Apple : Best laptop docking stations of 2019 |
- Best laptop docking stations of 2019
- Best mining CPU 2019: the best processors for mining cryptocurrency
- Death Stranding: release date, trailers and news
- Death Stranding trailer introduces a new character
- Pokémon Duel will go offline in October
- Apple confirms "a small portion" of Siri recordings get reviewed by contractors
- The design of the Huawei Mate X may have been tweaked ahead of its launch
- Stage 20 Tour de France live stream: how to watch the cycling climax online from anywhere
- Leak hints at how Intel Xe graphics cards might compare to rivals
- Australia vs Argentina live stream: how to watch today's Rugby Championship 2019 from anywhere
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- FIFA 20: release date, news, Volta modes and everything else there is to know
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- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare release date, trailer and news
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| Best laptop docking stations of 2019 Posted: 27 Jul 2019 11:43 AM PDT If you're looking for the best laptop docking station to expand the functionality of your device and turn it into a feature-packed desktop replacement, then you've come to the right place. The docking stations in this list of the best laptop docking stations of 2019 let you expand the connectivity options of your laptop, making it an even more versatile machine by adding ports such as additional USB ports, Ethernet LAN ports and video connections as well. So, what do you need to look for when shopping for the best laptop docking stations? Well, you need to make sure that whatever solution you’re looking at will provide any features and ports you may need in your day-to-day workload. With the best laptop docking stations, you can have the best of both worlds: a portable laptop that has the connectivity of a bulkier desktop PC. With this guide, we’ll dive into all the best laptop docking stations that’ll give you everything you need to stay productive and to turn your trusted laptop into a fully-featured work machine.
StarTech claims its Thunderbolt 3 docking station is the most advanced dock ever. Often, docking stations require multiple leads, but StarTech’s latest offering avoids that. The device has been designed to work with thinner notebooks and uses only one cord. As the name suggests, it supports dual 4K displays (at 60Hz) and harnesses the raw power of Thunderbolt 3, offering 40Gbps bandwidth while keeping portability in mind. That’s not all, though. It can be used with up to three USB 3.0 devices and you also get Gigabit Ethernet capability. There’s also the ability to charge mobile devices, and you benefit from Direct DisplayPort integration. This accessory will set you back £312, which is a hefty whack, but not a bad investment if you’re in the market for a powerful dock. Targus offers this Dual Video Docking Station which won’t break the bank, and comes with integrated laptop recharging facilities that are compatible with most 90W notebooks. So even if you’ve forgotten your charger, you’ll be good to go with this nifty device. You can hook up two displays to this dock, and in terms of ports, you get a pair of USB 3.0 ports, alongside a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, plus two powered USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet. Targus also offers a Multiplexer Adaptor which makes this docking station USB-C compatible. Anker also makes a range of affordable laptop docking stations – and its USB 3.0 dual display model is one of them. You can connect up all your peripherals via six USB ports, and use two displays simultaneously. That’s certainly handy if you need multiple displays for work purposes. Four of the USB ports are version 2.0, while two are USB 3.0 – and they give you access to transfer speeds of 5Gbps. The dock has built-in automatic bandwidth prioritisation too, aiming for smooth, stable performance when all the ports are being used. This dock has been built for Windows devices. Kensington is a well-known and respected brand which has developed a reputation for its docking stations. Its latest USB 3.0 model can be used with MacBook or Windows laptops. This device will let you transform one USB port into six (it sports four USB 2.0 ports around the back, and a pair of USB 3.0 affairs on the front). You also get a DVI connector and adapters to use it with either HDMI or VGA leads, and there’s an optional multi-display adapter for hooking up more than one monitor. It sits nicely next to your laptop, and is affordably priced – it really is one of the best laptop docking stations around right now. Toshiba is another big tech name that makes laptop docking stations. The Dynadock V3.0 is one of the firm’s most popular offerings, and is targeted at Windows laptop users who want to benefit from expanded capabilities. Like most docking stations nowadays, the Dynadock offers USB 3.0 ports, although more than many as you get four of these here. There is also a DVI connector (with adapters for HDMI or VGA) along with an Ethernet port, and the dock uses one cable connection for ease-of-use and portability. And because the Dynadock sports an upright design, it’ll fit nicely on even the most cramped desk environment. Microsoft is a company known primarily for its software prowess, but in recent years, it has been increasingly working on the hardware front. The Surface line-up of tablet hybrids demonstrates this perfectly. If you own one, you’ll be happy to learn that you can also reap the rewards offered by a docking station. The Surface Dock will let you turn your Surface convertible into a fully-fledged desktop PC. It’s compatible with the Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. Connectivity-wise, there are two Mini DisplayPorts, one Gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.0 ports and an audio-out jack. This dock doesn’t come particularly cheap, though. The J5Create Ultra Station is a neat and compact dock indeed, being a thin bar which you can attach to the back of your notebook. It provides a variety of connectivity options for Windows laptops and MacBooks: you get a pair of USB 3.0 ports (one of which has power for charging) and a USB 2.0 port, along with VGA and HDMI ports, Ethernet, plus speaker and mic jacks. However, that’s not all. There’s also a nifty ‘wormhole’ USB connection that allows you to hook up another computer – as well as your initial laptop – and do things like share files by simply dragging and dropping them across from machine to machine. This can also be used to share your keyboard and mouse between devices, and works cross-platform (i.e. you can hook up and share things between a Windows notebook and MacBook). Although there are universal laptop docking stations out there, of course, many models are built by manufacturers for their own notebooks. Dell’s USB 3.0 dock exemplifies this. It works with most of the company’s latest laptops in the Inspiron series and, like much of the competition, uses USB 3.0 as the prevalent port – it has three USB 3.0 connectors, along with two USB 2.0 ports. As the name suggests, 4K screens are catered for, and you get a DisplayPort along with a pair of HDMI ports, meaning you can hook up a total of three external monitors (one of them 4K) if you wish. Dell bundles an HDMI to DVI adapter, to support older displays still using DVI, and this dock also boasts an Ethernet port along with audio/headphone jacks. The Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station for Windows makes for a strong budget option for those who want extra connections. The specs include a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (5Gbps) link from PC to dual video, as well as connections for Ethernet, audio input/output, and two USB 3.0 ports. The HDMI port can support a single display of up to 2560x1440, though if two displays are set up this reduces the maximum resolution to 1920x1200. However, it is only compatible for Windows machines. Additional limitations are that it cannot be mixed with non-DisplayLink USB graphic adapters, such as MCT, j5, or SMSC. It also doesn't support DVI dual-link or Displayport connections, HDCP, or the playback of protected Blu-ray disks. Despite these limitations it's still a useful piece of budget hardware that's good for many uses. The Wavlink Universal Docking Station is a very versatile piece of kit that is compatible not just with Windows machines but also Intel-based Macs. It includes dual display outputs for monitors, and it supports HMDI and DVI/VGA displays with resolutions of up to 2048 x 1152. In theory this means you can expand you laptop to have three display monitors. There are also no less than six USB ports, two of which are Superspeed USB 3.0, with the other four being USB 2.0 for use with other hardware such as printers, keyword, scanner, or a digital camera. There's also an Ethernet port, as well as earphone and mic audio sockets. This is a strong and flexible piece of hardware that comes in at a surprisingly low price. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best mining CPU 2019: the best processors for mining cryptocurrency Posted: 27 Jul 2019 11:43 AM PDT While over the past two years cryto-currencies such as Bitcoin have peaked and dipped, mining for crypto-currencies has continued to intensify to the point where at present it's difficult to almost impossible for ordinary computer uses to mine them in any manner that is cost-effective. The result is that mining rigs remain out of stock and not replenished, and serious miners are expected to have extended farms of hardware in order to keep going. However, there are cycles to economics, and while current conditions make it tough for mining, that doesn't mean to say it can't become accessible and profitable again in the future. With that in mind, for hardcore miners and dedicated enthusiasts, it may yet be worth still investing in hardware for crypto-currency mining. Pair the best mining CPU with the best mining GPU and best mining motherboard, and choose the best crypto-currency for your needs, then you could soon have a mining powerhouse that can potentially start earning enough to pay off your hardware and energy use while still making some profit. Here then are the best in mining CPU's still on the market.
