2019. That gives Microsoft a bit of an advantage if it decides to debut its next-gen Xbox codenamed Project Scarlett, and it might be the reason why Sony is avoiding the show altogether. 

While we’re still not sure exactly what Microsoft is going to show us in terms of hardware, we're likely to hear more about XCloud, Microsoft’s new game streaming service and new updates to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service which has grown immensely in the last 12 months. 

Less likely, Microsoft could have demos of the HoloLens 2 in a similar setup to a few years ago when it paired the hardware with a demo of Halo 5: Guardians, but that’s on the far fringes of what’s likely to happen.

In terms of games, we’re predicting that Microsoft’s first-party studios should be there in full force with new footage of Gears 5, Halo Infinite and, as always, a new Forza title.

Last year Microsoft announced the acquisition of several new studios including The Initiative, Undead Labs, Playground Games, Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games, so hopefully we’ll start to see some of the projects these companies have been working on.

Elder Scrolls VI (Image Credit: Bethesda)

Keynote time: Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 5:30pm PT

Regardless of Sony's plans, we now know that Bethesda will be holding a showcase event at E3 2019, close in time to last year's event. To that end, you can expect to hear more about the developer/publisher's titles starting on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 5:30pm PT.

So what can we expect to see? It’s almost a given that we’ll hear updates for legacy titles like The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76, two of the developer’s largest MMOs to date, as well as the previously  Doom Eternal from partner iD Software. 

In between bombshell announcements, we’re also likely to hear more about Bethesda’s free-to-play and mobile offerings like Elder Scrolls Blades, which is due out later this year, and The Elder Scrolls: Legends, a free-to-play card game that’s in the same vein as Hearthstone.

Unfortunately, those of us expecting to see new trailers for the next hotly anticipated entry in the Elder Scrolls franchise, Elder Scrolls VI, and Bethesda's ambitious sci-fi project, Starfield, are going to be disappointed. Bethesda Game Studios executive producer Todd Howard told a roomful of attendees at PAX East that it's still too early to talk about the games and asked everyone to "please be patient".

Interested in attending in-person? Bethesda is giving out tickets via an online contest that will give out two tickets to you and a friend!

Keynote time: N/A

Sorry guys, unfortunately Sony is skipping the E3 festivities this year and has said that it will instead find another venue to showcase the games and hardware coming down the pipeline.  That said, we won't rule out another State of Play event, like the one Sony held back in March.

If that doesn't happen, well, we’ll just have to wait to hear more about The Last of Us Part II, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima.

Beyond Good & Evil 2 (Image Credit: Ubisoft)

Keynote time: Monday, June 10, 2019 at 1pm PT (4pm ET, 9pm UK) 

Ubisoft will definitely be back at this year's E3. The developer-slash-publishing house has a lot on its plate for early 2019 including Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 as well as Trials Rising, both of which came out in the February-March window, but hasn't said what's coming later this year.

The game we know the most about from Ubisoft that would likely be at this year’s show is Skull and Bones, the ship-focused combat game that looks to carry the torch from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Ubisoft has yet to give us a solid release date for the game, but it’s likely that’s the sort of thing it’s saving for an E3 2019 keynote. 

It’s also likely we’ll hear more about Beyond Good and Evil 2 and potentially get our first look at the gameplay at Ubisoft’s keynote... but that could just be wishful thinking on our part.

Beyond those two games, we’ve heard rumors that Ubisoft will announce three to four new AAA titles in between March 2019 and March 2020, but we can only speculate what’s to come. The only franchise that’s definitely not going to be there is a mainline Assassin’s Creed game as Ubisoft has said that it will be skipping a release in 2019. 

PC Gaming Show (Image Credit: PC Gamer)

Keynote time:  Monday, June 10, 2019 at 10am PT (1pm ET, 5pm UK)  

If you’re a PC gamer, you won’t want to miss the PC Gaming Show, which will make its fifth consecutive return to the convention. 

We’re not sure what to expect from the two-hour event, but if it’s anything like previous years it will feature a number of indie games that wouldn’t usually get time up on the big stage alongside hardware announcements.

For folks at home, the event will be available to stream on twitch.tv/pcgamer, or on Facebook or YouTube or, if you're in town, it's open to the public with an RSVP at The Mayan Theater.  

At last year’s event we got the chance to see a number of new indie games like Neo Cab and Maneater, as well as some heavy-hitting titles like Stormlands from Insomniac and Warframe: The Sacrifice from Digital Extremes. We’re expecting some similar big announcements from this year’s show.  

The gaming world might be gearing up for a possible reveal of the next-gen PS5 and Xbox Two at E3 2019, but there's a lot in store for desktop gamers, too. 

Animal Crossing (Image Credit: Nintendo)

Keynote time: Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 9am PT (12pm ET)

While Sony won’t be at this year’s event, Nintendo most certainly will - first digitally in a Nintendo Direct that usually airs Tuesday morning and then physically when its massive booth takes over West Hall. 

In terms of what games Nintendo is going to bring with it this year, the company says we’ll hear more about Pokemon Sword and Shield, as that’s due out by the end of 2019, plus the Link’s Awakening Remake and Mario Maker 2.

We're hoping we'll also hear more about Animal Crossing on Nintendo Switch, which was announced in 2018 and given a 2019 launch window, but there's no guarantee from Nintendo that we'll catch Tom Nook at this year's show. 

Beyond those core games, we know Nintendo is developing Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Fire Emblem Three Houses, the latter of which should be available in August unless it’s delayed. Nintendo could also use the time to show off its next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC character pack. 

Either way, we'll find out more on June 11 at 9am PT.

Keynote time: Confirmed, but TBD

Last but certainly not least, we couldn’t leave out Devolver Digital, who has confirmed via Twitter that it would be posting another off-the-wall pre-recorded keynote which may or may not involve fictional CEO Nina Struthers. 

Expect it to be just as weird as year’s. 

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Getting warmer: Jaguar Land Rover's new steering wheel uses heat to guide you

Posted: 29 May 2019 01:14 PM PDT

Jaguar Land Rover has come up with a novel solution to the problem of distracted drivers: a 'sensory' steering wheel that changes temperature to tell you when it's time to turn.

Heated steering wheels have been around for years, making driving in winter a much more pleasant experience, and JLR's wheel uses the same technology, rapidly heating and cooling to provide an alternative to on-screen directions that allows you to keep your eyes on the road.

Whereas some of JLR's recent innovations have been a little wacky (self-driving pods with googly eyes come to mind), the sensory steering wheel (created in partnership with Glasgow University) is a practical solution to a serious problem.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, distracted driving is responsible for 10% of fatal car accidents in the US, and there's a danger that modern cars (which are sometimes fitted with huge infotainment screens in preparation for fully autonomous driving) could worsen the problem.

A new direction

Spoken directions aren't helpful in noisy situations, and JLR's research has found that making the wheel vibrate can be too attention-grabbing.

"Research has shown people readily understand the heating and cooling dynamics to denote directions and the subtlety of temperature change can be perfect for certain feedback that doesn’t require a more intrusive audio or vibration-based cue," said Alexandros Mouzakitis, Jaguar Land Rover electrical research senior manager.

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Microsoft details 'Modern OS,' its vision for a future operating system

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:52 PM PDT

At Computex 2019, major tech companies are showing off their newest products and  visions for the future of computing. Microsoft is also sharing its vision for the future in a blog post that highlights the path forward for the future of Windows 10 – or another operating system (OS) entirely.

Microsoft noted many features that would need to be central to what it calls "Modern OS." One quality-of-life feature is seamless updates for the OS, which would automatically download and install in the background. They wouldn't require any interruption to users, as past Microsoft updates have required a system restart and usually entail a lengthy installation process.

The tech giant also wants the OS to be secure by default, with key aspects of the computer walled in. It would keep the OS, applications and compute components separate from one another to defend against attacks. 

This is particularly important, as these devices would also be always connected, whether that's through Wi-Fi or a cellular 5G connection.

That constant connection the the internet is important, because many experiences will be powered by cloud computing servers. Microsoft sees its servers as a tool to not only support the cloud as most of us know it today, effectively online storage, but as an added resource for computing power. 

With artificial intelligence (AI) backing these cloud-connected experiences, Microsoft believes the Modern OS would help users get things done and keep organized. The connections between devices would also be important, as phones, laptops and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices would also be linked, sharing data between one another.

A mouse and keyboard would be less important in the Modern OS, as it would be "multi-sense." This means it would accept voice, touch, gaze and pen input just as well as more traditional inputs.

Microsoft also wants the Modern OS to be more adaptable to conform to the different visions of manufacturers. Many system makers have shown off imaginative new designs for computers, and the new OS would need to adapt to new features, like secondary screens above the keyboard or foldable displays. 

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Borderlands 3: release date, news and trailers for the next Borderlands game

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:18 PM PDT

Borderlands 3 has finally been announced, with a firm release date for us to count down the days. 

After a number of teasing tweets from developer Gearbox, a formal trailer was shown at PAX East, showing off some of the new characters, environments, and guns making their way to the next entry in the shoot 'n' loot franchise. We've even spent some hands-on time with the game now.

It's been over six years since Borderlands 2, though we haven't exactly been short on Borderlands in the meantime – there have been VR ports, additional DLC expansions, and a 'Pre-Sequel' follow-up to keep our trigger fingers busy. But fans have been clamoring for another fully-fledged entry in the series, and Borderlands 3 is finally on the way.

With larger-than-life characters, a lively and colorful alien planet to explore, tons of absurd weapons, and a wisecracking sense of humor, Borderlands has managed to blow some fresh air into an FPS genre that often sticks to 'gritty' visuals and dull urban environments.

Here's everything we know so far about the newly-announced game, and when it's finally going to be landing on PC and consoles.

[Update: There are reports that Gearbox is planning a Borderlands 2 DLC which will pave the way for Borderlands 3. Read on to find out more.]

Borderlands 3

Image Credit: Gearbox

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The third numbered game in the first-person shoot and loot franchise
  • When can I play it? September 13, 2019
  • What can I play it on? PS4, Xbox One and PC 

Borderlands 3 release date

Gearbox has now revealed a release date of September 13, 2019.

That fits with what we learnt from publisher Take-Two's investor call last year, when Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said a “highly anticipated new title from one of 2K’s biggest franchises” was in development for the fiscal year of 2019 – which runs between October 2018 and September 2019.

The release date had technically been leaked through some leaked cover art (spotted by Wario64), but we know now straight from the horse's mouth.

Image Credit: Gearbox

Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3 trailers and preview

While we wait for the game to land, we do have a number of new trailers to pore over. Gearbox took to the stage at PAX East (March 28-30) to show off  the formal announcement trailer below. You get a good look at the new villains of the series (a brother and sister?), new shiny cities and creaking scrapyards, and series-favorite robot Claptrap doing some breakdancing.

It looks... pretty much the same as any Borderlands game before it, which is both reassuring for fans and a bit disappointing for those looking for a new spin on the series. It's too early to judge before we've seen more, though. 

What we know for sure is that there'll be a lot of guns (over one billion, and even one with little machine legs) and a whole lot of looting in expansive sandbox environments. Oh, and a saxophone solo – because why not?

