Sunday, June 2, 2019

Apple : Apple over-ear headphones: what we want to see from the rumored StudioPods

Apple : Apple over-ear headphones: what we want to see from the rumored StudioPods

Apple over-ear headphones: what we want to see from the rumored StudioPods

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 11:01 AM PDT

Rumors of a pair of Apple over-ear headphones have been circling for a while now, with numerous outlets reporting that the San Cupertino company is planning to release a pair of studio-quality cans this year. 

According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple’s over-ear headphones, which some are calling the Apple StudioPods, could arrive in the second half of this year. And we're not talking about a new pair of Beats headphones - we're talking Apple-branded.

With Apple’s WWDC 2019 keynote fast approaching on June 3, could we be about to see the brand’s first ever over-ear headphones?

What we’ve heard so far

Rumors surrounding a pair of Apple over-ear headphones are just that – rumors. There’s been no confirmation from Apple that it’s planning to release cans to compete with the likes of Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony headphones.

The earliest reports of Apple over-ear headphones came in February 2018 from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claimed that Apple was working on updated AirPods and “own-brand, high-end over-ear headphones with an all-new design”.

As we now know, Kuo’s prediction about the updated AirPods turned out to be right, as the release of AirPods (2019) earlier this year demonstrated. 

He was also right about the kind of upgrades Apple’s true wireless earbuds would receive, predicting that they wouldn’t look very different from the original AirPods, but would have an upgraded chip and a wireless charging case. 

With Kuo’s predictions being correct so far, we wouldn’t be surprised if he was right about the over-ear model too. 

The Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones (Image credit: Apple)

In June 2018, Bloomberg reported that Apple was planning “studio-quality over-ears headphones” that will “use Apple branding and be a higher end alternative to the company’s Beats line”.

Apple acquired Beats in 2014 for $3 billion, and already sells Beats-branded over-ear headphones on its website. 

Speaking to people close to the matter, Bloomberg reported that Apple originally intended to “introduce the headphones by the end of 2018, but has faced development challenges”, and is now targeting a 2019 launch.

More recently, a January 2019 report from Bloomberg said that the new headphones could arrive in the second half of this year. 

Despite no official confirmation from Apple that the headphones exist, some outlets have already started calling the rumored headphones the Apple StudioPods. As MacWorld says, the company is likely to seek consistency by “re-using the Pod suffix that unites so many of its music products: the EarPods, AirPods, HomePod, and iPod”. 

What we want to see from Apple's over-ear headphones

The best over-ear headphones combine slick design, comfort, and portability – ideally without breaking the bank. But these days, headphones can be incredibly tech-heavy as well, which is what we would expect from a pioneering company like Apple. 

That’s why we’d like to see modern conveniences like wireless connectivity, built-in voice assistance, and active noise-cancelling in the rumored Apple over-ear headphones – and above all else, fantastic sound quality.

Apple Airpods

The Apple AirPods (2019) (Image credit: TechRadar)

Better sound quality than the AirPods

They may be popular, but Apple's AirPods have never been known for their audio quality. While they have a lively presentation, they can sound a bit harsh when it comes to higher frequency sounds like snares, violins, and trumpets.

The Apple AirPods also aren’t the bassiest earbuds on the market – but more powerful bass could absolutely be achieved by a higher-spec pair of over-ear headphones. 

Ketan Bharadia, International Technical Editor of What Hi-Fi? agrees: “I've never rated the sound of the company's in-ears but, considering [Apple’s] engineering might and the sonic qualities of their iPhones and the HomePod, there's plenty of potential for over-ears to stir things up.”

Over-ears tend to offer higher sound quality than in-ear models anyway, partly because they have bigger drivers than in-ear models. These larger drivers are able to displace larger volumes of air than their smaller counterparts, which in turn creates a more powerful audio performance. 

According to Audio Advice, these larger drivers tend to reproduce the “widest range of frequencies, from silky smooth highs to tight, deep bass,” providing a richer, more colorful soundstage than in-ear headphones. 

This mockup from Curved shows the so-called StudioPods charging wirelessly (Image credit: Curved / Labs)

Classic Apple design

Take away the technical aspects of a pair of headphones, and you’ve essentially got a (potentially very expensive) piece of headgear – and as such, it’s important that they look good. 

We know that Apple has a strong design aesthetic; despite initial ridicule, the Apple AirPods have become iconic for their unique design, with lots of true wireless earbud manufacturers since taking inspiration from their long, protruding stems and all-white minimalist color scheme. 

Although Apple hasn’t even confirmed the existence of the StudioPods, that hasn’t stopped German tech publication Curved from mocking up its own concept illustrations of what the headphones might look like. 

The illustrations from Curved are based on the look of Apple’s HomePod, framed by “the same textile mix as Apple’s smart speaker”. 

They also take inspiration from Beats headphones in terms of their shape and build, but swaps the Beats logo for Apple’s own hallmark. 

Curved also predicted that the headphones would charge wirelessly, showing the mocked-up headphones resting on an Apple-branded charging platform, and that the housings would feature touch controls, a little like the Microsoft Surface headphones.  

The Microsoft Surface Headphones (Image credit Microsoft)

Decent sound isolation

The way Apple’s over-ear headphones sound will have a huge impact on the different situations they can be used in, as Senior Supervising Engineer at the National Film & Television School Jeremy Rodeschini explains: 

“My role is to do with sound engineering covering a wide range of applications from theatrical sound to VR as well as live sound – and each application has very different requirements.”

While Rodeschini looks for “excellent isolation from ambient noise, reliability, and robustness” from the headphones he uses for mixing live sound, comfort and “a slightly flattering response” is preferable when he’s recording actors delivering their lines in the studio. 

Of course, noise isolation isn’t just useful for working with live sound; for anyone who wants to listen to music in loud environments, like on their daily public transport commute for example, good noise isolation makes a world of difference. 

How well a pair of headphones can isolate ambient noise depends on how well they seal around your ears, creating a physical barrier that prevents environmental sound from getting to your ears; this can be challenging for over-ear styles, as they don’t offer as tight a seal as in-ear models. 

Still, a good pair of over-ear headphones should be able to physically block a decent amount of ambient noise, and this is something we would expect from a pair of high-end headphones from Apple. 

Fantastic noise-cancelation

The Sony WH-1000MX3s (Image credit: Sony)

If Apple wants its StudioPods to compete with the best over-ear headphones on the market, it should take a leaf out of Sony’s book, and offer the same high-standard of noise-cancelation provided by the Sony WH-1000XM3s, as well as noise isolation.

The best noise-canceling headphones make commuting a breeze, eliminating the noise of crying babies, honky traffic, and the loud conversations of your neighbors by digitally tuning out unwanted environmental sound. 

With Apple’s technological might, we’d be surprised if a pair of over-ear headphones from the San Cupertino company didn’t include noise cancelling technology – after all, it’s an increasingly common feature of premium headphones. 

Both the Beats PowerBeats Pro and the Apple AirPods (2019) contain Apple's H1 chip (Image credit: TechRadar)

Apple's H1 headphone chip

If Apple is going to release a pair of over-ear headphones, we’d expect them to have the same H1 headphone chip that’s built-in to the AirPods (2019) and the PowerBeats Pro.

Apple’s new H1 chip is designed to improve connectivity and battery life, and allows for a new ‘Hey Siri’ voice activation feature in the upgraded AirPods – all of which we would like to see in any future Apple over-ear headphones. 