The best mining processorsHaving a 16 core, 32 thread processor for mining on gives you a huge advantage, but most of all, the Threadripper 1950X's huge 32MB of L3 cache makes it an incredible mining CPU for many cryptocurrencies. It's expensive, sure, but by putting it to work, you could soon pay off the initial outlay for this fantastic processor. Plus, if you tire of mining, you'll still end up with one heck of a processor! Read the full review: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X AMD's Ryzen line of processors has been a huge hit since its release, and these fantastic chips are also some of the best mining CPUs money can buy. The AMD Ryzen 7 1800X is a case in point: for a very compelling price you get an 8 core, 16 thread processor with 16MB of L3 cache. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 7 1800X While the processors we've mentioned above are great CPUs for mining in their own right, the Intel Pentium G4400 is an excellent CPU for running a low-cost mining PC. This is because the initial outlay is low, and it's not a power-hungry CPU to run, so you won't rack up huge energy bills. By keeping to a low-cost mining CPU like the Intel Pentium G4400, you'll soon pay off the expenses and turn a profit quickly. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that with its mid-range chip, AMD offers more cores for less money when compared to Intel. While in year’s past this has equated to making compromises in other areas to keep the costs low, the Ryzen 5 1600X remains economical without being shown up. It makes it a strong choice for a mining CPU. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X While the Threadripper 1950X is our pick of the best mining CPU, its little brother, the Threadripper 1920X is a worthy processor for mining as well, as it has the same amount of L3 cache. Despite being 75% cheaper, and having less cores and threads, the 1920X produces around 90% of the hash rate as the more expensive 1950X. This means it's a wiser investment if you don't mind going for the best-of-the-best. The Intel Core i5-7600K is an unlocked, overclockable quad-core processor from Intel, which makes it a great all-round CPU, and it's a dab hand at mining as well. It won't bring the kind of impressive hash rates the Threadrippers of this world will, but it is a powerful processor for driving mining rigs, and has good compatibility with some of the best mining motherboards on the market as well. This is another great mining CPU for miners who are budget conscious and want a quick return on any hardware investments they make. You'll need to temper your expectations with what you want to get out of mining with a machine powered by an Intel Pentium G4560, but you'll find a solid performer that lets the GPUs do their jobs well. If you're looking for a budget mining CPU from AMD, then the Ryzen 3 1300X is a brilliant choice, offering four cores compared to Intel's dual core budget CPUs of this price range, and a decent amount of L3 cache as well. One of the best things about Ryzen 3 chips is that in the future you could swap it out for a more powerful Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 chip, so this could be the ideal CPU for people taking a tentative first step into the world of cryptocurrency mining. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 3 1300X
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| Death Stranding: release date, trailers and news Posted: 27 Jul 2019 09:05 AM PDT Finally, after years of being in development, we know when Hideo Kojima's upcoming title Death Stranding will release and we also know a little bit more about what to expect from the game...kind of. On May 29, Kojima Productions dropped a brand new, lengthy trailer for Death Stranding that was - honestly - still a bit confusing. Norman Reedus, the return of the jar baby, Mads Mikkelsen leading an undead soldier army and demon militants? All just a day in Death Stranding it seems. But the trailer did reveal something very important: Death Stranding will release on November 8, 2019. So, while fans the world over try to dissect the latest trailer and piece together the various puzzle pieces, let this article guide you through everything there is to know about Death Stranding so far. [Update: There's a brand new Death Stranding trailer which reveals an interesting new character. Read on to find out more.] Image credit: Kojima Productions Cut to the chase
Death Stranding trailers and screenshotsDeath Stranding trailers are becoming increasingly focused and the latest, released on July 27, gives us a two minute look at a brand new character: Heartman. Played by Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, this character's heart stops every 21 minutes. Each time his heart stops he dies for around 3 minutes and enters the world of the dead before being revived by a defibrillator strapped to his chest and returned to the land of the living. The most revealing Death Stranding trailer dropped on May 29, announcing the game's release date and attempting to shed some light on the storyline. Check it out below: The Tokyo Game Show 2018 trailer revealed voice-acting veteran Troy Baker has joined the cast as the mysterious villain The Man in the Golden Mask. E3 2018 brought Death Stranding gameplay to our eyes and left our minds somewhat confused. Before E3 2018, Death Stranding featured at the Game Awards 2017. Coming in at nearly eight minutes long, this isn't a quick watch and unfortunately it doesn't answer many of the questions we have about the game (actually we think we have more). Watch it for yourself below: The reveal trailer that was shown at E3 in 2016 may have been more than 3 minutes long, but it didn’t reveal much about the game at all other than that it would star The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus. A second even longer and 4K trailer was shown at The Game Awards at the end of 2016. This trailer starred Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen and Guillermo Del Toro and although it didn’t give us any more of an idea of what the game will actually even be about (in fact leaving us more confused than we were before) it did send expectations soaring. Death Stranding release dateThe most recent trailer revealed that Death Stranding will release on November 8. 2019. Death Stranding is available to pre-order now from the PlayStation Store. The standard digital edition will cost you £54.99 / $59.99 / AU$99.95, while the deluxe digital edition costs £64.99 / $79.99 / AU$114.95. Image credit: Kojima Productions What do we know so far about Death Stranding?Keanu Reeves was almost cast in Death Stranding "I originally was recommended Keanu Reeves but I wanted Mads," Kojima explained during the panel, according to Twitter user Kalai Chik. Check out the tweet below: Release date revealed in trailer Kojima has stated the game centers around 'connection' Check the tweet out below: Death Stranding's pre-order page is live now Check out all the items below: Image credit: Sony Tribeca Film Festival “In Death Stranding I’m trying to put every aspect [of Norman] in there,” Kojima said through his interpreter, “and you will see his … everything, in the game,” he finished, suggestively, cracking up the crowd. By the end of the game, he says, you’ll “love Norman”. Non-branching narrative Online features Image credit: TechRadar Troy Baker is a villain E3 2018 We also got look at two more famous faces who will make an appearance in the game – Léa Seydoux and Lindsay Wagner. Something edgy We do know that Kojima is planning to do something different with the game’s mechanics, most notably around the concept of dying and involving the baby that has appeared in every trailer. Kojima said in the interview that the mechanics of Death Stranding were inspired by a Japanese short story. Image credit: Kojima Productions In the story it’s stated that the first tool mankind creates is a stick for protection, but that the second tool mankind created was a rope to keep things close and secure. “Most of your tools in action games are