There's also a separate announcement trailer for the release date, which also names the four vault hunters and the name of the villains: the Calypso Twins...

The official announcement came only days after a 'Mask of Mayhem' teaser you can see below. It's packed with little clues and hints of the game to come, including everything from a morse code to braille, and what seems to be a broken-up redeem code (C35TB - WS6ST - TXBRK - JJH6H - TTTJT) that we imagine will be usable for some sort of DLC reward or exclusive skin for eagle-eyed viewers.

What's more, we've been able to spend some time with the game thanks to a hands-on gameplay reveal event that TechRadar attended. The gameplay loop, at least, is familiar, with your job to take down enemies, look their corpses, and level up. It looks like Gearbox is putting plenty of detail and imagination into the weaponry this time around.

Borderlands 3


What's new is a focus on movement that's more fluid, and improvements to multiplayer, including the option for allies to revive each other. There's also "loot instancing", designed to level the playing field a little for groups of friends who've spend different amounts of time in the game. Borderlands 3 also gives you your very own spaceship, the Sanctuary 3.

For a full rundown of everything we saw in our time with the game, check out our hands-on preview in full.

Borderlands 3 news and rumors

Reports of Borderlands 2 DLC

It's not long until Borderlands 3's release date but there are reports that Borderlands 2 could soon receive a DLC which will bridge the gap between the titles. The rumors point to an E3 2019 announcement, but nothing has been confirmed just yet. With E3 just around the corner, we don't have long to wait. 

Details, details, details

We managed to have a chat with Amanda Christensen, a concept artist at Gearbox and a key character designer on Borderlands 3. She told us that "the most obvious jump is in terms of our level of detail" in the upcoming game, and that there are a "bunch of cool little details" spread throughout. It's a revealing chat and you can read everything Christensen had to say about Borderlands 3 here.

DLCs: quality over quantity

The DLC future of Borderlands 3 looks bright enough, after Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford intimated on Twitter that future DLCs would focus on quality over quantity: it seems as though Borderlands 3 might focus on fleshing out the capabilities of the game's starting classes instead of asking players to start building new ones from scratch, and that's fine with us.

Epic Games Store exclusive – to start

While Borderlands 3 will launch on PS4, Xbox One and PC, the PC version will start as an Epic Games Store exclusive, before joining the Steam Store six months on.

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford hinted at this back in December, when he voiced his support for the new marketplace. Epic has been courting various exclusives for its store, including Metro Exodus and The Division 2, so we're not overly surprised.

Cross-platform co-op could be included

A listing page for Borderlands 3 on the Microsoft store gave a hint to a very-cool potential new feature landing with the game – cross-platform multiplayer. Though the page in question has since been pulled, it showed the game's feature set to include play across consoles not limited to Microsoft's own. With the game initially an Epic Games Store exclusive, and that platform's biggest title, Fortnite, being cross-platform in many console scenarios, there's certainly the genesis of the infrastructure to support the feature if true.

A representative for the game's publisher, 2K Games, told IGN that “Cross play is something we’re looking at closely, but don’t have anything to confirm or announce at this time.”

Vault Hunter names

The release date trailer also gave us the names of the four vault hunters, which offer their own spins on the traditional four classes. We have a Gunner weapons expert (Moze), a Siren with floating fists at the ready (Amara), an android Beastmaster (Fl4x), and a suave, stealthy Operative (Zane). We also got the names of the entry's villains: the very evil-looking Calypso Twins (not identical).

Borderlands 3 confirmed – as well as a board-game

Gearbox gave us the announcement we wanted on March 28, at PAX East in Boston. The showcase was hit with technical difficulties – like a lot – and for some reason included a really long magic trick. But we got our first look at the anticipated title, as well as a tie-in board-game called Borderlands: Tiny Tina’s Robot Tea Party. 

Borderlands 3

Image Credit: Gearbox

4K remasters (for free!)

Good news for anyone with a copy of Borderlands 1, 2, or the Pre-Sequel: Gearbox is releasing enhanced 4K remasters of the previous games, and anyone who already owns them will get to download the remastered version for free. You'll need a 4K ready console or PC to make the most of it, but it's wonderful fan service for those who do.

All coming up PAX

The rumor mill has been turning pretty fast these past few weeks. Earlier in March, the official Gearbox Twitter account posted a photo hinting at the upcoming PAX East indie games conference – and another pixellated still of Borderlands 2, teasing the 4K remasters that were announced alongside the new game.

A tweet the following day shared an image of a half-built robot on some sort of operating table, with a caption stating "Time to tease another game for PAX!" – which now seems to have been DLC for We Happy Few, launching on April 4.

The Flamethrower

A interaction between Randy Pitchford and Elon Musk in early 2019 threw yet more weight behind the rumor that a new Borderlands game is in development. 

After Tesla CEO and all-round benevolent billionaire Elon Musk released a 'Boring Company' flamethrower for sale as a reward for the community having purchased 50,000 hats, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford got in contact to see if he could put the gun in the "next Borderlands game."

To everyone's surprise, Musk agreed to the bizarre request – making the Boring Company Flamethrower the first confirmed weapon in the unannounced game.

Hints, lots of hints

At PAX West 2017, Pitchford announced during a panel that 90% of the Gearbox team is “working on the thing I think most of you guys want us to be working on.”

Pitchford also took part in an IGN Unfiltered interview around the same time, when he said that if another Borderlands game were to be made, it would be more of a true sequel as opposed to another Pre-Sequel spin-off. 

Caught in the act

And in April 2017, Pitchford took to Twitter to post a picture of himself wearing a motion capture suit with the caption “Doing a shoot... I may or may not be a psycho bandit in a video game we may or may not be working on. Also, happy Bulletstorm launch day!” 

Given that Psychos are a Borderlands enemy we’d say this tweet can be read with a fairly large nudge and wink.

The GDC presentation

Before all of this Pitchford took to the stage during Epic Games’ Unreal presentation at GDC in March 2017, where he showed off new rendering tech that “may be used in a future Gearbox game.” He explicitly said the footage shown was not from a video game but what was shown was highly reminiscent of Borderlands. 

He also revealed that this new tech is capable of simulating different physics depending on a planet’s properties. Specifically he said “there might be different physics and the sun and the moons might be in different positions than what we’re used to on Pandora.”

That seems to have been pretty prophetic – as we know Borderlands 3 will be making use of some new environments beyond what we saw on Pandora in the previous games.

Some changes

Borderlands regular Mikey Neumann won't be writing on the new game, as he was unfortunately forced to resign from the project due to health complications. The lead writer on Borderlands 2, Anthony Burch, has also since left the company. There’s been no hint with regards to who’ll be taking up the pen after their departures. 

Another change is that the voice behind Claptrap, David Eddings, has left Gearbox for Rooster Teeth so it’s unlikely he’ll be taking up the role again. 

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The Elder Scrolls 6: release date, news and rumors

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:11 PM PDT

Bethesda granted the wishes of Elder Scrolls fans everywhere when studio boss Todd Howard confirmed at E3 2018 that the developer is working on the highly-anticipated The Elder Scrolls 6.

Although we only got a glimpse at a short teaser trailer, rumors immediately started about where the latest Elder Scrolls title will be set, when it will release and when we will hear more. 

So we've gathered and assessed all the news and rumors about The Elder Scrolls 6 in this handy guide. Here's everything you need to know.

[Update: The Redfall trademark dispute, which had the potential to effect the development of The Elder Scrolls 6, has now come to an end. Read on to find out more.]

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The highly anticipated sequel to the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  • When can I play it? Not soon
  • What can I play it on? PC is a safe bet, as well as the latest console generations

Elder Scrolls 6 release date – when can I play it?

We might as well get the bad news out of the way first – you’re not likely to be playing The Elder Scrolls 6 any time soon. The good news, however, is that it’s been confirmed you will be able to...eventually. 

The game was confirmed during Bethesda's E3 2018 conference but nothing more than a logo was given. We don't even have a subtitle or a release year. Todd Howard said that the game will be coming after Starfield, the company's next big IP. That means Elder Scrolls 6 could be years away.

In addition, Youtuber SkullziTV (via GamesRadar) has been looking into the challenges Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax faces with regards to the Redfall trademark it has applied for. According to SkullziTV, if the two parties don't come to an agreement, we won't be seeing any mentions of Redfall (aka the rumored name of the upcoming Elder Scrolls game) until at least 2021.

Elder Scrolls 6 trailer – when can I watch it?

The only footage we have of Elder Scrolls 6 is a very short clip of the game's logo. Other than that, you might be waiting a while to see more. 

Here's the announcement trailer:

Elder Scrolls 6 rumors

The trademark dispute has been resolved

ZeniMax Media's dispute with Bookbreeze over the trademark of Redfall has now been resolved. Bethesda's parent company had attempted to trademark the name back in 2018 leading fans to believe that The Elder Scrolls 6 could finally have a name. Redfall is also, however, the name of a science fiction series published by Bookbreeze so the claim was naturally contested in February 2019.

The resolution is reported (via Gamasutra) as being amicable and "mutually beneficial" for both parties but it remains confidential. If Redfall is to be a focus for The Elder Scrolls 6, which isn't confirmed, progress can now continue to the relief of anxious fans.

It may be called the Elder Scrolls 6: Redfall

Bethesda may have trademarked the name for the Elder Scrolls 6. According to a report by Newsweek, ZeniMax Media (Bethesda's parent company) filed a new trademark for 'Redfall' which the company stated was for a 'computer game software for use with computers and video game consoles'. 

It's nothing solid, but there's a slim chance the new Elder Scrolls will be called Elder Scrolls 6: Redfall. Redditors are speculating the name is linked to the Redfall location in Tamriel or to the Redguard race in Elder Scrolls, however Bethesda has not confirmed or denied anything.

Elder Scrolls 6 news

Elder Scrolls 6 likely won't be appearing at E3

Although Elder Scrolls 6 was a big highlight of E3 2018, it won’t be making any kind of appearance at Bethesda’s E3 2019 conference. During a PAX East Panel celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Elder Scrolls franchise, when asked about Elder Scrolls 6 and some of the new tech being used in its development, Todd Howard said that Bethesda's highly anticipated titles Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield (which is slated for release first) are "going to be a long time! It’s not something we’re going to be talking about, either of those games, at E3 this year, and so patience, please”. 

Of course, talking about the game in any detail and showing another teasing trailer to round off the show (maybe one confirming that pesky name) are different things and we're sure fans will hold onto some hope of another nod, no matter how small, during the conference this year. 

Photogrammetry technology will be used

In that 25th anniversary panel which dashed the E3 dreams of so many, Bethesda did at the very least give fans a glimpse of some of the technology that will be used in the development of The Elder Scrolls 6. We got a peek at the use of photogrammetry which involves scanning real-life objects and environments to bring them into the game in detailed 3D. The technology will make its first outing in Starfield before the latest iteration is used for Elder Scrolls. 