Wireless isn’t everything though – if Apple markets these headphones as studio-quality cans, the option to use a wired connection to your device will be crucial.

This is because wired headphones tend to offer higher quality audio than their wireless counterparts, as Joe Cox, Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi? explains:

“Bluetooth would traditionally compress your music files to transmit them wirelessly, reducing audio quality before it’s even reached your headphones”. 

While advances in Bluetooth like aptX HD means that audio quality is far better than it once was, you won’t find this technology in Apple’s AirPods (2019) – and if the company doesn’t include support aptX HD in the StudioPods, the option for a wired connection will be important to get that studio-quality sound.

Audio accuracy

It could be that the new Apple StudioPods take inspiration from the over-ear headphones already offered by Beats like the Beats Studio 3 wireless noise-canceling headphones – but these models aren’t exactly known for their audio quality either, with some criticizing their bass-heavy presentation.

If Apple frames these new headphones as studio-quality, true audiophiles like Rodeschini will be looking for perfect audio accuracy:

“Personally I like a comfortable pair of headphones that delivers a sound that is as close to the original as possible so I get to appreciate all the expertise of the mixer and get as close as possible to the artists intention.” 

He continues, “if a headphone is adding any color to the soundtrack, it would be like adding the same blend of spices to every dish you eat without the chef's knowledge – not desirable in my opinion.”

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WWDC 2019: Apple's keynote date, time and what to expect tomorrow

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 10:27 AM PDT

The Apple WWDC 2019 keynote date is tomorrow, Monday, June 3. This close to the big event, we're predicting what will likely come from Apple CEO Tim Cook.

In short? A lot of software updates – and maybe the Mac Pro (we're betting on it). WWDC 2019 stands for Worldwide Developer's Conference 2019, so it traditionally appeals to app developers by giving early access to upcoming tools immediately. And for everyone else, especially iPhone and iPad owners, the show grants a first look at the company's digital offerings slated to come later in the year, and that's exciting, too.

The mid-year Apple hype machine will almost certainly start with the iOS 13 beta, which thus far has only been rumored through a series of leaks. We'll almost certainly see macOS 10.15, watchOS 6, and tvOS 13 updates for the first time at the McEnery Convention Center venue.

Update: Apple has released a blog post in anticipation of WWDC telling stories about passionate members of the Apple community: a young app developer fresh out of college and an older CEO of AssistiveWare, which has had a long relationship with the company improving accessibility. This is very typical of Apple: few hints for the big show, but the inspirational stories will tide us over.

Apple confirmed the WWDC 2019 time and date back in March, and also gave us a preview of its expanding subscription strategy on March 25 when it announced Apple Arcade and Apple TV Plus. We may finally see the Apple Arcade price and release date information that was missing two months ago.

Will new hardware grace the WWDC 2019 keynote stage? The Apple event series has been hit or miss for introducing new products. Two years ago, we saw the HomePod and iMac Pro for the first time, as well as new iPads and MacBook Pros. But last year was all silent on the hardware front: Apple opted to save the new iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 12.9 for October.

Ready for our Apple WWDC 2019 what to expect guide? Let's start out by explaining the date and time so you don't miss it: the keynote starts at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST on June 3, and the lasts through June 5, but the latter days are mostly filled with developer sessions.

1. iOS 13 at Apple WWDC 2019

The iOS 13 beta is poised to be the chief news story out Apple's WWDC 2019 keynote simply because it affects every iPhone and iPad user in the world.

We fully expect Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi to talk up the fact that iOS 13 is going to be faster than last year's update. To make the speed increase percentage even more Apple-dramatic, we may see Federighi cite the overall speed increase since iOS 11 (as iOS 12 offered a speed increase, too).

iOS 13 is going to launch the long-rumored Dark Mode, according to the latest leaks. It'll turn your white-and-light-gray UI backgrounds into black-and-dark-gray colors that are infinitely easier on the eyes at night.

Reminders, Health, iMessage, Screen Time Books, and Find My (a combination of Find My iPhone and Find My Friends) will be tweaked in iOS 13, says Bloomberg.

Important for iPad users, we're allegedly going to see a native functionality using the iPad as a secondary display (akin to Duet and Luna Display), a revamped home screen design, stackable app windows for easier multi-tasking and maybe even mouse support. Apple is trying to make the iPad running iOS 13 more like a computer.

We have a full list of changes, a rumored device compatibility list, the expected beta release date schedule in our iOS 13 explainer page.

2. macOS 10.15

We loved macOS 10.14 (aka Mojave) for finally introducing system-wide Dark Mode and additional creative tools, but we haven't heard much at all about macOS 10.15 – which doesn't even have a cool nature-themed codename yet (in keeping with recent releases, it will likely reference a California biome).

We don't know much about what's officially coming, but macOS 10.15 could include iOS features like Siri Shortcuts (and potentially the Shortcuts app), Screen Time, improved Apple ID management and special iMessage effects. We've also seen rumors that iTunes will be split into four different apps: Music, Books, TV, and Podcasts. 

There's also the possibility that macOS 10.15 enables Mac users to link up their iPads as secondary displays.

On the other hand, it's also possible that we'll only see incremental improvements, as happened with the move from 10.13 Sierra to 10.14 High Sierra. If that's the case, perhaps we'll see that minimal upgrade in the name – Dry Mojave, maybe?

Apple ruffled feathers when it raised minimum system requirements for macOS Mojave and locked out older machines, so we don't expect those thresholds to change this time around. To be specific: we expect anything newer than a 2015 MacBook, mid-2012 MacBook Pro, any late 2012 MacBook Air/Mac mini/iMac, late 2013 Mac Pro or 2017 iMac Pro to be able to run the next macOS.

Assuming Apple runs its usual schedule, it will introduce macOS 10.15 and release it in late September.

3. watchOS 6

We haven't heard anything about watchOS 6, but we're assuming that update will be announced at WWDC 2019 for owners of the newer Apple Watches. Perhaps it will be the long-awaited sleep tracker feature (Apple did buy sleep tracking company Beddit two years ago), though that's rumored to be coming to Apple's wearables in 2020.

But sources told Bloomberg that Apple plans to sever its wearable's close dependency on iPhone by adding an App Store directly to Watch (and ergo, watchOS). This opens the door to third-party developers (finally!) but Apple reportedly also plans to toss in some basic apps that have been on iOS for years, liek Calculator, Voice Memos, and the ability to send Animoji and Memoji stickers. There will also be two new health apps: one called 'Dose' to monitor pill reminders and the other 'Cycles' to track menstrual cycles.

watchOS 6 will almost certainly be compatible with the latest Apple Watch 4 and previous Apple Watch 3, while support for Apple Watch 2 is likely. We don't have high hopes for the original Apple Watch, however, as it stopped getting updates with watchOS 4.

We expect Apple to follow precedent and launch a watchOS 6 beta shortly after WWDC 2019, then release a final public version in September.

4. tvOS 13

If you thought we hadn't heard much about Apple's other probable software updates, we know even less about tvOS 13, which we expect to be announced at WWDC 2019. 

But Apple TV devices will certainly support the company's new streaming services. Apple TV Plus will have exclusive shows from big names like Oprah, Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and M. Night Shyamalan, and is expected to launch in later 2019. That's around when Apple Arcade is set to launch, which will have a host of games you can play across iOS, macOS and tvOS devices.