sticks,” Kojima explained, “You punch or you shoot or you kick. The communication is always through these 'sticks.' In [Death Stranding], I want people to be connected not through sticks, but through what would be the equivalent of ropes… But of course you will be able to use the sticks too.” Unfortunately we haven’t seen any gameplay that would give us a better insight into how this rope approach will actually work. A mystery to its own devs Before this, the game's star Mads Mikkelsen admitted he "got lost" when Kojima tried to explain the game's plot to him. Sporadic details We know the game will run on the Decima engine which was created by Horizon: Zero Dawn developers, Guerilla Games. Kojima praised this engine during PSX 2016 as being an excellent engine for creating open world games, something that Horizon: Zero Dawn’s reception suggests has an element of truth to it. Though its unsettling trailers suggest otherwise, Kojima has said that Death Stranding won’t be as dark as some fans are expecting. It’s certainly not a horror game, he told Glixel, and it would have comedic moments which isn’t entirely surprising considering the overarching tone of the Metal Gear series. An impressive cast O'Brien posted a picture to Instagram which showed her alongside Baker and Reedus, with a caption stating "Honored to be working alongside these two fine lads on [Hideo Kojima's] new project Death Stranding." While Baker is well known for his starring roles in video games such as The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite, O'Brien has had roles on both TV and in games, featuring in Telltale's Guardian's of the Galaxy and Batman: The Enemy Within as well as Rock in a Hard Place. Players won't die The game apparently explores the themes of life and death and it's for this reason that Kojima would like to explore the traditional death mechanic in games and let players know that in-game death isn't the end for them when it happens. In this underwater area, he explains, “you're not dead or alive. It's the equivalent of that screen that says 'Continue?' and a counter ticking down towards zero.” When players decide they're ready to leave and return to the game world, they won't be returned to a point before their death. Instead the game acknowledges their defeat and coming back to life is more of a reincarnation than a respawn. There's a weird time rain What's the deal with the babies? What could it all mean?Though the game’s trailers don’t tell us much about how we’ll eventually play Death Stranding, they do reveal some important thematic elements. Quotes from William Blake, the repeated appearance of ruined dolls, and the inclusion of what looks like oil (but could very well be ink) and dead sea creatures suggests Kojima will be exploring the fractious relationship between man and the natural world and the impact it has on us and future generations. The littering of dead crabs on beaches and tanks with definitely living tentacles coming out of them suggests to us a post-apocalyptic world over-run with robotic sea creatures which would certainly be interesting. After all, Kojima is working closely with Guerilla Games whose Horizon: Zero Dawn game focused on robotic dinosaurs. Image credit: Kojima Productions There’s also a curious mix of futuristic technology and elements of the past in the game’s various trailers. In the second game trailer though Mads Mikkelsen is wearing a modern army uniform and appears to be using some kind of cable, the undead soldiers around him are wearing WW2 era uniforms and the game world outside of the tunnel he’s in is almost certainly from the second world war time period. Image credit: Kojima Productions Whether this mix of past and future will manifest itself as time travelling or simply alternate universe science fiction isn’t clear. Safe to say, as a Kojima title, there’s a lot of mystery and symbolism at play here and fans online are tearing through what little materials there are to try and find out more information about the game. We’ll keep updating as more solid information becomes available. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Death Stranding trailer introduces a new character Posted: 27 Jul 2019 09:00 AM PDT Death Stranding’s release date is fast approaching and Hideo Kojima has dropped a brand new trailer which gives us another glimpse into its mysterious world. The latest trailer, first shown during San Diego Comic-Con, is taking a somewhat different approach than previous ones by focusing on just one character: Heartman. Played by Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, Heartman is a Bridges member who is “committed to researching the truth of the Death Stranding”. Aren’t we all at this stage? As explained by the trailer, and by Kojima himself on Twitter, Heartman is a character whose heart stops every 21 minutes. Each time his heart stops he dies for around 3 minutes and enters the world of the dead before being revived by a defibrillator strapped to his chest and returned to the land of the living. As a result, Heartman lives his life in 21 minute chunks and seems to be making the most of it. “Most of life’s basic functions fit rather easily into a 21 minute time slot” he explains to lead character Sam. We’ll take his word for it—he clearly hasn't opened Netflix without a game plan. It won’t surprise anyone at this point that this latest trailer still leaves us with questions about Death Stranding but, with these two and three minute glimpses which are increasing in frequency, a bigger picture of what we can expect from the game is starting to build. Hey, maybe Heartman is more relatable than we first thought. Death Stranding will release on PS4 on November 8 2019. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Pokémon Duel will go offline in October Posted: 27 Jul 2019 08:05 AM PDT The Pokémon Company has announced that it will be shutting down its mobile strategy title, Pokémon Duel, on October 31 for both Android and iOS. First launched in 2017, Pokémon Duel was a somewhat unexpected free-to-play release that combined Pokémon characters with turn-based board game inspired gameplay. Once the shut down takes place, it’ll no longer be possible to install the game or update it. If it’s still on your phone following October 31, you’ll not be able to keep using the app as you have. Game overPaid items, such as Gems, are no longer for sale in the game and players will have until the end of service date to spend the Gems they have. It’s no longer possible to buy a Player Pass, either. From August 26 there'll be no more Monthly Rankings or rewards related to them. The Pokémon Company hasn’t given fans a great deal of notice before the shut down, however, to express thanks to players who have enjoyed Duel it has added some in-game extras that will be accessible until the end. These include daily log in bonuses and additional figures to claim. Although it’s had tens of thousands of downloads, Pokémon Duel’s shut down isn’t exactly leaving mobile gamers bereft of Pokéoptions; there’s still the hugely popular AR Pokémon Go and the highly anticipated Pokémon Masters which will launch in August 2019. And outside of mobile there’s still the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield games for Nintendo Switch in November 2019. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Apple confirms "a small portion" of Siri recordings get reviewed by contractors Posted: 27 Jul 2019 08:00 AM PDT First Amazon, then Google, and now Apple: it seems that every company with a digital assistant to its name uses human beings to review a selection of the interactions that users are having with their smart speakers and phones. After a whistleblower tipped off the Guardian to the practice in regards to Siri, Apple confirmed that "a small portion of Siri requests" do get reviewed by contracted workers, though the recordings are not linked to an Apple ID. Information such as location, contact details, and other app data are logged and included with the recordings, according to the anonymous tipster who contacted the Guardian.