Skyrim Grandma will be making an appearance

Speaking of photogrammetry, beloved YouTube star and Skyrim player Shirley Curry, known as Skyrim Grandma by her fans, has announced on Twitter that she’ll be making an appearance in the Elder Scrolls 6. In the above 25th Anniversary video we even got a glimpse of what could well be her character being created using the latest photogrammetry technology.

Redfall trademark dispute 

While fans wait with bated breath for more news on The Elder Scrolls 6, a legal battle between Bethesda's parent company ZeniMaz Media and BookBreeze.com has potentially been putting a spanner in the works. But an agreement might be on the horizon.

This legal battle has been going on for a while, with Bookbreeze.com (aka author Jay Falconer) disputing ZeniMax filing a new trademark for 'Redfall', which the company stated was for "computer game software for use with computers and video game consoles". 

In other words, it's possible that this could be the name of the upcoming Elder Scrolls 6 game – due to the Redfall location in Tamriel, or the Redguard race in Elder Scrolls.

However Falconer claims that he has already developed a brand under the Redfall name and, according to a blog post, is disputing ZeniMax's filing "to protect what I feel is my ownership of the brand, and to protect my right to sell books (print, ebook, and audiobook) and the movie/film rights". 

"I want all of you to know I'm not trying to stop the game nor am I trying to get any money from the game. I want nothing from the game at all," Falconer wrote. "I’m only trying to protect my ability to keep selling my books. This is simply a dispute over a trademark name. Nothing more. It’s not a cash grab – I want nothing from them and it should in no way hold up any game.

"With that said, we can avoid the USPTO all together and find a no-cost resolution once all parties have a conversation. We just need to have that conversation. I’m ready and willing and open to whatever resolution makes sense."

However, as spotted by our sister site GamesRadar, an agreement may be in the works. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Redfall trademark application documents state that ZeniMax has requested the dates to be pushed back a month as the “parties are engaged in settlement discussions”.

According to GamesRadar's research, those settlement discussions are likely being used to avoid a long trademark dispute, which would prevent us hearing any more information about The Elder Scrolls 6's official title until 2021.

According to GamesRadar, settlement discussions could mean one of three things:

  • Both parties agree to enter into a coexistence agreement, which allows them both to use the Redfall name (ZeniMax would have to pay out to Falconer).
  • ZeniMax withdraws the application but enters into a license agreement (paying a fee) to Falconer.
  • ZeniMax pays a one-off sum for Falconer to withdraw his opposition.

Bethesda's E3 2019 showcase dated and confirmed

Bethesda's E3 2019 showcase kicks off at 5.30pm PDT on Sunday 9 June, with the horror shooter Doom Eternal confirmed to appear. Having been teased at last year's show, could we also see The Elder Scrolls VI make an appearance? There's a fair chance, especially if this year's E3 coincides with the reveal of the PS5 and Xbox Two – we'd be shocked if the Skyrim follow-up wasn't being aimed at next-gen consoles.

Elder Scrolls VI goes official

Bethesda is a busy studio: not only is it working on a brand new IP, Starfield, it's also continuing to develop for Elder Scrolls Online and it's taking on the long commitment of Fallout 76. And that's only in its main RPG franchises. It's still got plenty going on elsewhere with mobile games, Dishonored, Prey and others.

Thanks to Todd Howard, we know Bethesda is working on two huge new titles simultaneously, though their developments are staggered. 

We now know that one of them is the Elder Scrolls 6.

Having returned to Skyrim after some time away, Howard compared it to seeing an old friend from high school, adding that the time away had given him the chance to see Skyrim as a gamer for the first time. 

This, to us, would be the perfect time to start applying this new perspective to the next title in the series. 

At the very least we can say we know it won’t just be called Elder Scrolls 6. There’s going to be a colon and another word to round the title off if previous releases are anything to go by. 

Where will Elder Scrolls 6 be set?

We’re also willing to bet that like all the other games in the series it’s going to be set in the continent of Tamriel, the map of which is below.

Previous games have taken us to Highrock, Hammerfell, Morrowind, Cyrodil, and Skyrim. Valenwood, Elsweyr and Black Marsh are the biggest places left to explore. Though there’s still much of Morrowind left to explore, we imagine much of that will be covered in the upcoming Elder Scrolls Online title. 

So, Valenwood, Elsweyr or Black Marsh. Which looks most likely? Rumors online are heavily pointing towards Black Marsh, the home of the world’s reptilian Argonian race. 

There isn’t actually any solid reason for this rumor, but its swampy marshlands and network of islands would make for an interesting geographic change for the series, though it’s a geography that would leave itself open to comparison with the Witcher 3.  It’s probably the region of Tamriel that we know the least about so Bethesda would have plenty of room to be creative.

That said, Elsweyr would also be an interesting geography change with its dry plains and harsh badlands that the Khajit call home. 

It would certainly be nice to find out more about the culture of either the Khajit or the Argonians so both of these extremely different settings have an understandable appeal to fans.

There is, however, weight to a rumor that Elder Scrolls 6 could be set in Valenwood. Valenwood is the home of the Bosmer and it’s an area of Tamriel that Bethesda hasn’t explored much. 

The rumor that the game will be set here is based on a reported internal Bethesda memo from all the way back in 2014. In this memo, Bethesda employees were reportedly wanted against using the terms Fallout: Nuka World, Elder Scrolls VI or Project Greenheart.

Though it was initially believed to be a fake, Fallout: Nuka World ended up being a big DLC release for Fallout 4 which gives slightly more weight to rumor that Project Greenheart is in fact the codename for the next Elder Scrolls title. The fact that Greenheart is a city in the verdant region of Valenwood makes this even more interesting. 

Forest and jungle settings are hard to get right in games and it’d be really interesting to see Bethesda get creative with the part of Tamriel that’s said to have rejected civilization and embraced the wilderness. 

It's hard to tell from the short E3 clip we have of the game but our first impression is that the game world looks a lot more like Valenwood or Elsweyr than Black Marsh.

In an interview with Eurogamer, Todd Howard confirmed the team has settled on the location - but he won't tell us where yet. 

What features can we expect?

Homebuilding

A feature that we’re fairly certain will be included in the game to some degree is house building or town creation. Skyrim introduced the idea of designing and maintaining a homestead with its Hearthfire DLC, which Fallout 4 expanded upon with the introduction of its settlement mechanic and the Elder Scrolls online built upon again with its Homestead DLC. This leads neatly into a further expansion of such features in the next Elder Scrolls title as it felt not-quite-finished in Fallout. 

It would be a feature that would actually fit in particularly well with the rumored Valenwood setting, if it involved the player adapting to the wilderness in the way the resident Bosmer have with their treetop cities. In a similar way the player used debris and junk to craft their settlement in Fallout, they could use their natural environment to do so in Elder Scrolls in a nice contrast.

A whole new story

In a recent interview with Gamespot, Todd Howard said that Bethesda is looking into how exactly it tells stories in its games.

Howard noted that Skyrim and Fallout 4 take slightly different approaches to stories, with Skyrim leaving things more open to the player’s vision and Fallout guiding them more firmly through a story

Now he says the studio are looking how to “tell a better story in an open world.”  He said “each of our games we've had successes and failures and if you ask us internally, we have new ideas that we want to explore in the future because we feel like we haven't really cracked it yet the way we think it could be.”

Being aware of the differences between Skyrim and Fallout’s approaches to storytelling and the fact that both have positives and negatives suggests that the next Elder Scrolls title could strike some kind of balance between giving the player completely free reign and telling a story around their character. 

It’s hard to deny that The Witcher 3 has had a massive impact on what players expect in terms of including an engaging story in an open world game. 

Though we don’t in any way want Bethesda to just churn out a Witcher copy (we’re not sure it’d be possible anyway) it does put a certain amount of pressure on Bethesda when it comes to achieving high-quality environmental and quest-based story telling. 

Something we don’t expect to see, though, is multiplayer. Skyrim certainly doesn’t suffer from a lack of multiplayer and it wouldn’t really make all that much sense to incorporate any online multiplayer gameplay with the Elder Scrolls Online still rolling along. 

Virtual reality

It's not a certainty by any means but the fact that Bethesda released a full VR experience for Skyrim means it's not out of the question.

What would we like to see?

Well, something we’d like to see and fully expect to see is improved graphics and reduced bugginess. The remastered version of Skyrim showed just how far things have come visually since the game’s first release so we fully expect any title following on from it to be of that standard if not much higher, depending on how far away the game is.

There’s actually a fairly good chance that the game could be created using an entirely new game engine – after it created an entirely new engine for Skyrim we don’t think it’s unlikely Bethesda will do the same for Elder Scrolls 6 and any Fallout sequels. 

The Bethesda game studio in Montreal is currently looking to hire an engine programmer so it’s well worth watching this space. 

(Image credits: Bethesda)

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California wants to stop your smart gadgets from eavesdropping on you

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:06 PM PDT

As privacy concerns grow regarding the information tech giants collect on users, California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would limit how recordings are collected by manufacturers of smart speakers and digital assistants.

Republican Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham introduced the Anti-Eavesdropping Act which prohibits saving, storing or sharing audio recordings without explicit consent from the user.

The bill has now passed the State Assembly and if signed into law, it would prevent smart speaker manufacturers from retaining or distributing voice recordings or transcriptions without first obtaining user consent.

Cunningham explained that consumers should be able to have smart devices in their homes while keeping their conversations private at the same time, saying:

“Today, the State Assembly sent a strong message to the tech giants who have spent years recording and retaining private conversations in the home via smart devices. Tech giants have provided consumers with a false choice: live in a smart and interconnected home, or keep your conversations private. We can have both. Private conversations in the home should remain private, and no company should have the ability to record these conversations without consent.”

Smart speaker fallout

California's Anti-Eavesdropping Act comes at a time when both consumers and lawmakers are growing increasingly concerned about the privacy implications of smart home devices.

For instance, Bloomberg recently revealed that thousands of Amazon employees around the world have been listening in on user's conversations with their Amazon Echo devices.

Apparently these voice recordings were captured to help improve how Alexa understands speech and responds to commands and questions. However, since the users weren't notified this was happening, Amazon was in breach of their privacy and would be held accountable under California's new bill if it becomes law.

US lawmakers have taken issue with the country's tech giants and in addition to California's efforts to regulate them, Illinois also attempted to pass a similar law which Google and Amazon lobbied heavily against.

  • Protect your online privacy with the best VPN

Via Geek.com

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Chelsea vs Arsenal live stream: how to watch tonight's Europa League final 2019 from anywhere

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:59 AM PDT

It's time! The 2019 UEFA Europa League final is on the menu tonight  for what should be a delicious London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal - the first chapter in this week's all-England European final football affair.  The teams (and at least some of their fans) have travelled all the way to Baku in Azerbaijan for this, but thankfully you don't have to - keep reading and we'll tell you how you can watch every minute of the game with a Chelsea vs Arsenal live stream from absolutely anywhere on Earth.

While it's true that more of the football world's attention turns to the Champions League final to be played on the following Saturday, Europe's second competition should not be taken lightly.

As well as that frankly gorgeous trophy, the prize at stake is a place in next year's Champions League. That's a huge incentive for Arsenal, who failed to make the top four in this year's Premier League.