At last year's WWDC, Apple mentioned very little about the then-upcoming tvOS 12, which brought Dolby Atmos overhead surround sound, Dolby Vision HDR standard and zero sign-on that auto-filled passwords from your home Wi-Fi network (for US users, at least).

We don't know about any features coming with the supposed tvOS 13, but if it follows precedent, it will arrive in mid-September.

5. Mac Pro...and more

Apple is reportedly considering introducing a new version of the Mac Pro, according to Bloomberg. While we didn't get any details of how the desktop machine might be revamped, but there's plenty to update, given the second and last generation Mac Pro came out in 2013.

This fits last year's news that Apple was aiming for a 2019 release of a wholly revisioned Mac Pro, per a lengthy TechCrunch report. Gone is the 'trash can' design, as the company is allegedly considering a ground-up revision.

Apple is also preparing its own brand of external monitor (going by the codename J290) that will pack HDR support, per Bloomberg. Other rumors suggest a 31.6-inch 6K screen with mini-LED backlighting, according to Pocket Lint.

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Best Linux server distro of 2019

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 09:36 AM PDT

While Windows may be the world's most popular Operating System (OS) for desktop PCs, the world's most popular OS for the internet's web servers is Linux.

Usually bundled along with Apache, MySQL, and PHP - and frequently referred to as a LAMP configuration - a wide variety of different Linux distros are used. 

Sometimes it's down to personal preference, sometimes market forces, and sometimes due to small advantages a particularly distro will have in regards to the core applications to be used, security concerns, or stability issues.

Ultimately, most web users will never notice any difference because the OS works very much in the background, and it will only be the system administrators and IT managers who take notice of which distro of Linux is used.

But which Linux should be used? In most situations the choice won't be critical and mostly be an issue of personal choice. However, we'll list some of our favorite ones below.

  • Want your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to desire.athow@futurenet.com with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.

Image credit: Debian

1. Debian

Debian is over 20-years-old and in part owes that longevity to the emphasis placed on producing a stable operating system. This is crucial if you want to set up a server as updates can sometimes clash badly with existing software.

There are three branches of Debian, named 'Unstable', 'Testing' and 'Stable'. To become part of the Stable current release, packages must have been reviewed for several months as part of the Testing release. This results in a much more reliable system – but don't expect Debian to incorporate much 'bleeding edge' software as a result. 

You can get started with Debian using a minimal Network Boot image which is less than 30MB in size. For a faster setup, download the larger network installer which at just under 300MB contains more packages.

Image credit: Ubuntu 

2. Ubuntu Server

While Ubuntu is best known for bringing desktop Linux to the masses, its Server variant is also extremely competitive. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has developed LTS (Long Term Support) versions of Ubuntu Server, which like the desktop flavour can be updated up to five years after the date of release, saving you the trouble of upgrading your server repeatedly. Canonical also periodically releases versions of Ubuntu Server at the same time as the latest desktop distro (i.e. 18.04.1).

If you're intent on building your own cloud platform, you can also download Ubuntu Cloud Server. Canonical claims that over 55% of OpenStack clouds already run on Ubuntu. For a fee, Canonical will even set up a managed cloud for you using BootStack.

Image credit: OpenSUSE

3. OpenSUSE

OpenSUSE (formerly SUSE Linux) is a Linux distro specifically designed for developers and system admins wishing to run their own server. The easy-to-use installer can be configured to use 'Text Mode' rather than install a desktop environment to get your server up and running.

OpenSUSE will automatically download the minimum required packages for you, meaning only essential software is installed. The YaST Control Center allows you to configure network settings, such as setting up a static IP for your server. You can also use the built in Zypper package manager to download and install essential server software such as postfix.

Image credit: Fedora

4. Fedora Server

Fedora is a community developed operating system based on the commercial Linux distro Red Hat. Fedora Server is a special implementation of the OS, allowing you to deploy and manage your server using the Rolekit tool. The operating system also includes a powerful PostgreSQL Database Server. 

Fedora Server also includes FreeIPA, enabling you to manage authentication credentials, access control information and perform auditing from one central location. 

You can download the full 2.7GB ISO image of Fedora Server using the link below. The same page contains a link to a minimal 583MB NetInstall Image from Fedora's Other Downloads section for a faster barebones setup.

Image credit: CentOS

5. CentOS

Like Fedora, CentOS is a community developed distribution of Linux, originally based on the commercial OS Red Hat Enterprise Linux. In light of this, the developers behind CentOS 7 have promised to provide full updates for the OS until the end of 2020, with maintenance updates until the end of June 2024 – which should save the trouble of performing a full upgrade on your server in the near future.

You can avoid unnecessary packages by installing the 'minimal' ISO from the CentOS website, which at 906MB can fit onto a 90 minute CD-R. If you're eager to get started, the site also offers preconfigured AWS instances and Docker images.

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iOS 13: release date, beta, features and leaks

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 08:40 AM PDT

Apple is poised to launch iOS 13 beta tomorrow, Monday, June 3, according to every leak we've seen, and your iPhone and iPad is going to change in a big way thanks to this software update.

The biggest iOS 13 features rumors start with Dark Mode, the long-overdue way of forcing the UI to use more black and dark gray hue. Your eyes will thank you at night.  

We're also expecting other front-facing interface changes, with a fresh home screen redesign (although we suspect it'll be reserved for the iPad in 2019, and come to iPhone in 2020). New wallpaper is a given for the WWDC 2019 keynote.

iOS 13 for iPad will almost certainly act more like a laptop, which goes with the claim that the iPad is 'a computer,' according to Apple's marketing team. It could act as a second screen for Macs, and allow for stackable windows. iOS 13 mouse support is rumored, but as we'll explain below, it may be a mere tease. 

Our live iOS 13 reporting on the official changes starts on Monday at the Apple event and further down we have everything we anticipate tomorrow. When does iOS 13 come out? Will the iOS 13 beta launch at WWDC 2019? We'll keep you updated.

Monday may also mark the the launch of the less-important iOS 12.4, likely to make way for the Apple Card. However, iOS 13 news is going to overshadow everything else tomorrow, although we fully expect a Mac Pro 2019, too.

Here is a comprehensive iOS 13 features list ahead of the beta announcement. It's shaping up to be only good news for Apple's sluggish iPhone sales, especially with the iPhone 11 not expected to dramatically change form later in 2019.

iOS 13 release date announcement: when will it come out?

Apple CEO Tim Cook at the latest iPad Pro event in November (Photo credit: Matt Swider / TechRadar)

Tomorrow, the iOS 13 release date starts with a beta

  • Tomorrow, Monday, June 3: iOS 13 beta 1 and first look at WWDC 2019
  • Around June 25: iOS 13 public beta may launch for adventurous testers
  • Early September 2019: iOS 13 Golden Master (final dev beta) likely to launch 
  • Mid-September 2019: iOS 13 likely to launch with new 2019 iPhones

We have mapped out an iOS 13 beta timeline, from beta 1 to the final version of the software, and it all begins with a first look at the update tomorrow, Monday, June 3. We had this date pinned down months ago, long before we got our WWDC invite.