"Siri responses are analysed in secure facilities and all reviewers are under the obligation to adhere to Apple’s strict confidentiality requirements," Apple says, adding that less than 1 percent of daily Siri requests get reviewed in this way. Easy listeningThe Guardian's source says a lot of the recordings come from accidental activations: conversations about medical details, drug deals, and sexual encounters have all apparently been captured and reviewed. As with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, the aim of this review process is to improve accuracy, Apple says – workers have to grade the clips, usually just a couple of seconds long, on whether Siri dealt with the interaction appropriately. It's still a little disconcerting that real-life human beings could be listening to your daily chit chat if Siri is within listening distance. At the moment there's no way of opting out of having your recordings reviewed in this way. Given Apple's focus on user privacy, it may well take steps to further anonymise the recordings before they're reviewed, or give users more options over how their recordings get processed. As is often the case though, it's taken some investigative reporting to bring the practice to light. Via TechCrunch This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The design of the Huawei Mate X may have been tweaked ahead of its launch Posted: 27 Jul 2019 04:00 AM PDT Samsung has had to make a few tweaks to the design of the Galaxy Fold to get it ready to go on sale, and it appears Huawei has done the same with its own foldable – new photos of the Huawei Mate X suggest a number of subtle changes have been made. Chinese journalist Li Wei apparently ran into Huawei CEO Richard Yu at an airport and was able to snap a few photos of the Mate X as it looks now, having originally been unveiled at MWC 2019 in February. A fourth camera sensor has been added on the back of the phone, most likely a time-of-flight (TOF sensor for judging depth, as well as a carbon fiber effect (or possibly actual carbon fiber) around certain parts of the handset.
There's now a bigger button to unhook the foldable part of the phone as well, which should make moving the Huawei Mate X between its open and folded states that little bit easier. Credit: Li Wei/Weibo The problems the early review units of the Galaxy Fold ran into were mostly related to the hinge, but it's difficult to tell if Huawei has made any improvements here. It does bend in the opposite direction to the Galaxy Fold, with the screen outside. As for actually getting our hands on the Mate X, Huawei has said the phone will be out by September, which means it's going to match the Samsung Galaxy Fold – and then the foldable phone market will be truly up and running. Last month we heard that the Huawei Mate X was in its final testing phase so let's hope that any potential mechanical problems have been ironed out, and the handset works as advertised once it goes on sale. With the US administration now apparently easing restrictions on Huawei's consumer electronics division, the phone should come with a fully stocked version of Android – and of course with 5G connectivity too. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Stage 20 Tour de France live stream: how to watch the cycling climax online from anywhere Posted: 27 Jul 2019 03:45 AM PDT Wow! Just...wow! Yesterday's events at the 2019 Tour de France will be remembered by cycling fans for a long, long time. Hail stones on the road; the stage suddenly shortened; Egan Bernal suddenly wearing the yellow jersey. It all happened. So now it's all down to Stage 20 - to see the sights and the cycling from just about anywhere on Earth, be sure to follow our Tour de France live stream guide for Stage 20. So where are we after all the drama? It's the 22-year old Colombian Bernal of Team Ineos that now leads the way with one competitive stage to go. He was the pre-Tour favorite and has been near the top of the general classification for most of the race, but it was a big slice of good fortune that means he'll wear the yellow on the penultimate stage. French native Alaphilippe had worn that very same jersey for the vast majority of the 2019 Tour de France and is only 48 seconds behind. He needs (another) stage of a lifetime today to take his shot at glory. Reigning champion Geraint Thomas sits in third place in the general classifications in a spirited defence of his title. While Steven Kruijswijk and Emanuel Buchmann are the only other two riders that really have a chance to steal the title. Whatever happens, it's set to be one heck of a ride! And to make sure that you don't miss a single minute of the action, keep reading our guide. We'll tell you all the best (and FREE) ways to watch Stage 20 with Tour de France live stream options no matter where you are today. Live stream Tour de France Stage 20 from outside your countryWe have details of all the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand broadcasters further down this guide. Good news in the UK and Australia where it's on free-to-air TV. If you're obsessed by watching Le Tour and refuse to miss a stage - even when you're away on business or on holiday - then you'll be disappointed to see your domestic coverage geo-blocked when you try to stream online from abroad. That's where utilising a VPN (Virtual Private Network) really helps. It let's you virtually change the ISP of your laptop, tablet or mobile to one that's back in your home country. Thus letting you watch as if you were back there. How to live stream Tour de France Stage 20 FREE in the UKHow to watch Stage 20 of Le Tour in the US
- Discover our pick of all the US's best sports streaming sites Live stream Tour de France stage 20 in Australia for FREEStream Tour de France 2019 Stage 20 live in CanadaHow to watch Tour de France 2019 in New ZealandThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Leak hints at how Intel Xe graphics cards might compare to rivals Posted: 27 Jul 2019 03:41 AM PDT Intel has accidentally leaked some codenames and details of its incoming discrete graphics cards, and also some Rocket Lake CPUs. This comes from a graphics driver spilled unintentionally by Intel, picked up on by an eagle-eyed Anandtech forum member. The leak comprised of the following model names (and some clues therein) for Intel’s Xe 10nm graphics cards which are expected to come out in 2020:
The ‘DG’ in the codename is likely to stand for ‘discrete graphics’ (meaning a standalone GPU on a board, as opposed to an integrated graphics solution in a processor), and the ‘LP’ and ‘HP’ designations seemingly refer to low-power or high-power (and therefore more powerful) parts.
But the really interesting bit is looking at the beefier high-power trio of GPUs, the number at the end of the codename could reportedly indicate the number of execution units (EUs) carried by the graphics card. That’s certainly our (and everyone else’s) best guess, and it would mean that these three graphics cards would utilize 128, 256 and 512 EUs respectively. Mid-range – or more?So, bear in mind that this is all speculation, but it seems that Intel’s initial Xe offerings target mid-range GPU territory, although we must also remember that we only have very small (potentially errant) pieces of information here in those numbers. Even if this guesswork is on the money, a lot will depend on the clock speed Intel is aiming for with these products. There’s chatter about higher clock speeds being targeted, such as base clocks of around 1800MHz or 1900MHz, and that could make Intel’s Xe competitive with Nvidia’s higher-end GeForce RTX cards. But we best not start drawing too much in the way of conclusions here, because this is all very sketchy. It’s nevertheless interesting to get a potential hint at how powerful these Xe GPUs might be, and given that they are due next year, it probably won’t be too long before we witness some benchmark leaks spilling out to give us a real indication of performance. Another exciting element pertaining to Xe graphics cards is Intel’s recent revelation that hardware ray tracing will be supported, in data center GPUs anyway – and hopefully by extension, consumer products (which would again rival Nvidia’s RTX offerings). As mentioned at the outset, this driver leak also revealed a few nuggets of info about the integrated graphics of incoming Rocket Lake processors. Rocket Lake is Intel’s follow-up to Comet Lake, the latter being the chip giant’s next mainstream 10th-gen processors which we should also see next year, or perhaps even sooner, built on a revised 14nm+++ node, and coming with a potential Ryzen 9 3900X beater (which could really turn things around for Intel). At any rate, Rocket Lake is expected in 2020, and its Gen11 integrated graphics will arrive in GT0, GT0.5 and GT1 variants, with the latter two running with 16 and 32 EUs respectively. There will also be a GT1 Pro spin, too.