So a win in Baku for Unai Emery's men would salvage an otherwise flat first season in charge. It hasn't been completely devoid of positives - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goal tally and connection with Alexandre Lacazette bodes well for the next campaign. A few smart summer signings (with the replacement of outgoing Aaron Ramsey a priority) and the good times may start flowing again at the Emirates.

Despite finishing third in the league, it's been a similarly chequered season for Chelsea and boss Maurizio Sarri. He's been fighting the revolt of fans (and, it's rumoured, some players) and now has a transfer ban and the expected departure of Eden Hazard to contend with, too. Can the fleet-footed Belgian with support from the likes of Gonzalo Higuaín and Willian make this the perfect end to the season?

It's certainly a tough one to call. We're not sure which side of London will hold that Europa League trophy in their cabinet for the next year. But to make sure that you don't miss a minute of on-pitch action, we've found the ways to watch a Chelsea vs Arsenal live stream. It's good news for some, as it's being shown absolutely FREE in some parts and available in pretty much every corner of the world - even including Emirates airline flights!

Live stream the Europa League final for free in the UK

How to live stream Chelsea vs Arsenal from outside your country

The Premier League is so big now that a Chelsea vs Arsenal encounter is going to be of interest to a whole international crowd - check out how to watch the Europa League final if you live in US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India below.

While the free BT Sport Europa League final live stream is only accessible within the UK - if you're abroad for this one then you'll be told that you're not allowed to watch. That's really disappointing if you happen to be on holiday or away for business this week.

That said, there is still a way to get around the geo-block - and it's really simple to do. You need to download and install a VPN, which will then allow you to alter your IP address to one in the UK. That means your laptop, mobile or TV streaming device will think it's back at home in the UK and will therefore allow you to stream that free BT Sport website or YouTube to watch as if you were back at home. The same goes if your a resident of anywhere else and want to watch your domestic coverage from overseas.

Here's how to stream the Europa League final live from anywhere in the world with a VPN in three very simple steps:

How to watch Chelsea vs Arsenal: live stream in US

How to live stream Europa League final in Canada (for FREE)

How to live stream Chelsea vs Arsenal in the Europa League: Australia

How to watch Europa League football in New Zealand

How to live stream the UEFA Europa League football in India

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The Last of Us 2 release date, news, and rumors

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:52 AM PDT

As endings go, The Last of Us's was pretty conclusive. But as it turns out, that hasn't stopped The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog from cranking out a sequel in the form of The Last of Us 2 – or, The Last of Us Part II if we're using its proper name. 

Given the first game was hailed by players and critics alike as a masterpiece with excellent, emotional storytelling and engaging, realistic characters, we have to admit that the decision to release a follow-up isn't particularly shocking. We'd probably have been more surprised if there wasn't one. And yet, when The Last of Us 2 was first announced, we'd be lying if we said our heart didn't skip a beat. 

The Last of Us 2 was first announced by Naughty Dog at PlayStation Experience in 2016 alongside a teaser trailer and as we're now into 2019, we're now hoping to hear an official release date any day now. 

Although we got a closer look at the game, Sony didn't give us any hints during E3 2018 when we'd see the game, but it's looking more and more likely that we'll have to wait until 2019 to see what becomes of Ellie in the brutal post-cure world.

[Update: Death Stranding now has a release date but this has stirred up rumors around the release date for The Last of Us 2. Read on to find out more.]

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The sequel to the critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic game The Last of Us
  • When can I play it? It’ll be a while from now, late 2019 or early 2020
  • What can I play it on? PlayStation 4

The Last of Us 2 trailers 

The most recent trailer we have for The Last of Us 2 was shown during E3 2018. This trailer finally gives us a look at Ellie in an intimate scene before cutting away to some of the brutal but stealth-based combat we can expect to see in the game when it's launched.

The gameplay sequence gives us a look at Ellie fighting for her life in the wild. Success in a fight appears to require the right balance between stealth and all out attack as damage seems to have a more realistic impact. Ellie can move quietly between areas, taking weapons from bodies and crafting, before bursting out and taking down her enemies. 

See the gameplay for yourself below.

The Last of Us Part 2 had another trailer drop during PSX 2017. During a panel it was confirmed that the game will be set in the city of Seattle and the darker themes we know are coming were touched upon. You can watch the panel for yourself below:

Another trailer for the game was shown at Sony's press conference during the 2017 Paris Games Week. This trailer is around 5 minutes long, focusing on conflicts between the human factions in the game. It shows part 2 is going to have a dark story, perhaps even darker than the first, and the trailer is fairly harrowing to watch. 

Visually impressive though it is, do note that it's gory before you watch it for yourself below. 

The first look at the game came with its announcement at PlayStation Experience in 2016. Despite the fact that the game is early in development, the trailer showed a full (non-gameplay) scene that features both Ellie and Joel. You can watch it below:

The Last of Us 2 release date

The Last of Us 2 has been in the works for a while but we're still waiting for a definite release date. Considering Naughty Dog has seen the bad side of promising a solid release date and missing it before it’s hard to blame them for not committing at this stage. 

In a recent interview with Vorterix, the game's composer, Gustavo Santaolalla, said that it's going to launch in 2019. Naturally, this hasn't been confirmed so we'd take it with a pinch of salt. However, it doesn't seem all that implausible as a release window given that in-game footage was only shown as recently as Paris Games Week.

What we know so far

Rumors of a delay

There was much excitement on May 29 as a result of PlayStation exclusive Death Stranding finally getting its release date confirmed as November 8 2019. This has, however, had a ripple effect which has concerned fans of The Last of Us 2.

With Death Stranding now slotted in as PlayStation's big exclusive release for that quarter of 2019 it's been rumored (by Kotaku's Jason Schreier among others) that The Last of Us 2, also originally said to be looking at a late 2019 release, will be pushed into early 2020.

This has not been confirmed by Naughty Dog or PlayStation so it remains nothing more than rumor at the moment. And it's also worth pointing out that The Last of Us 2 has never had a set-in-stone release date anyway. However, an early 2020 release date for The Last of Us 2 does not seem impossible at this point as PlayStation having two huge releases close together at the end of 2019 would be a surprise indeed.

Into the final stages

News around the Last of Us 2 has been hotting up recently as the game inches closer towards completion. Naughty Dog has now confirmed that the final scene for the game has been shot and the game’s co-director, Anthony Newman, has tweeted out a recruitment call as the studio begins to “close out” the game’s development. 

As promising as these announcements are, they don't reveal anything about whether or not we can expect to see The Last of Us 2 this year or next. Regardless, development has reached a critical stage and though Sony won’t be attending E3 2019, that doesn’t mean it can’t make some announcements around the time of the show. In fact, recent rumours have suggested that we will see some kind of news. Hopefully we’ll see a confirmed release date in the coming months. 

We could see more before E3 2019

Sony isn't coming to E3 2019 but that doesn't mean it's not going to be making announcements around that time and a big update for The Last of Us Part 2 could be imminent. Hopes have been raised by an industry insider on a Resetera thread which discusses a potential release date for the game. User Aokiji, who has made some accurate leaks before, said "Considering we’re getting an official TLOU2 update before E3, would be really weird if it wasn’t 2019 now wouldn’t it ."

Now, any news that doesn't come from Naughty Dog or Sony itself should, of course, be taken with a pinch of salt. However, the time feels ripe for an update on the progress of the game. With E3 2019 only just over a month away, we don't have long to wait to find out. 

Definitely coming to E3 2018

Sony has confirmed the time and date of its E3 conference as June 11 at 6pm PT/ 9am BST. And Sony Worldwide Studios boss, Shawn Layden, has confirmed during a PlayStation Blogcast that the Last of Us 2 will feature. Layden said that Sony has decided to "refresh and remake its show" and that fans can expect to see "deep dives", gaining a better understanding of where Naughty Dog is and plans to go with the title. 

Mocap is underway

Things have been quiet on the official news front for The Last of Us 2 but we've been glad to see some studio insiders and actors from the game posting images on social media which show that the game's motion capture is well underway. Actors Ashley Johnson and Shannon Woodward have both posted images of themselves wearing mocap suits. They didn't give much away but the fact that Naughty Dog is this far into the motion capture process suggests we might at least be closer to hearing about a possible release date. 

Troy Baker is impressed

The Last of Us 2 is still in the works, but we now know that one of its lead voice actors, Troy Baker, has had an in-depth look and he thinks the game is 'awesome'. It's not clear whether Baker just saw some gameplay or had the chance to go hands-on himself but according to GameRant he said during MCM Comic Con at Birmingham “It’s a fantastic story. It’s a fantastic game. We just finished a playtest. It’s looking awesome. I can’t for it to be on shelves.” Though we can't be sure where exactly in the development process it is (during PSX, it was said that Naughty Dog had reached around the 50 to 60% mark) this playtest is an encouraging sign. 

Directors

With Neil Druckmann having been promoted to Vice President of Naughty Dog, The Last of Us 2 now has two confirmed directors. Druckmann will, of course, still be heavily involved in the creation of the game but it's now being headed up by Anthony Newman and Kurt Margenau, both of whom were lead designers on Uncharted 4. 

Story

Although it was no slouch in the gameplay department, it was the story told by The Last of Us that stuck with us for months afterwards. Naturally Naughty Dog had to give us some kind of hint about where the sequel would go. 

At the moment we know The Last of Us 2 will take place in the city of Seattle, five years after the end of the original game, with a 19 year old Ellie taking the starring playable role. Joel will still appear in the game but if the teaser trailer is anything to go by, he could be a much more passive presence. 

This time around, Ellie is extremely angry about...something. From what we saw from the teaser trailer she wants revenge, which to her appears to be a dish best served deadly. 

She does, after all, promise to “kill every last one of them.” It’s not clear who “them” is but it could signal that the Fireflies, the first game's well-meaning but morally grey antagonists, will make a return. Anger, hate and revenge are going to be key themes this time around so expect to be in for an emotionally heavy ride. 

As Joel is such a passive presence in the trailer there’s been speculation that he’s actually dead, appearing in Ellie’s mind’s eye, and Ellie’s anger and vengeance will be directed at those who caused his death. This isn’t entirely unlikely but it’s purely speculation at this point. It is worth pointing out, however, that Neil Druckmann did reveal in an interview with PlayStation Lifestyle that this announcement trailer footage is not a scene that will actually take place in the real game. 

In the trailer for the game shown at Paris Games Week in 2017, we got a look at how dark the game is likely to be. The trailer focuses on the opposing relationships between human characters in the game and features some seriously cringe-inducing violence. 

It doesn't tell us much about any new characters of how they'll relate to one another but it does confirm that we're going into a dark game world in The Last of Us part 2. 

In a recent panel at PSX both Druckmann and Gross said that though the game's story will indeed be dark and there'll be a focus on the theme of hate, "there is hope" and there will be "lighthearted moments." 

We can't pretend we're not relieved to hear this after the game's controversial Paris Games Week trailer which, Druckmann said, was intended to highlight the game's exploration of the pursuit of justice.

Ellie is one of the most real and refreshing characters we’ve seen in gaming so it’s exciting that Naughty Dog are going to take her story further and put her in center stage. 