We went as far as to make a graphic for the iOS 13 release schedule:

iOS 13 beta release schedule

Image credit: TechRadar

1. iOS 13 developer beta: The first iOS 13 beta will likely arrive at the WWDC keynote tomorrow, but it's going to be restricted to paid Apple developers at first. You should probably wait for the public beta, which is always more stable.

2. iOS 13 public beta: This is Apple's way of testing features on a larger scale, and that may happen toward the end of June – last year the iOS public beta release date was June 25. It's typically a more refined version of the iOS developer beta, although it can still be rough and never includes all of the features implemented in the final version of the software.

3. iOS 13 golden master: This will be the final version of the iOS 13 software one week early, meant for developers and public beta testers. At this point it's very stable and gives app makers seven days to adapt to the final software.

4. The official iOS 13 release date: We'll get the new iOS 13 software in its final, stable form about one week after the next iPhone launch event, what we're calling iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Max and iPhone 11 XR at the moment. The date? Probably mid-September (last year it was September 17).

iOS 13 compatibility list

  • iOS 13 may shed support the oldest still-supported devices: iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad mini 2
  • Compatibility would then go as far back as iPhone 6, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPad Air 2
  • The A8 chipset, in the newly launched iPad Touch 7th gen, might be the base line for most devices (iPad mini 3 excluded)
  • One rumor says iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, iPad Air 2, and even the iPhone SE will be axed from the iOS 13 compatibility list, but we think that's a stretch

Apple just served us a strong hint of which devices with be iOS 13 compatible and which will not when it launched a new iPod Touch 7th generation last week.

The working theory has been that the iOS 13 compatibility list will shed the iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad mini 2, the oldest devices that are compatible with the last iOS update. If true, iOS 13 would still work with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPad Air 2. 

Which devices will iOS 13 be compatible with? (Image credit: Apple)

All of these devices have an A8 chipset (A8X for the iPad Air 2) so the base line would be an A8 chipset or newer to upgrade to iOS 13. This happens to be the chip in the HomePod and Apple TV 4th generation, so it brings everything into line very neatly. 

Okay, there's one outlier we hope stays up-to-date: the iPad mini 3, which has an older A7 chipset (the iPad mini 2 was updated with iOS 12, after all). Of course, it's in Apple's best interest that you upgrade your hardware, like the iPad mini 4. Hangers-ons don't help the company's bottom line, so nothing is truly safe.

There's a rumor that iOS 13 compatibility list cuts will go even further, axing support for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, iPad Air 2, and even the iPhone SE. The benefit? Cutting the SE would leave Apple and third-party app developers with fewer screen sizes to deal with when programming for iOS – although the smaller iPod 7th gen dismisses that theory..

One thing's for sure: whatever happens, don't expect Apple to make an official announcement at WWDC 2019 if the iPhone 5S isn't compatible with iOS 13. The iOS 13 compatible phones will just show up on a slide, or they won't. Also, remember that not every iOS 13 feature will come to all devices on that list. Some new ideas may require the TrueDepth camera, a rear dual-lens system, or 3D Touch.

Almost a sure thing: iOS 13 Dark Mode confirmed

  • Overdue Dark Mode has been tipped multiple times for iOS 13
  • We saw macOS get a system-wide Dark Mode in 2018
  • Shortcut to black-and-dark-gray UI to live in Control Center

iOS 13 is where we're going to see Dark Mode, according to multiple leaks about the forthcoming iPhone and iPad software update. It's finally going to launch this time.

iOS 13 Dark Mode

Image credit: 9to5mac

The reason we think iOS 13 Dark Mode is a sure thing for 2019 is thanks to this very real-looking screenshot (above) that shows three menus suited up in a dark theme.

It'll turn white-and-light-gray interfaces to a black-and-dark-gray UI, which should be a nice thing to see at nighttime. With Night Sight, TrueTone and now Dark Mode on a growing number of devices, Apple is being very kind to our eyes.

Best of all, this iOS 13 feature should also help your phone if it has an OLED display. The iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max has OLED screens that (essentially) turn off the pixels when display true black, thus consuming less power.

New wallpaper for iOS 13

Monday's keynote is expected to pave the way for fresh iOS 13 wallpaper, as we've seen from past iOS updates every year at WWDC. 2019 should be no different.

Watch this space for new iOS 13 wallpaper (Image credit: TechRadar)

Even though haven't been any credible leaks regarding this year's official wallpaper, Apple could use it as a chance to better exhibit iOS 13 Dark Mode. We'll throw the first images up here when we do see it on stage. Watch this space.

iOS 13 home screen redesign

  • The tiled home screen design hasn't changed since 2007
  • This redesign was supposedly pushed back from iOS 12
  • Could include glanceable information like the 5-day forecast

iOS 13 may bring the first-ever major changes to the iOS home screen, and it's long overdue. We've had this app tile layout since the first iPhone launched in 2007. It works, sure, but it's become increasingly stale in 2019.

We envision this supposedly iPad-specific change to take parts of the Today screen (the leftmost widget-like screen) and tie them into the home screen.

This grid is boring. Bring on glanceable information with iOS 13 (Image credit: TechRadar)

Being able to peek at snippets of information – the 5-day weather forecast, your next calendar appointment, and the latest Apple News headlines – would be a welcome addition to the unchanged iOS app grid. 

When talking up Apple Watch face complications, the team behind it used the words 'glanceable information' a lot. That would be a natural fit for the iOS 13 home screen. We're just a bit disappointed that the rumors so far don't extent to the iPhone.

iOS 13 to bring new app designs and features

Apple may throw a fresh coat of paint on existing apps and offer a few new features to make them worth re-visiting if you put them in an 'Unused' folder.

The iOS 13 Reminders app stands out the most, using what looks like a triage system of four color-coded categories. This leak claims the breakdown is 'done today, all tasks, scheduled tasks, and flagged tasks.'

Here's one app redesign. The Reminders app is going to get four new categories with iOS 13 (Image credit: 9to5Mac)

But a new screenshot leak shows categories of Today, Scheduled, All and Flagged. We'll know for sure when Apple announced iOS 13 tomorrow.

The same report says Apple Health will have a new home screen, monitor hearing health and track menstrual cycles. The iOS 13 Find My app is said to be a union of of Find My Friends and Find My iPhone.

iMessage may act more like WhatsApp with profile custom pictures and nicknames, Mail may get more filters and blocking features, and Apple Home is getting into the smart home category with security cameras integration.

Parents will take heart if Apple's Screen Time app expands parental controls to limit who kids can and cannot contact at certain times, while Apple Books is said to be including a progress tracker and reward system as you (or your kids) finish books.

iOS 13 iPad mouse support... kind of

  • Big iPad changes: iOS 9, iOS 11... iOS 13 is next?
  • iOS 12 iPad Mouse support is the most popular rumor 
  • Mouse support is already an accessibility feature, but we have doubts about is going further than that at this time

When we talk about Apple rumors, we often talk about patterns, and here's one concerning iOS 13 iPad features: every two years we get meaningful iPad software changes: iOS 11 nearly two years ago, and iOS 9 two years before that.

iOS 13 mouse support for the iPad is the first thing everyone wants to know about, and it seems entirely possible it could come to the update but as an accessibility feature, according to Steve Troughton-Smith.

You can see in this video (above) that iOS actually already supports a mouse via USB-C and other joysticks.