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| Australia vs Argentina live stream: how to watch today's Rugby Championship 2019 from anywhere Posted: 27 Jul 2019 02:46 AM PDT The pressure is mounting on Aussie head coach Michael Cheika after their 2019 Rugby Championship campaign go off to a losing start against South Africa. While Argentina will feel hard done by after an agonising 20-16 defeat to New Zealand in Buenos Aires in their opening game of the tournament, and will be out to right that wrong today. It's set to be an absorbing game, and one you can watch in full with our Australia vs Argentina live stream guide below. The Wallabies have won just four of their 13 Test matches last year, and their opponents today aren't likely to offer any sympathy. Having been so comprehensively beaten in their last game, it's no surprise to find that Australia will be rising the changes for today's clash with both the backs and forwards set to see different personnel. Lang Park is a venue where they have had more success than any other ground on home soil and the Wallabies will be hoping they can get back to winning ways today and get back some much needed morale as the run-in for the World Cup draws ever closer. The Pumas defeated Australia 23-19 on their last trip Down Under, ending a 35-year wait for a win in Australia and they will certainly fancy their chances today. If they do pull off another win, they'll have to do it without their inspirational hooker Agustin Creevy who is ruled out thanks to a shoulder injury he picked up against the All Blacks last week. We're in for a fascinating face-off, so keep scrolling down to see how you can catch a 2019 Rugby Championships live stream of Australia vs Argentina.
How to watch the 2019 Rugby Championship from outside your countryDown below, there's the local broadcast options if you're in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as the UK, US and Canada. But if you're away from home this weekend and try to live stream the Rugby Championship online, you'll be annoyed to discover that it won't work due to geo-blocking. Crucially, using a VPN service allows you to watch the rugby union no matter where in the world you are. How to live stream the Wallabies in AustraliaHow to watch Australia vs Argentina in New ZealandHow to live stream Australia vs Argentina in South AfricaHow to stream Australia vs Argentina live in the UKHow to watch Argentina vs Australia: US live streamHow to live stream Argentina vs Australia in CanadaThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Score a free Xbox One S or tablet with BT's excellent fibre broadband deals Posted: 27 Jul 2019 02:29 AM PDT We've become very used to BT dropping gifts and incentives with its fibre broadband deals - it's one of the things that makes them so popular after all. But this week, its outdone itself, offering everything from a free Xbox to M&S vouchers and pre-paid Mastercards. BT appears to be appealing to the masses this week, with two different offers running on its packages. Which one to go for depends on a few different factors. The first of the two deals offers a free Xbox One S or a free Samsung tablet. Scoring the offer means being in a 24-month contract and you have to subscribe to BT Sport alongside your internet to be eligible. For sports fans out there, that will be music to your ears - free tech, fibre speeds and BT Sport, especially with both the Premier League and UFC 240 streaming very soon. Alternatively, BT has another deal in play offering pre-paid Mastercards and M&S vouchers, totalling over £100 in money back with your internet. And, these packages are cheaper than the above options, for those trying to save some hard-earned cash! You can see the best BT Broadband deals offers down below including all of the different freebies. Or, if BT hasn't managed to capture your interest, check out our guide to the best broadband deals.
BT's broadband deals + console + BT SportAll of the prices below are the base costs of these packages. However, to receive your free Xbox One S or Samsung Tab A you have to select a BT Sport option. Once you click through to the checkout, you can choose which BT Sport package to go with. With everything from the BT Sport app through to complete TV packages, costs will completely differ depending on which option you choose. BT broadband deals + cashback and reward cardsToday's best BT broadband dealsThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| MacBook Pro 2019 vs MacBook Pro 2018 – is it worth an upgrade? Posted: 27 Jul 2019 02:00 AM PDT Let’s get this out of the way – for most people reading this MacBook Pro 2019 vs MacBook Pro 2018 comparison, it’s not a question of whether the MacBook Pro 2019 is worth upgrading to from the MacBook Pro 2018. You’d have to be incredibly rich to consider upgrading a laptop – especially one as powerful and expensive as the MacBook Pro – every year. While it’s tempting to always have the latest tech and cutting edge components, it’s just not economically viable. And while hardware – especially laptop components – are constantly improving, most of the time you’re not going to see such a radical leap in performance that it makes your current year-old MacBook feel obsolete – though there have been exceptions. However, this comparison of the MacBook Pro 2019 vs MacBook Pro 2018 is going to be useful for anyone who has an older MacBook Pro and is considering an upgrade. Ditto for anyone who’s never owned a MacBook Pro before. Should you go for the latest and greatest MacBook Pro, or would buying the slightly older model be a wiser decision? Let’s take a look… DesignWe’ll cut to the chase with this: the MacBook Pro 2019’s design is identical to the MacBook Pro 2018’s. That means they are the same dimensions – 13.7 x 9.48 x 0.61-inches (34.92 x 24.07 x 1.55) – and the same weight – 4.02 pounds (1.83kg). They also both come in the choice for two colors: Space Gray and Silver, which means on the outside, you won’t be able to tell the difference between the MacBook Pro 2019 and MacBook Pro 2018. So, this means you’re not missing out on any fancy new designs or features if you go for the 2018 model instead of this year’s. It also means if you loved the design of previous MacBook Pros, you can buy the 2019 model safe in the knowledge that you know what you’re getting. However, for anyone hoping for a more revolutionary redesign, you’ll be disappointed. Similarly, if previous post-2016 MacBook designs left you cold, the 2019 model does nothing to rectify that. So, you get the Touch Bar, an OLED strip with interactive buttons, above the keyboard, which has been included since 2016, as well as a Touch ID sensor for logging in with your fingerprint. Both the MacBook Pro 2019 and MacBook Pro 2018 have a 15.4-inch screen with 2,880 x 1,800 resolution, along with the True Tone feature for more vibrant colors. Because of the identical designs, if you were disappointed by the MacBook Pro 2018’s paucity of ports – with just four Thunderbolt 3 ports – then you’ll again be disappointed by the 2019 model’s exact same port count. For regular users, the lack of ports won’t be too much of a bother, but for professionals who need to plug in legacy equipment, it means you need to invest in an adapter. KeyboardThe MacBook Pro 2018 addressed some long-standing criticism that Apple was facing about the keyboards included in previous models. Essentially, there have been complaints that the keyboards of MacBook Pros made after 2016 can malfunction. Blame lay with the ‘butterfly’ switches Apple uses in these keyboards. The 2018 model kept the butterfly switches, but added a silicone membrane that was supposed to stop those issues occurring. Unfortunately, there were still reported issues, leading many to hope that Apple would ditch the butterfly switches for the MacBook Pro 2019. That hasn’t been the case, with the Mac Book Pro 2019 15-inch’s keyboard still using the problematic switches. However, Apple says it has further tweaked the keyboard, and while the company hasn’t divulged too much information about its tweaks, we do know that it has changed the materials used with the mechanism to reduce the likelihood of the keys getting stuck or not responding. While that is a welcome – though disappointingly minor – tweak, Apple has also included the new MacBook Pro (2019) models in its Keyboard Service Program, which will replace a faulty keyboard free of charge. This suggests that Apple hasn’t completely fixed the issue. HardwareWhile the outsides of the 15-inch MacBook Pro 2019 and the MacBook Pro 2018 are identical, the hardware inside them has changed. The base model of the MacBook Pro 15-inch (2019) comes with a 2.6GHz 6-core 9th