The creative director of the game, Neil Druckmann has said that the story will be about Ellie and Joel’s relationship and that though the story would be complementary to the story of the first game, it would be much larger. 

When asked at a PSX panel whether or not Joel or Ellie may die, Druckmann responded that "no one is safe" highlighting that the game's story really could go anywhere. 

Hopes are particularly high for this larger story as it’s been revealed that one of the writers of Westworld, Halley Gross, will be co-writing the game’s story. Having someone who’s written scripts for such an incredibly popular and successful show should be a boon for the game's story. 

Gameplay

Not much is being said about gameplay at the moment. Neil Druckmann said at a PSX Panel that there would, however, be some differences as a result of Ellie being the playable character rather than Joel. 

“Ellie plays differently than Joel [...] Some things are evolution, some things are reinvention, but there will be a gameplay reveal down the road.”

It’s hard to glean much from this, but if Naughty Dog take the approach that’s frequently taken with playable female characters, Ellie will probably be more swift on her feet than Joel was but perhaps less able to take damage. 

This won't be the first time we've had the chance to play as Ellie, after the first game put us in her shoes for a short mission, but here the purpose of the mission was to make her feel weak in comparison to Joel. We can only hope her abilities will be expanded for the sequel. In the Paris Games Week trailer she certainly looks far physically stronger than she did in the first game. 

We expect to see much more in terms of gameplay from E3 2018 after Druckmann stated in the PSX panel that more details for the game would emerge at that event. 

What we'd like to see from The Last of Us 2

A new setting

Given that time has moved on 5 years from the end of the first game, it’d be nice to see Joel and Ellie in a new location too. It doesn’t necessarily have to be far from the setting of the first game but considering we have the two lead characters and their relationship to keep us tied to the first game, it’d be nice to play in a new location to keep things feeling fresh and make the introduction of new characters feel more plausible. 

Druckmann has said that this game’s story will be larger than the story of the first game and we imagine this necessitates a slightly more expansive setting.

More frightening enemies

The infected in the first game are terrifying and threatening and we want to see more of that. Things don’t have to change too much but new classes of enemy, new character designs and new ways to defeat them would be excellent. 

Considering we’ll be playing as Ellie now rather than Joel we imagine players will have to learn to take a different approach to combat anyway as it’s been said she’ll play differently.

It’d also be great to see more human enemies as well as the infected. We saw more than a few morally grey factions make an appearance in the first game so to expand on this and maybe introduce some more elements would be interesting. 

The exploration of the morality of humanity in post-apocalyptic scenes is always interesting, particularly considering in games you’re interacting with it directly and feeling its impact more strongly than in most mediums. 

The Last of Us 2 has the chance to make a real emotional impact through the human areas it presents us with.

The return of multiplayer

Multiplayer in The Last of Us was surprisingly good so we wouldn’t be averse to seeing it return here. If the game’s main story is going to be as heavy as we expect, it’d certainly be nice to have the option to break free for a while without leaving the game world and connect with others online. 

(Image credits: Naughty Dog)

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How the BMW X7 voicebot is far better (and a little less advanced) than Alexa

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:39 AM PDT

I’ve been wanting to test out the Intelligent Personal Assistant in a BMW for quite some time now. Announced last fall, I finally had my chance at a car rally held in Wisconsin recently.  

Shown in recent commercials – and competing somewhat with Apple Siri, Google Assistant, and the Amazon Alexa bots – the BMW assistant can respond to natural language commands that tie in directly to the car, meaning you can adjust the cabin temperature by voice or enable the seat heaters, unlock the trunk, and change the Sirius XM radio station. 

That’s my one gripe about all of the other assistants – they are great for all purpose tasks like weather forecasts or giving you a news synopsis, and they are extremely powerful in terms of understanding what you say, but they don’t tap into any of the systems in a car.

BMW X7

Image credit: John Brandon

While Alexa does work in a BMW (and other models including many Ford cars and trucks), it’s not like the voicebots really understand that you're in a BMW.

If you use Siri or Google Assistant, and then enable Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you can get directions, ask random trivia questions, and control music playback but you can’t change, say, the climate control settings.

Command and conquer

I decided to test quite a few voice commands in a BMW X7, and tried saying things in different ways. You can press a voice button on the steering wheel or say 'Hey, BMW' to activate it. At first, I had the most success setting the temperature. I asked the BMW assistant to set the temp to 72, and that worked every time.

I also tried saying things like 'set the temperature a little warmer', and that also worked. I was surprised when I asked the assistant to enable the seat warmers, and noticed how the icon for that feature lit up right away. All good so far.

I experimented with the radio a fair amount. I asked about specific stations like CNN and that worked perfectly. I was really impressed when I asked for a weather forecast and the wide, colorful screen on the X7 showed large icons for a string of sunny days that week.

BMW X7

Image credit: John Brandon

I tried saying things that were a bit vague, with mixed results. When I told the assistant I was a little cold, the bot said it did not understand what it wanted me to do. I asked a trivia question about President Trump, and the bot didn’t know how to respond.

I also asked the assistant to open the trunk. A BMW rep told me this is a safety issue, although if I’m parked I wondered why that would be a problem. The voice assistant didn’t open the trunk release, but did agree to unlock the trunk for me. I asked the bot to move my seat forward a little, and that didn’t work – again, the BMW rep said that’s a safety issue.

I’d prefer if the bot was able to figure out that my seat is pretty far back from my typical position and agree to move the seat forward a little. I can also see how messing with any settings for the seat other than the seat warmer could be a problem, especially in unusual driving situations.

BMW X7

Image credit: John Brandon

I finished my test by asking about vehicle status like tire pressure, and that worked great. I was impressed with how easily the bot understood what I was asking, and didn’t need to ask for any clarifications about anything. The bot dutifully responded and acted as needed.

I can see how these bots will help drivers in the future, and I liked how they understood commands related to the car. My only disappointment is that the BMW bot is not meant to compete with Google, Apple or Amazon in any way. When I asked about sports scores, some trivia questions, and to remind me about an appointment, none of those things worked.

However, my guess is that this will go in one of two ways. Either CarPlay and Android Auto will advanced and start working with individual car settings like the seat warmers, or the auto companies will keep improving their own bots to the point where we don’t really need to connect our phones anymore, and will rely on those assistants instead.

We shall see who wins that war.

On The Road is TechRadar's regular look at the futuristic tech in today's hottest cars. John Brandon, a journalist who's been writing about cars for 12 years, puts a new car and its cutting-edge tech through the paces every week. One goal: To find out which new technologies will lead us to fully driverless cars.

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5G: everything you'll need to take advantage

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:57 AM PDT

5G is coming very soon – in fact, in a few places it’s already here. It’s the next generation of mobile networks, following on from 4G/LTE, and it promises much higher speeds, lower latency and more reliable connections, so you can browse, play, stream and download faster, or in higher quality.

Download speeds could average around 1Gbps or even more, ensuring you can download full 4K movies in a matter of minutes and are never again waiting for content to buffer.

But 5G is potentially more than just a step up. In the long run it could be even more transformative than 4G, as it’s expected to help power the rapidly growing Internet of Things and could even open up whole new use cases that just weren’t possible on the slower networks we’re currently using.

So it’s worth getting excited about, especially if you're an early adopter looking to join the speed train - here's what you’ll need in order to do that.

Image credit: Shutterstock

A 5G network

The first and most obvious thing that you’ll need is access to a 5G network, and this could initially be a major stumbling block for would-be 5G pioneers, as there just aren’t many of them yet.

In the US you can get 5G on Verizon…but currently only in Chicago and Minneapolis, and even within those cities, coverage isn’t comprehensive. More cities will be getting 5G throughout 2019 and beyond and we’d expect other US carriers to switch on 5G networks of their own before too long – but right now, your options are limited.

That’s even more true in much of the rest of the world – in the UK, EE is goes live on 30 May, Vodafone in July and Three later in the year.

As with the US, network coverage will initially be limited to a handful of cities, and it’s going to be a similar story in Australia.

Things are happening behind the scenes though, as networks are building 5G infrastructure before they start offering 5G phones or services. AT&T for example has 5G coverage in numerous cities, just no handsets to use it with yet.

Image credit: AT&T

Still, depending on where you are, you'll almost have to wait a while for 5G to be offered, not just in your country, but in your specific area.

If you’re in a major city that wait might be over before the end of 2019, but if you’re not then it could be a lot longer – and the more remote your region the longer you’ll be waiting. For perspective, some remote villages still don’t even have 4G.

Given that not all networks will launch a 5G service at the same time or in the same places, you may also have to change network if you want to minimize the wait.

That said, these are temporary problems. Most mobile networks will ultimately offer 5G and coverage will eventually be comprehensive – it’s just going to take time.

A 5G phone

As well as 5G infrastructure you’re also going to need a 5G phone, as the vast majority of current phones don’t support 5G.

Lots of 5G phones have been announced, such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, LG V50 ThinQ, Oppo Reno 5G and ZTE Axon 10 Pro 5G, with many more rumored. But depending on what country you’re in there are either very few or – more likely – none currently available.

The Moto Z3 (Image credit: TechRadar)

In the US you can use the Moto Z3 coupled with a 5G Moto Mod, while in South Korea the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G have launched. In the UK only the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G is available to buy, but that's stocked by Vodafone, which hasn't launched its network (try and keep up...).

However in Australia and most other countries, there are currently no 5G phones at all.

Not only do you have to wait for them to launch (with the first such handsets likely to land alongside the 5G networks), you’ll have to spend money on one – and in most cases they won’t come cheap, with the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G starting at 1.39 million South Korean won (roughly $1,220 / £930 / AU$1,720).

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G (Image credit: TechRadar)

A 5G plan 

Okay, so once you've got 5G coverage in your area and your hands on a 5G phone, you’re also going to need a 5G plan. 

By that we mean a contract with a network that includes 5G. As most networks haven’t yet launched a 5G service we can’t say for sure what approach they’ll take, but most will probably charge more for 5G, rather than offering it as standard.

That certainly seems to be the case so far. Verizon, for example, requires you to have an Unlimited plan and pay $10 per month extra on top of that for their 5G coverage.

So you’re going to need to be willing to pay more and also be in a position to change plan – if you’re locked into a contract already then you might have to wait.

Network is also a consideration when it comes to 5G phones, as not all handsets will be available on all networks. For example, in the UK EE has announced that it will be the exclusive network operator for the Oppo Reno 5G and LG V50 ThinQ.

The LG V50 ThinQ (Image credit: TechRadar)

So, to get a specific 5G phone you might need to be prepared to change network.

However, many phones will probably be offered unlocked if you buy them SIM-free, in which case you should be able to get around network exclusivity – you’ll just need to be prepared to spend a lot up front.

Even so, you might need to change network anyway, as not all networks will offer 5G from the same date or have coverage in your area initially. 

This may also mean you’ll need to compromise in terms of handset, if for example the only network with coverage in your area doesn’t offer the phone you really want. Either that or you’ll have to wait.

5G-ready

With all that – a 5G phone, 5G coverage and a 5G plan – you should finally be ready to take advantage of 5G's benefits.