Will mouse support become a full-blown feature when iOS 13 lands? That remains to be seen (and we have some serious doubts, sorry), but if Apple wants to position the iPad as a true productivity replacement for laptop owners, this is almost certainly a requirement... eventually.

iOS 13 external hard drive support

  • The iPad Pro may get wider USB-C external storage compatibility
  • Importing photos from drives and SD cards to bypass Photos app

The iPad may get external help in two ways when iOS 13 launches. First, iOS 13 could soon give you more access to external hard drives and DSLRs you plug into to the iPad Pro USB-C port. Right now, every photo and video requires importing through the Camera Roll instead of directly to something like Lightroom, says 9to5mac.

iOS 13 will reportedly let you skip the Photos camera roll and import straight to apps like Lightroom when using an external hard drive plugged into the iPad Pro USB-C port (Image credit: Apple)

We'd like to see external storage support go even further, allowing us to transfer all sorts of files between a hard drive and iPad. It'd allow the iPad Pro to become more productivity-friendly device, as would the long-rumored multi-user support. iPads, after all, are often shared among family members.

iPad as a external Mac monitor

  • Luna Display and Duet have enables iPads to be a Mac's second display
  • But Apple could make performance buttery smooth with iOS 13

Second, iPads running iOS 13 could acts as a second monitor for Macs. It sounds sort of like the idea behind third-party apps Luna Display and Duet, but baked into Apple's software and lag-free.

Could iOS 13 enable an iPad Pro to act as a second screen for a MacBook, like third-party developer Luna Display does? That's the current credible rumor (Image credit: Luna display)

Apple may see a boost in iPad sales for people who feel like the iPad is sometimes a useful tool, but are so productivity focused that they really need a MacBook. An iPad with iOS 13 may be a great standalone device for their light usage and acts a companion to a MacBook for when a second screen is needed.

Native iOS 13 swipe keyboard

  • Type words by gliding your fingers across the keyboards in iOS 13
  • SwiftKey and Gboard do this, but do iOS users know about them?
  • Apple's default gesture keyboard could be a lot more popular

Apple may be making a native swipe keyboard for iOS 13, one that sounds similar to the popular SwiftKey app on iPhones (seen below five iOS generations ago).

iOS 13 new swipe keyboard

iOS 13 a native swipe keyboard, like this SwiftKey example

This would mean sliding your finger across a keyboard to spell out words could be done without lifting a finger. With larger screens, this has become a big perk.

iOS keyboard extensions like Google's Gboard and Fleksy already offering this glide typing option, but a lot more people may discover and use the functionality if it were built into the default keyboard.

New undo gesture in iOS 13 

  • iOS 13 won't force you to shake your iPhone to undo your last action
  • Keyboard swiping gesture, three fingers left (undo) or right (redo)

Violently shaking your iPhone or iPad to undo a mistake like it's an Etch A Sketch may become a thing of the past, as Apple is tipped to add a new undo gesture. 

It's a three-finger tap on the keyboard that requires you to then slide to the left or the right, according to 9to5mac – the left to undo and the right to redo an action. We're hoping that skate-to-undo doesn't fully go away, as it's sometimes destressing to take making a mistake out on our iPhone.

iOS 13 to fix intrusive volume controls

  • The age-old volume HUD to finally get smaller and out of the way

This is going to be the smallest, but maybe most valued iOS 13 change, only because we've dealt with it for years: the volume HUD is going to be less obtrusive.

iOS 13 could do what Google did with Android Pie last year, by shifting the volume controls to the side or perhaps in the notch 'ear'.

Even Apple know that the volume controls are annoying when they block the screen for a few seconds every time you want to adjust the volume using the side buttons. We could see it living up the top corner of the phone (the left notch 'ear') where it sometimes appears when playing multimedia.

iOS 13, codename "Yukon" – and beyond

iOS 13 (codenamed "Yukon") will follow iOS 12's footsteps in increasing speed for older devices and ironing out bugs, as per Bloomberg. The interface will get tweaked with new animations when multitasking or closing apps.

Potentially more exciting: the same report claims Apple is already at work on iOS 14 (codenamed "Azul"), which sources predict will support 5G network speeds and new AR functionality. We don't expect iPhone 11, which is expected to launch with iOS 13 in its final form, to have 5G capability.

Four new Animoji and many more emoji

  • 4 Animoji: Apple to roll out cow, mouse, octopus and emoji face
  • 230 new emoji and changes: disabilities, yawning and waffles 

A handful of new Animoji could be added as part of iOS 13, with a rumor suggesting that a cow, mouse, octopus and emoji face are all being added.

There are currently 24 Animoji is Apple's iOS 12.2 roster, so the iOS 13 update would bring the total number to 28 in addition to customizable Memoji avatars.

We've also reported on 230 new and changed emojis that could come to iOS 13, with disabilities getting the spotlight, along with a yawning emoji and waffles.

Siri improvements

According to one source, Siri could be upgraded for iOS 13, making it better able to understand you than it is currently.

The claims are a bit vague, but Siri improvements of some kind are always likely.

More iOS 13 features (changes we'd like to see)

Those are of the iOS 13 rumors with leaks attached to them. However, we foresee Apple considering additional feature changes for its software update. Maybe not all of them will come today, but we're putting them out there anyway.

And, a lot of the iOS 13 features leaked above are actually ones that have appeared on this very list over the years. Let's get started.

iPad desktop mode

We'd love to see a 'Desktop Mode' to improve our workflow, with a menu and taskbar across the top and bottom. Going along with this is our wish to see Bluetooth mouse and cursor support with iOS 13.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 added desktop mode and mouse features in 2018, but with terrible touchscreen execution. Apple could do what it does best: refine an existing Android idea until 'it just works.'

Camera app revamp

  • Apple's camera app is very basic and sorely in need of redesign
  • Expect it to still be streamlined and easy to use for average users
  • We'd at least like to change resolutions without diving into Settings

Apple's camera app is extremely basic. It's been a blessing and a curse. It's easy for less tech-savvy iPhone owners to use, but more advanced users are missing out on features that would let them fine-tine their photos and videos.

A revamp to the camera app was also among last year's leaks, and that's the change that piqued our interest the most. The Samsung Galaxy S9 has the ability to snap a photo with gestures, while the LG V40's video tools allow you to fluidly zoom into anywhere on the screen, not just the dead center. The Google Pixel 3 has added a Night Sight mode that aims to end the need for a frequently-photo-ruining flash.

Expect Apple to keep the camera app streamlined, but sprinkle in more advanced tools. And if all we get is the ability to change resolutions and frame rates from within the camera app (and not in the settings menu), that'd be good enough.

Health and Activity apps on the iPad

  • We'd like to see Apple's Health and Activity apps on the iPad
  • Doctors could review health data with patients on a big screen

Your health and fitness data deserves to be seen at 9.7 inches and 12.9 inches, and that's what we're hoping for from the iOS 13 update in the coming months.

A Bloomberg report hinted that a revamped Health app is on the way that will more clearly visualize your day-to-day activity. It will also have a new section on 'hearing health' that monitors how loud you're blaring audio into your headphones (assuming it's coming from your iOS device); there's also a more refined menstrual cycle tracking feature coming.

Both the Apple Health app and Activity app (the one with the rings) present a lot of data to comb over, and seeing bars, graphs, running maps, and various numbers stretched out on the big screen would be ideal. Right now, both apps are limited to the Apple Watch and the iPhone.