generation Intel Core i7 processor, Radeon Pro 555X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD. There’s also a model with a 2.3GHz 8-core 9th generation Intel Core i9 processor, Radeon Pro 560X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, 16GB DDR4 memory and 512GB SSD storage. This is the first time an octa-core processor has been included in a MacBook Pro, and gives the higher-end MacBook Pro 2019 some serious chops when it comes to multi-tasking. Meanwhile, the base model of the MacBook Pro 15-inch (2018) comes with a 2.6GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Radeon Pro 555X GPU, 16GB of DDR4 memory and a 256GB SSD. The leap to 9th generation and boosted Radeon Pro graphics gives the 2019 base model a good bump in performance – but the 2018 model’s specifications are in no way underpowered. It remains a formidable laptop. As with the 2018 model, you can configure the 2019 MacBook Pro with more powerful components, including an 8th generation Intel Core i9 processor with 8 cores and a 2.4GHz clock speed (5.0Ghz boost), 32GB RAM and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 with 4GB of HBM2 memory. This makes it by far the most powerful MacBook ever made. If you’re simply after power, then there’s no contest: the high-end MacBook Pro 15-inch (2019) is the way to go. However, the 2018 model has enough power that it doesn’t feel outdated. PriceThe good news is that for the US and Australia, the base model of the MacBook Pro 15-inch (2019) is the same as the 2018 model ($2,399/AU$3,499). That means you’re getting an improved processor and graphics card for no extra money than what you’d have paid last year. Meanwhile, the high-end model sells for $2,799 (£2,799, AU$4,099). That’s certainly a big chunk of change Apple is asking for. While the base model’s price remains the same in the US and Australia, in the UK it’s more expensive - £2,399 compared with the MacBook Pro 15-inch (2018)’s £2,349. Effectively, it means you’re paying £50 more for the improved hardware. If that seems a little unfair on the Brits, it’s because Apple has brought UK prices into line with US dollars, so for Apple, £1 = $1. With the base model of the MacBook Pro 15-inch (2019) staying the same, we imagine that the 2018 model will see a bit of a price drop. Considering that the 2018 model is still a very good laptop in its own right, it means you could get a fantastic deal on the 2018 model – making it a better value proposition. MacBook Pro 2019 vs MacBook Pro 2018: which one should I buy? In many ways the MacBook Pro 2019 and MacBook Pro 2018 are quite evenly matched. When it comes to design, you can pick either one without worrying that you’re missing out on any new features or design. The improved keyboard of the MacBook Pro 2019 means that if you’re concerned about spending vast sums of money on a laptop only to have a faulty keyboard, then that’s the model that could give you greater peace of mind. However, it’s worth noting that it’s still using the butterfly switches. If you want a whole new keyboard, you may have to wait for the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro that could be coming later in 2019. Also, if getting the most powerful MacBook Pro is essential, then the MacBook Pro 15-inch (2019) is hands-down the one to get. However, if you’re looking for better value for money, you should see the 2018 model come down in price. The fact that the MacBook Pro 2018 is still a relatively recent laptop means even in 2019, you’re getting a powerful laptop with future-proof specifications. With a decent price cut, this could be the deciding feature when you’re comparing the MacBook Pro 2019 vs MacBook Pro 2018.
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| Unlimited data on iPhone XR deals has never looked so tempting Posted: 27 Jul 2019 01:08 AM PDT Top-tier iPhone deals are notoriously expensive and even with Apple's iPhone XR - a phone designed to be the budget flagship iPhone - you're paying a pretty hefty Apple-sized premium. So with those higher prices you're paying, you would want to get the best deal possible...an unlimited data option even? Well as luck would have it, right now unlimited data on iPhone XR deals is about as affordable as we've ever seen it. In fact, an offer from retailer Mobile Phones Direct is now giving away unlimited data for the same price as most average iPhone XRs, making it easily one of the best options on the market. On top of that, as part of an on-going offer from Three, you can currently get no data caps for half price for the first six months. That means bills under £30 for complete freedom to stream, scroll and Google all day. You can see both of these impressive offers on the iPhone XR down below. Or, if pushing for those higher-end options pushes the price up a little bit too high, then consult our guide to the best mobile phone deals for everything else available. These unlimited data iPhone XR deals in full:What's good about the iPhone XR?As one of Apple's most popular iPhones, the XR provides a more affordable version of Apple's spec-heavy iPhone XS. You get one of the best battery lifes available on an iPhone, an impressive camera, strong processor and Apple's Liquid Retina display. All of that comes together to make one of Apple's best phones yet. Read our full iPhone XR review
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| UFC 240 live stream: how to watch Holloway vs Edgar tonight from anywhere Posted: 27 Jul 2019 12:36 AM PDT It's UFC 240 time tonight as the world's biggest MMA organisation heads to Edmonton in Canada. The main event has been two years in the making - Max Holloway is finally taking on 37-year-old former lightweight king Frankie Edgar in UFC Featherweight title bout for the ages. Read on to discover how to get a UFC 240 live stream today - it doesn't even matter where in the world you are. The main event had been scheduled to take place two years ago, but after series of injuries and defeats put the matchup on ice, Max "Blessed" Holloway finally takes on Frankie "The Answer" Edgar. Holloway comes into the fight defending his featherweight title off the back of a defeat against Dustin Poirier at UFC 235 which brought to an end to a 13-fight, 6-year winning streak. While UFC 240 marks Edgar's first appearance in the Octagon in over a year, after a bicep injury ruled the veteran out from a planned clash with Chan Sung Jung at UFC Denver in November. The pair will share top billing with the Women’s Featherweight title contest between Cris Cyborg and Felicia Spencer. Spencer goes into the fight undefeated in seven, but is up against the experienced Cyborg, who makes her return to the Octagon after her losing her title to fellow Brazilian Amanda Nunes at UFC 323. Whoever you're cheering on during the MMA action, we’ll show you how to live stream UFC 240’s card from anywhere in the world - for US viewers, you should just head straight to ESPN+.
Live stream UFC 240 from outside your countryWorry not if you're a huge UFC fan but aren't in the US to watch the ESPN+ coverage. If you find the coverage is geo-blocked, you can try using a VPN to change your IP address to a US server and watch this week's main card just as if you were back at home. How to watch UFC online in the US exclusively on ESPN+Live stream UFC 240 in the UKThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| FIFA 20: release date, news, Volta modes and everything else there is to know Posted: 27 Jul 2019 12:23 AM PDT Better manual defending, revamped shooting and a 'Volta Football' street and indoor five-a-side mode: FIFA 20 is on its way, and we've got the first details here. Yep: goal, goal, goal. Football, football, football. No ‘soccer’ shenanigans here folks – we’re talking about the beautiful game, FIFA 20, the 2020 season’s updated footie simulator. There’s a new FIFA game on the way from developers at EA Vancouver. With it being one of the most successful sporting game franchises of all time, and it having had an annual release since 1993, it’s as safe a bet that EA will be pulling out all the stops for a gargantuan game before the introduction of the PS5 and Xbox Two consoles. So, with a FIFA 2020 game now certain, what can we expect from the next FIFA game? How’s Alex Hunter’s ‘Journey’ from amateur to pro going to conclude? And what changes can we expect when we play FIFA 20? We expect we'll hear everything we want to know about the game during E3 2019 and EA Play but until then read on for all the news and expectations for a new FIFA game below. [Update: EA is continuing to dribble out details around FIFA 20 before its September release. Read on to find out more about changes to Pro Clubs and see the new cover stars.]