You’ll probably have had to wait a while to achieve all this and might be feeling a bit poorer for it (as well as limited to where you can use it), but such is the price of early adoption – and when you’re enjoying blazing fast speeds that your friends can only dream of, perhaps you'll forget the hoops you had to jump through.

5G Uncovered, in association with Samsung, brings you everything you need to know about the next wave of connectivity - not just how fast it's going to be, but in just how many ways it's going to change your life. Our 5G Uncovered hub is carefully curated to show everything there is to know about the next generation of connection.  

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Older Windows devices at risk of classic hacks

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:50 AM PDT

Almost one million older Windows devices are still vulnerable to the BlueKeep security flaw even after Microsoft released a security patch to address the vulnerability.

The vulnerability, known as CVE-2019-0708, affects Windows Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and Microsoft has already addressed it with its May 2019 Patch Tuesday update.

The BlueKeep security flaw, which has been described as wormable, can be utilized by malware to spread in a similar way to how the WannaCry ransomware did back in 2017 through the EternalBlue exploit.

By sending specially created requests via the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), a hacker can exploit the flaw to execute arbitrary code and take control of a user's machine without their knowledge.

Microsoft has already released patches for Windows 7, Windows XP, Server 2008 and Server 2003. By enabling Network Level Authentication (NLA) Windows 7 and Server 2008 users can prevent unauthenticated attacks and alternatively the threat can be mitigated by blocking TCP port 3389.

BlueKeep security flaw

Researchers have already developed proof-of-concept exploits for BlueKeep though none have been released publicly. Many expect attacks exploiting the flaw to appear any day now and to make matters worse, industrial and medical products are also at risk.

By using the Masscan port scanner and a modified version of rdpscan, Errata Security's Robert Graham carried out an internet scan that found more than 923,000 devices which appear to be vulnerable to BlueKeep attacks.

Graham also identified more than 1.4m machines that have been patched to protect them from BlueKeep and around 1.2m devices that cannot be exploited online since they're using NLA or the Credential Security Support Provider protocol.

If you're unable to install the latest security patch from Microsoft to protect your devices from the BlueKeep security flaw, thankfully opatch has released a micropatch which can be easily applied to vulnerable systems.

  • We've also highlighted the best antivirus to help keep your systems protected from the latest cyber threats

Via Security Week

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Best managed WordPress hosting 2019

Posted: 29 May 2019 09:58 AM PDT

As a content management system, WordPress offers one of the easiest and quickest ways to set up your own blog or website. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can select from one of hundreds of templates, as well as create interactive content such as contact forms.

The usefulness of WordPress has not been lost on website hosting providers. In this guide, you’ll discover some of the very best vendors on the market today who offer managed WordPress hosting. 

This is a great way to avoid the time and trouble of hosting your content from scratch as managed Wordpress hosting providers take the trouble of creating and maintaining your website away from you.

The best Managed WordPress hosting provider of 2019

WP Engine might be a slightly more onerous proposition for the casual user, but a more demanding audience will love WP Engine's speed, power and high-end premium features as well as the profusion of high quality WordPress themes it can provide through StudioPress

WP Engine

WP Engine is the leading WordPress digital platform. It hosts excellent uptime, WordPress specific security and unlimited monthly transfers.

WP Engine includes many great tools needed for web hosting. These range from automated backups to 24/7 support (phone support on Growth and Scale packages). 

You can use WP Engine’s ‘actionable intelligence’ to gain insight into the performance of your pages, content and applications.

WP Engine has four different price plans. All include free migration and free page performance. If you pay for a year’s subscription upfront, you get three months free.

Prices start off at $35 per month which include a 60-day risk free guarantee. WP Engine also have a ‘Custom’ tier for larger businesses who want a plan more tailored for their individual needs.

Some users have asked for a mid-range pricing option between the $35 and $115 tiers with the most expensive tier, Scale, costing $290 per month and offering support for up to 15 sites. At the moment, if you choose monthly billing, there is a 10% discount on all plans for your first payment.

GoDaddy Pro

GoDaddy Pro is part of GoDaddy Inc, founded in 1997. It offers users a more robust, wider range of tools for developers and businesses. While it doesn't mention WordPress in the opening few introductory phrases, GDP is actually wholly focused on WordPress installs.

GoDaddy Pro offers client management tools and advanced support. This solution allows developers to add multiple clients and manages their accounts from one single dashboard. 

GoDaddy gives users access to a management dashboard. From here all products and clients can be viewed. The dashboard can alert the user via SMS and email to any issues the client may have.

As GoDaddy Pro has been designed to make developer’s lives easier, the platform is user-friendly and everything is at your fingertips via the dashboard.

Access to the dashboard is free and includes reporting and basic maintenance for as many WordPress sites as needed. Paid services include cloud backups, migration, uptime monitoring and automated security checks. These can be purchased as add-ons to your free plan.

Users have noted that bandwidth monitoring is not included.

Bluehost

Bluehost is a web hosting company owned by Endurance International Group. It was founded in 2003. It’s part of a web hosting family that includes HostMonster, FastDomain and iPage.

Bluehost tries to make the daunting task of starting a new web site easy. It offers plenty of options to those new to web hosting while still offering tools for the more experienced user.

All new subscribers can set up a WordPress site with a single click of their mouse. Also, newbies can rely on Blue Spark, a specialized service that helps new users with everything WordPress related. 

Bluehost are currently offering all their WordPress plans at a reduced rate. Prices start at $2.95 (£2.2) a month for a single WordPress site complete with 50GB of website space. The ‘Plus’ and ‘Premium’ packages are on offer for $5.45 (£4.10) per month. These both include unlimited WordPress sites and unlimited website space. The ‘Premium’ package includes domain privacy and SiteBackup Pro. Furthermore, WP Pro plans are available, which bring additional improvements and features with prices starting at $19.95.

More inexperienced users have reported that the dashboard can be difficult to navigate if you do not know all the terminology.

WordPress VIP

WordPress VIP is a fully managed cloud platform. Users of VIP have access to expert guidance, code review and around the clock support.

Users get their own Git repository and ZenDesk account. Once your code is ready, you send it to the VIP team. Experts at VIP go through each line of code in your repository. This can take 4-6 weeks. If any issues are found, they’re raised on GitHub. Once these have been removed the code is transferred to your project and you are online. VIP adhere to strict coding standards.

One of the main attractions of VIP, is their ‘always on’ support. VIP engineers watch for any issues that may arise and fix them proactively on behalf of the client. Once rectified, a report will be sent to you explaining what occurred.

Users will need to contact VIP directly in order to get a quote.

Some users have reported delays with setting up and building sites.

SiteGround

SiteGround was founded in 2004. It provides shared hosting, cloud hosting and dedicated servers.

SiteGround lets you choose from one of their four data centers on which to host your website. These are based in the US, Amsterdam, Singapore and the UK.

SiteGround offers users CloudFlare CDN, free SSL certificates and daily backups of their website’s data. All of their shared hosting plans include managed WordPress.

The platform’s customer support includes live chat as well as a phone in option. All support services are available 24/7.

The ‘StartUp’ plan begins at $11.95 (£9.28) per month ($3.95 for initial payment) which includes one website, 10GB web space and is suitable for 10,000 visits monthly. The ‘GrowBig’ plan for $19.95 (£15.47) monthly ($5.95 for initial payment) allows for multiple websites, 20GB of web space and is suitable for 25,000 visits. SiteGround’s ‘GoGeek’ plan starts at $34.95 (£27.08) per month ($11.95 for initial payment) which includes 30GB of web space and is suitable for 100,000 visits monthly. SiteGround do not offer a free trial but do have a 30-day money back guarantee.

Some users reported issues with being automatically logged out when signing in on multiple devices.

DreamHost

DreamHost is owned by New Dream Network, LLC which was founded in 1996. It’s both a web hosting provider and a domain name registrar.

DreamHost’s ‘Shared Starter’ plan starts at $2.59 (£2) per month. This includes a shared hosting server, 1 WordPress website, unlimited traffic, 1-click SSL certificate, fast SSD storage, 24/7 support and an upgrade to add email.

The ‘DreamPress’ package starts at $16.95 (£12.8). This includes all of what the ‘Shared Starter’ plan has to offer along with 30GB SSD storage, JetPack free preinstalled, daily backups and a few other things.

All of DreamHost’s hosting solutions are a fully managed service.

Inexperienced users have reported issues with getting started. 

InMotion

InMotion Hosting is an employee-owned and -operated domain name and web hosting company founded in 2001.

InMotion offers dedicated, shared, virtual private server and WordPress hosting along with several Ecommerce tools. 

Their WordPress hosting plans start off at $4.99 (£3.8) per month (for initial payment) and include one website, 40GB SSD storage and is suitable for 20,000 visitors a month. InMotion have six price plans available and all of them offer unlimited data transfers.

Besides having numerous price plans for each of their hosting options, InMotion have numerous free add-ons, free ecommerce tools and unlimited emails. While they do not have a free trial, they do include a 90-day money back guarantee.

Some users have complained that InMotion is not as competitively priced as other hosting providers.

HostGator

HostGator was founded in 2002. It provides shared, reseller, VPS and dedicated web hosting.

HostGator’s Website Builder comes with a handy drag and drop feature. The builder includes a wide range of themes. Some of the features are pre-built to help make the process easier and faster.

HostGator claim that load times for WordPress sites are up to 2.5 times faster than other providers due to their superior server architecture.

The utility offers a WordPress Cloud Interface where you can manage backups, access all your email accounts and other hosting options. You can also allocate server bandwidth from here.

HostGator offer three WordPress cloud hosting plans. The ‘Starter’ plan is currently $5.95 (£4.64) per month for 1 site, 100,000 visits per month, 1GB free backups and a free SSL certificate. The ‘Standard’ plan is on offer at $7.95 (£6.19) per month for 2 sites, 200,000 visits per month, 2GB backups and a free SSL certificate. 

HostGator’s ‘Business’ plan is also on offer at $9.95 (£7.73) per month. This includes 3 sites, 500,000 visits, 3GB backups and a free SSL certificate.

According to online commentators, the purchase price for additional domains can be quite steep.

1&1 IONOS

1&1 (called 1&1 IONOS since October 2018) is owned by German company, United Internet. It was founded in 1988. It offers domain registration, cloud servers, virtual private servers and dedicated servers.

1&1 boasts excellent customer support and easy to use web creation tools. More inexperienced users might find this provider more suitable to their needs.

1&1’s ‘Basic’ packages starts at $1 (£1 for UK) per month for the first 6-months and then $9 (£6 for UK) per month thereafter. This includes 1 WordPress project, 25GB SSD storage, unlimited visitors and managed WordPress. Upon registration you are offered a domain name free for 12 months. This is only valid upon purchase of any of their plans.

Users that sign up for the ‘Business’ plan receive 2 WordPress projects, 100GB SSD storage and unlimited visitors. This plan starts at $1 (£1 for UK) per month for the first 12 months and then $11 (£8 for UK) per month thereafter. 