We think Apple will do this eventually. Doctors could review health data with patients more easily, for example, and senior citizens have complained to us that their iPhone is too small to read all of the health data. We'd also like to see both apps on macOS, but one tracked step at a time. 

SPAM call blocking

  • Google Pixel phones impressed with a SPAM call blocking feature in 2018
  • Apple did add a way for third-parties to block calls, but it often costs money

iOS 13 needs better SPAM call blocking. Absolutely needs it in 2019. It's one of the best features of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, yet the increasing nuisance of telemarketers persists on the iPhone.

Okay, last year's iOS update did at least add a call blocking and identification option. But users have to invest in an app (that often costs money annually) to get good SPAM call blocking protection. Apps like Hiya cost $2.99/month or $14.99/year for premium service.

The good news is that we see a big shift happening. Verizon is making its SPAM and robocall feature free starting in March, and Apple was recently issued a patent for this sort of feature.  

Clipboard manager

Clipboard manager apps do exist, allowing for multi-copy and paste and copy and paste history, but they're all rather limiting because they're not built into the UI.

Apple could change this in iOS 13, and it's another way in which productivity on the iPad could be enhanced. Having a full clipboard manager work at the system level would also help prevent copying over what's in our clipboard currently.

Change WiFi and Bluetooth via Control Central

Connecting to new WiFi networks or Bluetooth devices without exiting the app you're using is impossible. Sure, Control Center allows you to toggle WiFi and Bluetooth on and off via this drop down menu, but switching between connections requires you to dive into the Settings menu and submenus. That's rather annoying.

iOS 13 could easily change this, with another frosted overlay menu that lets you pick your connections without kicking you out of your current app. This would be especially handy when traveling and constantly cycling through multiple open WiFi networks. It'd be a shortcut within a Control Center shortcut, and we'd be okay with that.

More iOS 13 news to come

iOS 13 beta launch on Monday so as the Apple WWDC 2019 keynote kicks off we'll continue to update this page with even more information about which features are confirmed and which don't make the cut.

Just remember, the final version of iOS 13, likely in September with an iPhone 11 launch event, could include additional hardware-specific features, adding to the change list.

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The cheapest Oculus Rift prices and Oculus Go sales in June 2019

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 07:35 AM PDT

So you're here for the best and cheapest Oculus Rift prices, but did you know there's a new Oculus in town in the form of the more affordable Oculus Go? On this page you'll find the latest Oculus Go prices along with the original and more powerful headset's cheapest offers.

The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset is one of the best VR devices on the market. It's backed by world-class technology, has a growing library of games and apps, and now you can get it at its cheapest price ever. That's because the Oculus Rift price was permanently reduced a while back making it much more affordable. The headset also is now bundled with the Oculus Touch controllers in the UK and US. You're saving a few hundred notes now, which we always love.

In the box, you'll find the Oculus Rift headset, two Touch controllers, two Oculus room sensors, all the cables you need to connect it, and seven free VR apps and games, including popular title Lucky's Tale, Quill and Robo Recall.

Oculus Rift prices

When searching for an Oculus Rift sale price, you should always make sure that you're looking at one of the newer bundles with the Touch controllers. Otherwise, you could end up paying $399 in the US and £399 in the UK for just the headset, or you could pay more than you should for the starter kit.

Every deal listed on this page is for the current retail version of the Oculus Rift. We've vetted these deals so you won't end up with a dev kit version (Dk1 or Dk2) early build. You can find a few of these early models around the net, especially on eBay, but be warned, many of these are the earliest versions of the headset, made available to early adopters or developers. We'd stay away from them as they're not the refined finished product available at your favorite retailers and they probably don't come with controllers either.

Looking to upgrade your PC gaming setup further? Check out our best monitor deals.

Oculus Go prices

If the Oculus Rift looks a little pricey and you're not ready to invest in an upgraded rig, there is a cheaper way to enjoy Oculus VR and that's by taking a look at our Oculus Go sale prices.

The Oculus Go, is a standalone VR experience that does not require any extra equipment like a powerful PC, gaming laptop or modern smartphone. It has everything it needs built into the headset. You also get a hand-controller which makes interacting with menus and playing games much easier than trying to select things with your face.

The visual quality isn't quite up there with the full-sized version and you can't lean in to make things appear closer, but the other degrees of head movement are covered in a huge range of apps and games available from the Oculus store. So if you're after a fun VR experience beyond those dodgy headsets you slot your phone into, then we'd seriously advise you check out the latest Oculus go prices below.

Oculus Touch controller deals

Oculus Touch is a pair of motion controllers with buttons that provide a more intuitive way of interacting with select Oculus Rift games. The controllers come bundled in with most Oculus Rift deals, and certainly those sold by official retailers. 

The controllers, which let you interact with VR games and apps by moving your arms around and pressing buttons, originally cost a rather steep £190/$199 for the pair, essentially bringing the overall cost much closer to the HTC Vive VR setup. 

On the plus side, the controllers have been reduced to a much more attractive £99/$99, making them an essential purchase if you bought the headset before it was bundled with the controllers.

How much does the Oculus Rift cost?

In the UK, the original recommended price was £549 and $599 in the US. Thankfully, it's recently been reduced and you can now pick one up for £399/$399. Feel free to bookmark this page though to keep an eye on the best Oculus Rift prices as they are updated daily to reflect the best online Oculus Rift deals out there.

Will my PC run Oculus Rift?

That's a good question, and certainly one to ask before splurging out on the virtual reality lid for your rig. Handily, there's a neat Oculus Rift compatibility tool you can try via our very own Downloads section.

If you're starting out from scratch and want to build your own Oculus Rift ready rig, check out TechRadar's article below.

Can I use the Oculus Rift on the PS4 or Xbox One?

Not on either so far. Sony has its own headset with PlayStation VR for the PS4, so we're not expecting Oculus Rift compatibility any time soon. As for Oculus Rift on the Xbox One, it's also a no, but with a potential 'maybe' further down the line. Oculus teamed up with Microsoft to include a PC/Oculus-compatible Xbox One controller with the retail release of the headset, so there's already a relationship to potentially build on. Microsoft's HoloLens VR/augmented reality headset has been very quiet of late and hasn't really been pushed as an Xbox One headset, leaving plenty of room for speculation that the Oculus Rift will make it's way to the Xbox One.

Can I use Oculus Rift on my phone?

Get out. Oh, you must be confusing the Oculus with the Samsung Gear VR. Samsung's headset is far cheaper and is made for mobile apps, rather than full-fat PC experiences. Well worth a look though if you have a compatible Android mobile phone. As things stand, your phone would probably melt faster than the sets-on-fire-for-fun Galaxy Note 7 if you tried convincing it to even look at an Oculus Rift.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 could go all the way up to 45W fast charging

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 06:30 AM PDT

We're eagerly awaiting the official arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, expected to arrive in August, but until that happens we've got plenty of leaks and rumors to go on – including talk of 45W fast charging.

We've previously heard that the Note 10 is going to bring some rapid charging to the table, but up until now we haven't been sure just how rapid it would be.

According to respected tipster @UniverseIce on Twitter, the phone battery could be juiced up with 45W of power. That's some improvement over the 15W charger and charging tech that came with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

The tweet takes some deciphering though – it shows Leonardo da Vinci, a charging symbol, and the number 101101. It starts to make sense when you remember 'Da Vinci' is Samsung's codename for the Note 10 and that 101101 is the number 45 in binary.