Cut to the chase
FIFA 2020 release dateLike the changing of the seasons (and the football seasons themselves), there’s an annually expected launch window for FIFA games. For more than a decade, FIFA games have launched towards the end of September, and that's now confirmed with the FIFA 20 release date being set for September 27. If you're an EA Access player however, you get a week's early play, with the game launching on the subscription service on September 19. The news was confirmed with a new teaser trailer, posted on Twitter. You can find it embedded below: The previous two FIFA games landed on the final Friday in September (29 September, 2017 and 28 September, 2018) which, as we predicted, would align FIFA 2020’s release for Friday 27 September 2019. Note that FIFA games launch with a title suggesting the year ahead – FIFA 20 may come out in 2019, but its FIFA 20 / 2020 naming will reflect the coming season. FIFA 20 trailers: Volta FootballRemember the indoor football modes of early PS1-era FIFA games? Or the street-style 'Futsal' matches of the FIFA Street series? They'll be back as a new 'Volta Football' mode in FIFA 20. You'll be able to play 3v3 Rush (no goalies), 4v4, 4v4 Rush, 5v5 and Professional Futsal matches in indoor and outdoor matches in bespoke stadiums from around the world. There will be a campaign mode, online leagues and squads and customisable player avatars – almost enough for a full game in its own right, it would seem. It'll only be available in the PS5, Xbox One and PC versions of the game though, skipping out on the Nintendo Switch, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Check out the trailer below: FIFA 20 gameplay development updatesCover Star EA has now revealed two of the cover stars for FIFA 20 ahead of its September release. On the Standard Edition Eden Hazard of Real Madrid fame will take centre stage while on the Champions Edition Virgil van Dijk is the star. There's still a reveal to come for the Ultimate Edition cover but you can see the others for yourself below. Following E3 2019 many FIFA fans still had questions about the upcoming addition to the franchise. Now, EA has started providing some more answers in a new blog post which delves into some of the changes to Pro Clubs. Pro Clubs FIFA 20 will be bringing in a new avatar system which will see player creation change in Pro Clubs and across the rest of the game. While it maintains features of the old system—commentary name and setting celebration styles included—it builds on it, giving players more control over the creation of their, well, player. That includes a new morphing tool which will allow for more granular face shape creation and skin tone selection. FIFA 20 will also bring back some player positions due to fan feedback so now Left and Right Forwards, Left and Right Wing Backs and Left and Right Midfielders are returning. Greater control over players doesn't stop at their appearances. In FIFA 20, the player progression system has upped its game slightly and now your choice of player height, weight and position will effect how they play. There are also 30 new player traits that can be paired with "specialty traits" can bring real benefits. There is, of course, an element of risk and reward to this as big benefits to one attribute can lead to a dip in others. Outside of customization, there's going to be some new broadcast features and game modes added to FIFA 20. There will be replay transition wipes, an on-screen watermark, club banners and a new Pro Clubs logo as well as augmented reality overlays at half-time and match intros. Oh, and celebrations aren't restricted to one player anymore. Now, the camera won't stay zoomed in on one player, it'll stay out so that you can coordinate a celebration that includes the whole team. Finally, there are two new match types: House Rules Cups and Practice. House Rules Cups is inspired by FIFA Kick-Off Mode's House Rules and will see a new match type rotated each day with a different cup each weekend. Practice, on the other hand, does exactly what you'd think; you can pit yourself against a variety of AI either alone or in your team. You can choose how challenging you want the AI to be and you can even choose which kind of tactics you want them to be using to ensure you're feeling the right kind of pressure and practicing in the way you want. If that means playing against a team of 99-rated players applying high pressure you can do that. Ahead of the game's official reveal at EA Play and E3 2019, EA Sports has addressed some of the updates it has planned for FIFA 20 in a blog post, many of which have been inspired by player feedback from FIFA 19. As a series, FIFA isn't known for making any huge gameplay changes between releases but these are some of the features EA Sports has decided to focus on for the latest release. Volta Football FIFA Street makes a return as a game mode for FIFA 20, as Volta Football. 3v3 Rush (no goalkeepers), 4v4, 4v4 Rush, 5v5 and Professional Futsal will all be match types in the new game. It's all about flair, with customisable players (male and female players will play alongside each other) online squads and more. Scroll back up for that first trailer, focussing on this aspect of the game. 'Football Intelligence' A new combination of features that tweaks on the ball, off the ball and the play of the ball itself. You'll get more time and space on the ball, with a tweak to the physics of the ball. You'll get more one-ones as a result of this system, with greater emphasis on user controlled defending. Off the ball players will spread around the pitch in a more authentic way, too. Spin will now also affect the trajectory of the ball, with more realistic deflections. The part of a player's shoe that hits the ball also plays into the flight of the ball now. AI Defending As mentioned above, players will now see more benefits to manually defending, rather than relying on the skills of the game's AI. Computer-controlled defenders will now be less efficient and effective (less on-the-ball, if you will) while those controlled by you will perform better. Manual tackles are also more likely to go in your favor than those attempted by AI. This should create a balance which will see players who make the effort to manually defend feel that it's more rewarding. Pace will also get tweaked to give defenders a better chance of catching up with particularly speedy players. Shooting, and 'composed finishing' As far as shooting is concerned, one-on-one situations between the player and the goalkeeper are about to become less frustrating. In FIFA 20, 1v1 shooting accuracy will be improved allowing for more shots on target, while goalkeepers will be slightly less "superhuman" when it comes to their reactions. Even manual goalkeepers will be slowed down to more realistic speeds. Players controlling their goalkeeper using right-stick movement will now have to commit to a direction when attempting to make a save, making it feel more rewarding or more galling when you make it or miss it. Away from the goal, volley-crossing and volley-shooting are being checked to make them more realistic. By more realistic, of course, we mean less accurate and a little more unpredictable. Strafe dribbling This will give you more dimension in attack, letting you lure an opponent in, opening up the potential to take on a defender with an agile, speedy player. New penalty kicks and free kicks All new systems come to penalty and free kicks, making them easier to pull off great goals from set pieces.. Free kicks in particular will be completely revamped, giving you greater control of spin on a shot. Passing It's not just shooting mechanics that are being addressed, passing is seeing a shakeup too. Easy passes will now be more accurate but more difficult passes like those at 180 degrees, first-time and those attempted in high-pressure moments will now result in slower/weaker balls which are less effective and easier to intercept. There are two new options for passing in addition to this. Manual 'Dinked' passes, which will be used to elevate the ball over a defender's leg and the Driven Pass-and-Go which will take over from the current manual pass combo. Timed Finishing Timed Finishing was a new mechanic for FIFA 19 and as a result EA Sports has garnered a lot of feedback in order to fine tune it. If you missed its introduction, Timed Finishing meant that players could take advantage of a Green Timing Window in order to make a more accurate shot. This should have been a high risk and high reward feature but players felt that it was just too easy to perform. As a result, EA Sports has reduced the Green Timing Window from 2-4 frames to strictly 2 frames, making it more difficult to pull off, while Green Timed Shots will generally just be less accurate. They will still, however, be slightly more accurate than a standard shot. Otherwise what's the point? With these fixes, as well as improvements to player switching