The ‘Pro’ plan starts at $1 (£1 for UK) for the first 6 months and then $15 (£1 for UK). It includes 5 WordPress projects and 200GB SSD storage, as well as SiteLock malware protection and RailGun CDN.

Online commentators have complained about long periods of downtime. 

You might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides:

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Flipboard hit by user data breach

Posted: 29 May 2019 09:27 AM PDT

News aggregator service and mobile news app Flipboard has begun notifying users of a data breach in which hackers had access to its internal systems for over nine months.

The company informed users of the breach in a series of emails in which it explained that hackers had gained access to the databases it uses to store customer information.

According to Flipboard, these databases contained information such as usernames, hashed passwords and in some cases, emails or digital tokens that linked user's profiles to third-party services.

Thankfully though, the vast majority of passwords were protected by a strong password-hashing algorithm called bcrypt which is known for being difficult to crack. However, if a user failed to change their password since 2012, then it is was hashed using the weaker SHA-1 algorithm.

Flipboard breach

While Flipboard did not disclose just how many of its user accounts hackers had access to, the company did say that not all accounts were affected by the breach.

As an extra measure of security, the company is now in the process of resetting all customer passwords even if they were not accessed by hackers. Flipboard has also already replaced the digital tokens used by customers to connect its service to other third-party services such as Google, Twitter, Facebook and Samsung.

Overall though, the breach appears to be quite extensive and according to the company, hackers had access to its internal systems for almost nine months. They first gained access from June 2, 2018 until March 23, 2019 and  then once again infiltrated the company's systems again between April 21 and April 22, 2019.

It was during the second time that hackers gained access that Flipboard detected the breach while investigating suspicious activity on its database network.

It is recommended that all Flipboard users change their passwords now and the company has notified law enforcement regarding the breach.

Via ZDNet

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Death Stranding will be released on November 8, 2019

Posted: 29 May 2019 09:25 AM PDT

Kojima Productions has just dropped a brand-new and lengthy trailer for Death Stranding which reveals the allusive title will release on November 8, 2019. 

The trailer sheds some light on what we can expect from Death Stranding. Well, a little bit. It still looks very convoluted...

You can check out the new trailer below:

What does it all mean?

There's a lot happening in the trailer: demon militants, Mads Mikkelsen leading a skeleton soldier squad, and Norman Reedus hitting the yellow CDA creatures from Monsters Inc with a briefcase. 

Kojima has attempted to explain the game's theme in a tweet, claiming it's all based around connections. You can read below:

Perhaps the only thing we know for sure about Death Stranding: it will arrive on November 8, 2019 – meaning it's likely to be a cross-generation title. Pre-orders are live now on the PlayStation Store.

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5G in the UK: everything you need to know

Posted: 29 May 2019 09:18 AM PDT

5G in the UK is here! Almost. Yes. Sort of. Depending on your network, location and choice of device.

You won't see all 5G networks launch at the same time, and the fifth generation of network won't be available nationwide from day one, plus you'll need a smartphone which supports 5G to take advantage of the new, super-speedy connectivity.

Thankfully we've got all the information you need to ensure a smooth transition onto the 5G superhighway. So grab your phone, buckle up and prepare to merge into the fast lane.

I want 5G right now

If you're not interested in the nitty gritty and already have your heart set on a 5G phone and plan, we've collected the best 5G deals in the UK for you.

EE is the first network to launch 5G in the UK, with Vodafone next in line with a July launch slated. We're still waiting for Three and O2 to confirm their 5G launch dates, but both will have their networks live before the end of the year.

5G on EE

Image Credit: EE

  • EE 5G launch date: May 30, 2019
  • EE 5G launch cities: 6 (16 by end of year)
  • EE 5G launch devices: 4

EE 5G launch date

EE is the first to launch its 5G network, with it landing in the UK on May 30, 2019 - beating the rest of the pack to the punch, as it did with 4G.

EE 5G locations

You'll initially be able to get EE 5G in six cities in the UK, with London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester getting switched on come May 30, but the network has committed to rolling out 5G to 10 more cities before the end of the year.

EE customers can expect 5G to hit the following areas in 2019: Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.

EE 5G devices

EE has four 5G smartphones for you to choose from. The cheapest is the Oppo Reno 5G, the priciest are the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and LG V50 ThinQ 5G, while the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G sits in the middle of the group.

Previously, EE confirmed that it would stock the Huawei Mate 20 X 5G as well, however it has since been temporarily pulled from the line-up due to the Huawei ban.

EE 5G cost

So how much is EE asking for the first taste of 5G in the UK?

5G on Vodafone

Image Credit: Vodafone

  • Vodafone 5G launch date: July 3, 2019
  • Vodafone 5G launch cities: 7 (19 by end of year)
  • Vodafone 5G launch devices: 2

Vodafone 5G launch date

Vodafone will launch its 5G network in the UK on July 3, 2019.

Vodafone 5G locations

Vodafone 5G will go live in seven locations on launch day, with London, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol getting the next generation of mobile network.

It's not done there though, as Vodafone has also promised to bring 5G to a further 12 locations before the year is out. The lucky locations are: Birkenhead, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Guildford, Newbury, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Reading, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Warrington and Wolverhampton.

Vodafone 5G devices

So far, Vodafone has confirmed it will range two 5G smartphones, with the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G available now and the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G landing soon on the network.

Vodafone 5G cost

So how much is Vodafone asking for its 5G services?

5G on O2

Image Credit: O2

  • O2 5G launch date: 2019
  • O2 5G launch cities: 4
  • O2 5G launch devices: 1

O2 5G launch date

All O2 has confirmed so far is that it will launch its 5G network in 2019.

O2 5G locations

While we wait for an O2 5G release date, we do know where the carrier's 5G network will land first, with four cities lined up. Those places are the four capitals of the UK; London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.

O2 5G devices

We know O2 will offer the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, but it's not clear whether it'll be on offer when its new network go lives. We'll update this page as soon as we know more.

Previously, O2 also confirmed that it would stock the Huawei Mate 20 X 5G, however with the recent Huawei ban this may change.

O2 5G cost

With no firm 5G launch date or device confirmation, we'll have to wait and see what prices the network will set. We'll update this page as soon as we know more.

5G on Three UK

Image Credit: Three UK

  • Three 5G launch date: 2019
  • Three 5G launch cities: 1
  • Three 5G launch devices: ??

Three UK 5G launch date

All Three has confirmed so far is that it will launch its 5G network in 2019.

Three UK 5G locations

Just one city has been confirmed for Three's 5G rollout in 2019 so far, London.

Three UK 5G devices

Three is another network who has said previously it will sell the Huawei Mate 20 X 5G, but with the recent Huawei ban this may change. 

A Three spokesperson told TechRadar: "We are currently considering what all the implications are. We will evaluate what impact this has on the customer, both short and long term, and act accordingly."

We'll update this page as soon as we know more.

Three UK 5G cost

With no firm 5G launch date or device confirmation, we'll have to wait and see what prices Three will set. We'll update this page as soon as we know more. 

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Gigabyte’s new SSD is over 40% faster than previous technology

Posted: 29 May 2019 09:04 AM PDT

Gigabyte had plenty to show off over at Computex, including a blazing fast new solid-state drive (SSD), alongside new high-end motherboards and a number of interesting looking gaming monitors.

Let’s start with that Aorus NVMe SSD, which is an M.2 model that uses PCIe 4.0 – a new, super-quick interface that is supported by the aforementioned new motherboards – more on those shortly – to push solid-state speeds to even greater heights.

We are talking sequential read and write speeds of 5,000MB/s and 4,400MB/s respectively, which is incredibly fast, putting even something like Samsung’s recently unleashed 970 Evo Plus to shame (which achieves read/write performance of a claimed 3,500MB/s and 3,300MB/s via PCIe 3.0).

Gigabyte has also equipped this SSD with a full-body copper heatsink for better cooling, with the added benefit that it makes the drive look pretty snazzy, too.

The Aorus NVMe Gen4 SSD will come in three capacities – 500GB, 1TB and 2TB – although pricing hasn’t yet been mentioned. The SSD is apparently ready to roll, and will be arriving ‘soon’, although the manufacturer didn’t specify an exact launch date.

X570 Aorus Xtreme

Gigabyte's top-of-the-line X570 Aorus Xtreme motherboard (Image credit: Gigabyte)

Mother of all motherboards?

Of course, those hugely impressive speeds are achieved thanks to the Aorus NVMe SSD’s use of PCIe 4.0, so you’ll also need a new motherboard that supports the tech such as one of Gigabyte’s X570 series, along with one of AMD’s incoming Ryzen 3000 processors. X570 is AMD’s new PCIe 4.0-toting chipset, and offers much faster performance for SSDs (and indeed graphics cards down the line).

Gigabyte has further honed the design of its motherboards with these X570 products, the company claims, using low inductance, server-grade circuit boards, and 16-phase digital power with an advanced thermal design.

In other words, the firm is aiming to please overclockers, and the top-end board, the X570 Aorus Xtreme, boasts goodies including a “thermal reactive armor design with fins-array heatsink [and a] NanoCarbon baseplate”, along with built-in Wi-Fi 6 (and Bluetooth 5), not to mention multi-zone LED lighting.

Smart fan technology will also be on-board, which includes a sensor to measure noise levels, and allows the user to adjust things for quieter operation if needed.

There will be seven different variations of X570 motherboards from Gigabyte in total, with a range of features and costs, moving down from the aforementioned flagship (although again, no pricing has been mentioned yet).

It’s also worth noting that as well as the above SSD, Gigabyte was showing off an 8TB SSD with claimed sequential read speeds of up to 15,000MB/s – although technically this is actually four 2TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 drives (as seen above) slapped together in a RAID 0 array on the Aorus M.2 PCIe 4.0 riser card.

So technically, it’s not a single SSD, but effectively four bolted together, and doubtless it will be (even more) eye-wateringly expensive; but it’s an interesting development nonetheless.

Aorus KD25F monitor

The Aorus KD25F monitor is designed for shooters. (Image credit: Gigabyte)

Tactical monitors

Finally, Gigabyte was keen to introduce what it’s billing as the world’s first ever tactical monitors, as opposed to just plain-old standard gaming monitors – the distinction being that tactical monitors help you to play better.

How? The monitors include game assist features, including an "aim stabilizer," dashboard timers (for things like spawns), along with active noise cancelling and an OSD sidekick for conveniently and swiftly adjusting settings – such as for the mouse and keyboard – on-the-fly.

The three displays are headed up by the Aorus KD25F, which is designed for first-person shooters and carries all the aforementioned features. It runs with a 24.5-inch TN screen that has a 0.5ms response time, along with a 240Hz refresh rate. The resolution is Full HD and the panel delivers 100% of the sRGB color spectrum, as well as supporting FreeSync and being G-Sync compatible.

There’s also the Aorus CV27F, a curved monitor aimed at MOBA players, and the curved Aorus V27Q which is Black Equalizer 2.0 enabled, meaning it displays dark scenes with better clarity (helping you see better in the shadows in some games – and making movies look better for that matter).