Charge it up

Charging speeds on a phone are a combination of how much power the charger can provide and how much power the phone can take.

An overall wattage of 45W would probably put the Note 10 at the front of the field in terms of charging speeds, though without more information it's difficult to say exactly how quickly it would get from zero to 100%.

The Huawei P30 Pro, for example, comes with 40W fast charging and can get up to a 70% charge from nothing in just 30 minutes. Wireless charging speeds are usually significantly slower.

We'll have to wait and see to know for sure how quickly the Note 10 will be able to get charged up, but @UniverseIce is one of the more reliable leakers out there as far as phone info goes.

Via GSMArena

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The weird and wonderful PCs of Computex 2019

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 03:00 AM PDT

Every year Computex brings forth some truly weird and wonderful things. While there's some great tech on the show floor that's worth looking at, we couldn't help but notice a slew of rather interesting PCs being showcased at various booths.

Now, some of these PC cases are created purely for enthusiasts to marvel at, but we would be kidding if we didn't admit that some of them would look right at home here in the TechRadar offices.

So here's our collection of the best and most unique PCs seen at Computex this year.

All images credit: TechRadar

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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iTunes could close in the next few days

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 03:00 AM PDT

We've been expecting Apple to close iTunes for a while now, in order to divide it into different apps, and it looks like the tech company is putting the ball in motion, suggesting we'll see the new face of Apple's media plan at WWDC 2019. 

As noticed by Reddit user u/MalteseAppleFan,  the iTunes Instagram account has had all its content deleted – in addition the iTunes Twitter account hasn't been updated in nearly a week as of writing, and all posts on iTunes' Facebook page have also been removed.

We've heard Apple is planning to replace iTunes with Apple Music, and presumably iTunes' other content would be moved to Apple's other platforms, such as Apple TV Plus.

Shuttering iTunes' social media accounts would make sure consumers only followed the accounts of iTunes' newer apps, so Apple's steps to do so suggest we could hear news of iTunes' closure in the next few days. The iTunes Twitter and Instagram accounts already point towards the Apple TV accounts, so this move could already be in motion.

Apple's week-long developer conference WWDC 2019 begins on June 3, and we're expecting Apple to announce its new software and hardware upgrades like iOS 13 , MacOS 10.15, WatchOS 6 and more. TechRadar will be on the ground reporting for the whole week, so stay tuned to find out the future of Apple.

Via Appleinsider

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Apple tipped to clamp down on tracking inside kids apps

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 02:30 AM PDT

WWDC 2019 gets underway tomorrow, Apple's yearly get together for developers and app makers, and we just got another rumor about what's in store – tighter controls on user tracking inside apps targeted at kids.

According to the WSJ, Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to announce more controls over what can and can't be gathered in terms of user data, as well as pushing for more transparency over the data that gets collected.

The WSJ tested 80 apps highlighted in the iOS App Store, including some apps aimed at children, and found all but one included third-party trackers. There was an average of four trackers per app.

An app aimed at children aged between 2 and 7, Curious World, was found to be sending user names, ages, and data on in-app activity back to Facebook.

Stronger privacy and security

Selling marketing info is of course a key way that developers can make money and fund their apps in the first place – and so Apple is going to have to strike a balance to keep both app users and app developers satisfied.

It's also worth pointing out that the problem is by no means exclusive to iOS, though Apple's mobile operating system was the focus of this latest WSJ report.

"As part of our ongoing efforts to make users' data even more secure, we will continue to address the challenges of improving transparency and helping users get stronger privacy and security protections for the data they've chosen to share," Apple told the WSJ.

Look out for some of those challenges to be addressed at the WWDC keynote on Monday, when we're also expecting to hear about Apple's plans to break up iTunes.

Via Engadget

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South Africa vs Bangladesh live stream: how to watch today's Cricket World Cup 2019 match from anywhere

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 02:05 AM PDT

How are your Sunday plans looking? If they're anything like ours, they involve finding a television, laptop or tablet and settling in for the next match in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Well you're in the right place to discover how to get a South Africa vs Bangladesh live stream, regardless of where you are in the world.

Take a look at the odds on somewhere like Betfair and you'd think this one was over before it's even begun - South Africa are heavy favourites over Bangladesh. But then...see how far that got Anthony Joshua yesterday and Serena Williams in the French Open tennis. 

And that also seems to disregard just how convincingly South Africa were beaten in the 2019 Cricket World Cup opener on Thursday against England. The bowling of Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo and makeshift opener Imran Tahir meant that the absence of Dale Steyn wasn't missed too much. But it will be on captain Faf du Plessis to rally his troops and get the likes of Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock firing on all cylinders.

To oversimplify things on Bangladesh's side, so much rests on their one true superstar Shakib Al Hasan. Currently ranked as the number 1 all-rounder in international one day cricket, today will see him earn his 199th ODI cap. If he adds to his seven centuries and 200-odd wickets, Bangladesh could trouble the Proteas at the Oval in their first match of this year's World Cup.

So this may not be as easy to call as it first looks. What is straightforward however, is getting a South Africa vs Bangladesh live stream in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Continue reading to see how to watch from just about anywhere on Earth.

Watch a Cricket World Cup 2019 live stream from outside your country

Watching in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, US or India? We've got all the details you need about the broadcaster in your country further down this page.

But if you're away from your home country today, the minute you try to watch your domestic broadcast you'll discover that you can't because of geo-blocking. That's annoying, but by using a VPN you can watch it anyway without reverting to some dodgy, illegal feed you've dug out online.

How to stream South Africa vs Bangladesh live in the UK 

How to watch South Africa vs Bangladesh: live stream in Australia

How to watch South Africa vs Bangladesh: New Zealand live stream 

How to stream 2019 Cricket World Cup online in India

How to watch South Africa vs Bangladesh: US live stream 

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Every 5G trial live in the UK right now

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 02:00 AM PDT

It has been a long time coming, but 5G has finally landed in the UK, with the first network just switched on and the first wave of 5G handsets hitting stores.

That’s good news, as 5G could prove to be a revolutionary technology. At the very least it will make any process that involves data a lot faster, so you’ll be able to download large apps in seconds, stream 4K content without buffering, and load websites instantly.

But it’s also set to provide lower latency, which will be a major boon to online gamers, and to offer increased capacity, so being in a stadium or city center full of other 5G users won’t lead to network congestion.

Even that’s just the beginning – 5G could transform industry, lead to a massive rise in the Internet of Things (IoT), and a whole lot more. So, it’s set to enact a real change in the mobile landscape and beyond.

Still, while we’re on the cusp on networks launching 5G services, we’re not quite there for every single one yet. Below you’ll find everything we know so far about the 5G launch plans of the UK’s four major networks, but we’ll also look at what they’re doing in the meantime, including their numerous 5G trials.

EE will be bringing 5G to Glastonbury Festival. (Image credit: EE)

EE

EE was the first network to launch a 5G network in the UK, and at the time of writing it's the only one to have done so.

It’s initially targeting a small number of cities with parts of London, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham now, while parts of Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield will apparently get it later in 2019.

EE has been carrying out various 5G trials to get here. It was responsible for the “UK’s first” 5G trial network, which it switched on in Canary Wharf in late 2018. It quickly expanded that trial, switching on nine 5G sites across London.