The V27Q is a curved (1500R) VA panel which supports FreeSync 2 HDR and has a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440, with a 1ms response time and a 165Hz refresh rate. Hopefully some pricing and launch date information for these monitors will follow soon enough.

  • Check out all of TechRadar's Computex 2019 coverage. We're live in Taipei to bring you all the breaking computing news and launches, plus hands-on reviews of everything from fresh laptops and desktops to powerful new components and wild overclocking demonstrations. 

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Amazon Echo vs Google Home: which is the smart speaker for you?

Posted: 29 May 2019 08:55 AM PDT

If you're in the market for a smart speaker, then you're going to have to weigh up the Amazon Echo vs Google Home question: how do you split two of the best devices out there? Well, hopefully we can help.

As you would expect from two of the biggest names in tech, the Amazon Echo and the Google Home are both very polished smart speakers, and neither would look out of place in your home. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are both maturing and becoming more useful with every passing day too.

Both the Amazon and Google smart speakers (and their assistants) let you get answers to questions, set timers and alarms, control smart home devices, and much, much more – all with spoken voice commands.

The Amazon Echo and Google Home devices have a lot in common then, but they are also some key differences to talk about. You need to be aware of what you're getting before you part with any of your hard-earned cash.

We know that the smart speaker is at the center of most smart homes: but is the Amazon Echo or the Google Home right for you? Let's dive in.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home FAQ: quick questions answered

Is Alexa better than Google? That's a tough question because they're both similar and we find it difficult to pick between the two. Which one you decide to go with may well depend on which you personally prefer and what kind of products you're using than which is technically 'better'. 

Having said that, Alexa tends to be better when it comes to support for a wider range of devices, as well as better smart home integration. So if you have a lot of smart home devices already, Alexa might be your best bet. 

However, lots of users who have put the two devices head-to-head believe Google Assistant could be the smarter of the two. And, with Google's A.I. learning experience, it has the biggest potential for the future. 

Is there a monthly fee for Echo? No. You don't have to pay anything extra after you've purchased an Echo product. Although you do get some perks if you're an Amazon Prime member, like access to Amazon Music.

Can Alexa drop in on Google Home? No. Alexa's Drop In feature only works with other Alexa-enabled devices. 

What's the difference between Echo and Google Home? As we've said above – very little right now. They're both very capable smart assistants that respond to voice commands and work well with many smart home devices. Read our full head-to-head below to get a better idea of the specifics. 

Amazon Echo: the different models compared

Let’s kick off with the smart speaker that started it all. Back in 2014, Amazon launched the Echo, and it's now up to its second generation model: standing 148 mm tall and sounding pretty decent for its price, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections supported, it's an impressive bit of kit. It also features that signature blue ring around the top telling you when it's heard the "Alexa" wake word.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Amazon Echo Dot

Perhaps the most popular Echo of all though, and one of our favorite smart home devices full stop, is the Echo Dot – that's likely because it’s the cheapest of the entire bunch and is about the same size as a hockey puck, making it a no-brainer for those who want to try smart home tech for the first time. 

Now in its third generation, the Echo Dot doesn't have the best audio quality in the range, so it's best suited for rooms where music playback won’t be its primary function. That said, you can pair it up with a Bluetooth speaker or another audio device using an AUX jack connection, making it a cost-effective upgrade you can make to any aging Hi-Fi system.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Amazon Echo Plus

Then there's the pricier, 2nd-gen Echo Plus: slightly taller than the vanilla Amazon Echo, with improved sound and integrated smart home hub features – meaning it can be more tightly integrated with the various other bits of smart home kit you've got installed.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Amazon Echo Show

And what about the newly upgraded Echo Show? It's essentially an Amazon Fire tablet with an Alexa-enabled speaker built in, so you can get Amazon Prime Video or the weather forecast up on screen as well as having responses read out to you. It's a perfect gadget for the kitchen (think recipes and video watching).

Amazon has also recently launched a mini version of the Echo Show, called the Echo Show 5. With a 5.5-inch screen, it'd designed to sit on your bedside table whilst still being big enough to watch videos on. 

The other smart speaker in the Amazon Echo line to come with a screen is the Echo Spot, which you can think of as an upgraded Echo Dot – this Echo is perfect for a bedside table, with the ability to make video calls through its circular screen.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Amazon Echo Spot

All of these devices have access to the majority of Alexa's skills (think voice-controlled apps) available, though only the Plus can truly double up as a bridge for your smart home devices – while all Echo products can talk to things like smart bulbs and thermostats, it’s only the Plus that lets you do away with individual hubs for each additional gadget family.

All the Amazon Echo smart speakers have a certain sense of style about them, as you can see from the pictures above – especially after the most recent 2018 refresh, with all that fabric and all those curves. For more details on each Amazon Echo device, check out the full reviews below:

Google Home: each model compared

Google's smart speaker range is a little smaller than Amazon's, with four Google Home speakers to choose from, including the recently unveiled Google Home Hub – the only one of the range to feature a screen.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Google Home Mini

The smallest of the three is the Google Home Mini speaker. Like the Echo Dot, the speaker is puck shaped, if a little more pebble-like with softer edges, and has a top side covered in a fabric speaker mesh. You can pick up the Google Home Mini in a range of colors, with four flashing LED lights illustrating when it's listening to your commands and showing the volume level.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Google Home

In the middle of the range taking on the Amazon Echo devices is the standard Google Home speaker, which looks considerably different to the Mini. It has the appearance of a small vase, with a two-tone color design (multiple shades are available here too) and a sloping top side that houses a touch control panel.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Google Home Max

The Google Home Max, meanwhile, looks much more like a traditional loudspeaker, and is the largest of the bunch – it doesn't really have an equivalent Amazon Echo device either. It's boxy in design, closer aesthetically to the Google Home Mini (with the mesh speaker covering), and can stand in either a portrait or landscape orientation to suit the space you've got.

While the vanilla Google Home is an acquired taste in terms of design, both the Mini and Max are subtly attractive, and should fit into any surroundings without much concern.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

Google Home Hub

There's also the Google Home Hub, unveiled in October 2018, which takes on the Amazon Echo Show directly. It can show videos, the weather, recipes, music artwork and so much more, but it doesn't have a camera – so video calling is out of the question.

Most recently, Google released the Nest Hub Max, putting Google Assistant in a 10-inch smart display. It's the first product to come out under the converged brand name of Google and smart home security brand Nest.

Like a larger version of the Google Home Hub, the Nest Hub Max is big-screen smart display for your home, with a front-facing camera for video calls and the facility to check on your home remotely. 

It's not out yet, but we're told the release date is set for July 15 in both the US and UK, while Australians should be able to get it "this winter" (between July and August 2019) according to Google. 

To find out more about each version of the Google Home, check out the full reviews below:

Keep in mind that, with both Alexa and Google Assistant, third-party speaker manufacturers are increasingly choosing to integrate the voice helpers into their own products. 

So, if there's an audio manufacturer you're particularly fond of, it may be worth holding out to see if it has any plans to join either of the smart ecosystems – at this point, it's highly likely that most all audio devices in the near future will come equipped with some sort of microphone and voice control system.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home: smart features

The smart features of the Google Home and Amazon Echo lines are broadly similar – speak to them, and you’ll be able to do anything from playing back music, having general knowledge questions answered, controlling smart home gear, and setting alarms and timers... and that's just scratching the surface of the Amazon Echo vs Google Home debate.

Both Google and Amazon are committed, long term, to improving their respective voice platforms, and each has done a good job so far of enticing third-party smart device manufacturers – from thermostat makers to smart lighting companies – to make their products compatible with each service. With a base level of commands available to each, with either a "hey Google" or "hey Alexa" wake command, control of the digital world is just a vibration of your vocal chords away.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Amazon Echo Plus

Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers do take a slightly different approach to the way their abilities are accessed.

Google Home's abilities are, by default, accessible to all – barring pairing up third-party smart home devices with your Google Home system, if you've made a request that the Google ecosystem can understand, it'l carry out the required response unprompted.

Alexa, on the other hand, relies on the installation of skills – individual, app-like sets of related voice commands focussing on certain topics or abilities. Handled and activated through the Alexa app on smartphones, these can range from getting information on local transport times, or to activating voice-controlled games. 

There's no right or wrong approach really – Google's is simpler, but Alexa's encourages faster and broader development and support from third-parties.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home: audio

As you'd expect from such a wildly varying range of shapes and sizes, you get very different sound performance across both ecosystems, let alone when comparing Amazon Echo against Google Home in general. Here's a broad breakdown of how they sound in relation to each other.

If you can only afford the entry-level devices, and music remains a top priority for you, go for the Google Home Mini, which sounds a lot better than the Echo Dot. Unless you hook up a Dot to another speaker over Bluetooth or the 3.5mm jack, it's just too thin and harsh to fully enjoy. 

If you're looking for a small Echo speaker, your best best then is the Echo Spot, which despite its size offers a richer sound. The screen, however, massively increases its expense, so bear that in mind.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home

The Google Home Max

As you move up the size scale, the Google Home is too bass-heavy to be truly enjoyable. It also has worse clarity than the latest generation of the Amazon Echo speaker and the Echo Plus. So, if you're limited to around $100/£100, the Amazon Echo may be the best choice from an audio perspective.

With a slight premium in price, and the inclusion of Dolby processing, the Echo Plus sound is more dynamic than the standard Echo, as you'd hope.

And, despite its looks, the Echo Show sounds better than the Echo Plus and Echo, though not so dramatically as to forgive it some of its other failings.

If you're going for pure sonic superiority between the Echo and Google Home ranges however, opt for the Google Home Max. Its bass is well tuned, its mids and highs well defined, and its top volume levels loud without verging into highly distorted territory.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home: price

There's such a range of prices across the two speaker platforms that, in fairness, there’s something for every wallet size when it comes to the question of Amazon Echo vs Google Home.

It's more about what you’re expecting to get from your smart speaker of choice: Amazon, offering the widest spread of options, hits both the most affordable and expensive price points between the two brands, with the Echo Dot at the lower end and the screen-packing Echo Show at the top. Google, on the other hand, sits somewhere in the middle.

You can compare the latest pricing between the ranges below.

Amazon Echo vs Google Home: verdict

There's no easy answer to the question of whether you should go for Amazon Echo or Google Home as your smart speakers of choice. Both lines are very accomplished and, so long as you temper your expectations in line with the amount of money you're going to spend on buying into one of the lines, all sound good enough for their respective price points.

The choice really then comes down to the preference of ecosystem as opposed to the hardware. Are you heavily invested in Google's services? Then Google Home is probably for you, as the two areas are only going to become ever-more-closely linked. Google's natural language understanding is superior too, even if its voice implementation still needs some refinement.

However, in terms of sheer value for money and the already vast reach of its collaborations and abilities, Amazon's Alexa devices seem the more sensible bet at this stage. It’s a close run race, with Google's powerful search capabilities potentially seeing it through in the long run. But there’s something to be said for Amazon’s more focussed approach – from our experience so far, Alexa currently feels like the more reliable assistant. But that could change. Either way, place your bets – you're unlikely to come away disappointed whether you opt for an Amazon Echo or a Google Home smart speaker.

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