That has been EE’s main 5G trial so far, but it has also carried out smaller ones, such as demonstrating the first live 5G broadcast, and looking ahead, EE plans to bring 5G to this year’s Glastonbury Festival, giving festival-goers an early chance to experience the technology at the event in late June.

Image credit: Vodafone

Vodafone

Vodafone has revealed more about its 5G launch plans than any other network so far, saying that it will enable 5G on July 3.

It will be quite a big launch too, with 5G set to arrive in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London from day one – though we wouldn’t expect city-wide coverage straight away.

After that, it plans to bring 5G to Birkenhead, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Guildford, Newbury, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Reading, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Warrington and Wolverhampton later in 2019, and it's confirmed that it won’t charge any more for 5G than 4G.

It has been a long road to get here though. Vodafone has run numerous 5G trials, including major trials in the seven cities it plans to initially launch 5G in. These trials went live in late 2018 and Vodafone stated at the time that they were the “most comprehensive” to date.

These trials – which started with MediaCity UK in Salford, Greater Manchester - were mostly just open to Vodafone itself and to other businesses. But the public has been able to get involved with some parts of the trials, as in February 2019, when Vodafone switched on 5G at Manchester Airport, allowing the public to connect to it like a Wi-Fi network – bypassing the need for a 5G phone.

And it’s perhaps no surprise that Vodafone is looking like it might be the first UK company with a live, full 5G network, as it has also been responsible for a number of other 5G firsts, such as being the first UK network to test 3.4GHz spectrum (which will be used for 5G) and the first company anywhere in the world to connect smartphones to a 5G network.

Three's 5G network will land sometime in 2019. (Image credit: Three)

Three

Three is behind EE and Vodafone, both when it comes to a 5G launch date and 5G trials – but possibly not by much.

The network said in April 2019 that it was on track to launch 5G during the second half of the year, but hasn’t yet been more specific than that, and hasn’t said where 5G will initially be launched either, suggesting that it probably won’t land as soon as some rivals.

It seems a safe bet that London will be one of the first places to get it though, especially as Three has 5G test beds live on Oxford Street and in Central St Martins, the latter of which was used during London Fashion Week to deliver the “world’s first” 5G mixed reality catwalk.

It has also been trialing another world-first, in the form of a cloud-based core 5G network, which is designed to make it easier and quicker to roll out new services, and which is part of a £2 billion infrastructure investment Three is making in preparation for 5G.

O2 has brought 5G to the O2 Arena. (Image credit: O2)

O2

O2 has said that it plans to launch 5G at some point in 2019, so like Three it’s a bit vague so far. However, unlike Three it has said where will get 5G first, specifically Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London – the UK’s four capital cities.

Ahead of this launch it is carrying out a number of trials, including, unsurprisingly, some in London. These include trials of Massive MIMO (a technology that will be fundamental to 5G) at King’s Cross and Marble Arch, as well, perhaps most significantly, as launching a 5G test bed at the O2 Arena.

It is also carrying out other trials less relevant to mobile, such as providing 5G spectrum to help test autonomous cars.

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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WhatsApp slides onto the Nokia 8110 4G phone

Posted: 02 Jun 2019 01:50 AM PDT

The Nokia 8110 4G, affectionately known as the banana phone is getting one of the most popular applications released for it. Users of this KaiOS based phones will finally be able to WhatsApp using the enigmatic yellow phone.

Announced during MWC 2018, the comeback of the Nokia 8110 4G certainly created some noise. Mostly targeted as a secondary phone, the 8110 appealed to an older crowd for nostalgic reasons.

However, the functionality of the 8110 4G was limited due to the lack of apps commonly found on iOS and Android platforms. This, could also be considered as a selling point for the banana phone, giving the hyper-connected user a break. 

But WhatsApp is a key requirement for many- like phone calls and text messages. And those users can now put their main smartphone away during times they don't want to be bombarded with data and carry on with the Nokia 8110.

Other apps already available on KaiOS include Google Maps, Facebook and Twitter. WhatsApp can be downloaded from the KaiOS store on your Nokia 8110. While text messaging and sending photos/videos works well with it, it currently does not support voice messaging or calls.

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The cheapest Chromecast prices and deals in June 2019

Posted: 01 Jun 2019 04:35 PM PDT

With competition from rival devices heating up, it's a good time to be on the lookout for some of the cheapest Chromecast prices. Google Chromecast is not only one of the most useful and innovative gadgets of the last few years, it's also excellent value for money. And if you're looking to pick one up for the cheapest possible price, you've come to the right place!

Chromecast is a Wi-Fi HDMI dongle that you plug directly into your TV. From there you can use your smartphone or tablet to 'throw' video at your TV over Wi-Fi, whether it be Netflix movies, live football matches from the major broadcasters or simply just a funny YouTube video. On this page we'll find you the best prices for the Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 3, Chromecast 2 and Chromecast Audio and explain how they differ. You'll have to be quick on Chromecast Audio, as Google has announced it will no longer be making new units.

With prices already pretty cheap, there's no need to hang on for specific Chromecast sales of the other dongles. If you're in the UK or US and would prefer to stream content from a standalone box, you should take a look at the latest Roku deals. Otherwise, there's a strong selection of streaming devices over on our Amazon Fire TV prices and deals page.

The cheapest Chromecast 3 prices

The newest version of the standard (non-4K) Chromecast is this 3rd-gen iteration. Generally, you'll find it for the same prices as the previous model. It's phasing out stock of the older model, although if you spot the older one for a decent amount less, you're not missing much at all by skipping the new one. The only real improvement is a modest boost to the speed it'll load up videos and start running them in full HD. The actual dongle looks a bit different too (see images), but other than the speed boost, that's all your getting for the Chromecast 3. At least now we know why Google basically launched this without really letting anyone know. 

cheap chromecast ultra deals

The cheapest Chromecast Ultra prices

The 4K Chromecast Ultra is the newest member of the Chromecast family. If you have a 4K TV or are planning on getting one, it's certainly worth picking one of these up. Chromecast Ultra deals are usually around £69/US$69/AU$95, so anything cheaper is an added bonus. It's worth noting though that the 4K-ready Amazon Fire TV Stick prices are cheaper nowadays though and that device also comes with a remote.

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The best Chromecast Audio deals

While it doesn't offer true multi-room streaming, this easy-to-use and affordable device modernizes any trusty set of wired speakers you already own with wireless capabilities. In doing so, it also opens them up to smart features. Got an old set of speakers or an ancient iPod dock? Turn it into a wireless speaker with Chromecast Audio! You'll have to be quick though as Google recently announced it is ceasing production of the Chromecast Audio dongle. That means once stock is sold out from stores, don't expect to see any fresh units. Prices may even end up increasing as stores capitalize on the situation. After that, you might only be able to find used or refurbished models. It's a shame Google has decided to drop the Chromecast Audio as there aren't that may similar devices out there. That being said, You could try the new Amazon Echo Input, which comes with voice-controls included too for a similar price.

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The cheapest Chromecast 2 prices

The Chromecast 2, is very similar to the now discontinued 2013 Chromecast. Sure, it looks a little different. And it's got slightly faster network performance and a few other tweaks such as coming with a dangly cable instead of as a rigid stick. But essentially the same product in a different shape - that's why the prices were basically the same. There's a newer version out now, although it's only moderately faster.

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