and set-piece positioning, EA Sports seems to be at pains to show that it plans to address some of the biggest fan concerns over FIFA 19 ahead of announcing FIFA 20. FIFA 20: what we want to seeFIFA titles make incremental improvements over the years – it’s rare to see one massively change the formula, and FIFA has been in a pretty stable state for the best part of a decade now. If you’ve played a recent edition, you’ll be able enjoy the latest one, with a few months work needed to master its new systems. FIFA is in a good place then, with FIFA 20 set to be built on solid foundations – but that’s not to say we can’t look forward to some improvements. Here’s a handful of things we’d like to see changed. The end of the ‘Journey’ – and the start of something new? FIFA introduced a character-driven story mode back in FIFA 2017, focussing on fictional upcoming star Alex Hunter, and it’s now a much-loved staple of the game. Hunter’s story concludes with FIFA 20, so we’d like to see something new and expanded with which to carry on that legacy. EA’s Madden series has a narrative-focussed Longshot mode – it’d be great to see that idea carry over into EA’s other big sporting title. Dynamic weather For a while there, EA’s mantra seemed to be that anything rival Pro Evolution Soccer could do, FIFA could do better. But EA’s never picked up Pro’s dynamic weather systems. Just like in real life, rainy weather can blow in mid-game, changing the pace and flow of play in the Pro series. It’s a realistic consideration, and one that’d have a subtle but welcome effect to moment-to-moment tactics in FIFA 20. Career Mode changes Career Mode is FIFA’s answer to a managerial system. It’s not Football Manager, but it’s a great way of building up a lengthy relationship with each year’s entry into the franchise. It could do with a spruce up though to its core systems after its flashy-but-shallow FIFA 18 UI overhaul. Some extra depth to the managerial challenge is what we’re really after – player wage negotiations, stadium changes for smaller clubs on the rise, that sort of thing. It’d be great to bring back the Player / Manager career option of FIFA 13, too. Build-your-own team mode Fans have been crying out for this one for years – bringing back the old-school ability to create your own team, from branding and kit right down to player names and attributes. We’re guessing EA isn’t keen on this as it’d give you the ability to make updated squad information on the game even years after release. But it’d be great to be able to make a team made up of just work colleagues or online mates, for instance, and see them bring the cup home. FIFA 2020: Early Access? FIFA as a subscription?EA has been toying with different sorts of distribution models for a while now, with its EA Access subscription model, and its Origin Premier service, letting players try out the firm’s top games for a monthly fee. With the launch of FIFA 19, EA allowed gamers to play FIFA 19 nine days before the game’s general release, and we’d expect to see the same occur for FIFA 20. What’s potentially interesting though is the possibility of FIFA becoming its own live service, with EA offering a subscription fee for the game, or elements of the game, being constantly updated rather than as an annual release. It’d let the company drip-feed updates, as well as keeping team sheets and player likenesses up to date, and remain competitive to titles like the free-to-play phenomenon Fortnite, which follows a similar model of constant updates. To be clear, EA has not stated that this is to be the case for FIFA, but with the franchise such a powerful draw, and the idea of games-as-a-service becoming more of an industry standard, don’t be surprised if a future FIFA game takes this route. Is there a FIFA 20 demo?Although we know FIFA 20 will be officially launched in September 2019, EA Sports has yet to set a date for its FIFA 20 demo. They're released every year before the official launch, and we've got our fingers crossed for another early demo this year too. In the past, the demo has been available in a trial capacity for a week or two earlier than the launch date. Looking back, FIFA 19's demo was available on 13 September, 2019, two weeks before the game's full launch – EA followed this same pattern for FIFA 18, FIFA 17 and FIFA 16 too. If the same pattern applies to this year, which we assume it will but can't guarantee, then we'd expect the demo to have dropped by 14 September, 2019. Again though, this is all speculation for now – but we'll be sure to update you when we get official confirmation.
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| Rugby Championship 2019 live stream: how to watch every rugby game online from anywhere Posted: 26 Jul 2019 03:44 PM PDT This year's Rugby Championship looks set to serve as an intriguing precursor to the forthcoming World Cup in Japan, with Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina once again lock horns for bragging rights across the southern hemisphere. With the tournament reduced to three rounds the winner could easily spring from any of the four nations. We're in for a fascinating few weeks of Test rugby so keep scrolling down to see how you can catch a live stream of the 2019 Rugby Championships. Use a VPN to watch the Rugby Championship from outside your countryIf you're abroad and in a country that's not showing the Rugby Championship, or if you're not by a TV come kick-off time for those games – don't sweat. With numerous online channels and, crucially, the option of a VPN service, you can tune into each fixture no matter where you are in the world. And best of all, it's really easy to do: How to live stream the Rugby Championship in AustraliaHow to watch the Rugby Championship 2019 in New ZealandHow to live stream the Rugby Championship in South AfricaHow to stream the Rugby Championship 2019 live in the UKHow to watch the Rugby Championship: US live streamsHow to live stream the Rugby Championship 2019 in CanadaThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare release date, trailer and news Posted: 26 Jul 2019 03:30 PM PDT Call of Duty Modern Warfare is going back to the series' roots. Forget the zombies. Forget the WWII battles. Forget the jetpacks, exo launchers and all the other future weaponry – Call of Duty is going back to one of the most beloved series within the franchise with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, a reboot of the highly-lauded 2007 first person shooter that's set in today's battlefields. It’s all about the gritty realities of war this time out, with the ‘modern’ of the ‘Modern Warfare’ title referring to the high-tech gear of today, the cutting-edge killing machines employed in combat right now in places like the Middle East and Russia, rather than the far-flung fantasies of science fiction. With the battle royale genre taking up many shooter fans’ spare gaming time, Call of Duty’s crown as the king of competitive shooters has slipped in the past few years. Can a return to its most-popular roots bring it back to glory? Read on for what we know so far. [Update: Infinity Ward has released some new footage which shows how multiplayer matches will now begin. Watch it for yourself and find out more below.] Cut to the chase
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare release dateAnnounced right before E3 2019, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare leaked ahead of the event but a trailer gave us our first glimpse and a variety of details for the game. It included the release date, which is set for October 25, 2019. You're already able to pre-order the game on the official site too. Call of Duty Modern Warfare screenshotsCall of Duty: Modern Warfare trailersInfinity Ward has confirmed a brand new multiplayer mode for Modern Warfare called Gunfight and released five whole minutes of crisp 4K gameplay to give players a better idea of what to expect from this fast-paced, 2v2 mode. Watch it for yourself below. The first trailer for Modern Warfare was the release trailer that debuted on May 30. In it, we can see series protagonist (and all-around badass) Captain Price light up, and some intense - and dare we say great-looking - nightvision sequences. You can watch it below: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare newsFemale multiplayer options Infinity Ward has been drip-feeding multiplayer news ahead of the full reveal on August 1st. The latest announcement has come from a Reddit post in which communications manager, Ashton Williams, has confirmed that there will be playable female models in Modern Warfare's multiplayer. Multiplayer intro In addition to that confirmation of playable female characters, Infinity Ward has also revealed some footage of what the short cinematic preceding a multiplayer match will look like to Twitter ahead of the full multiplayer reveal. Like in Call of Duty: WW2's War Mode, the cinematic will show players in a scene heading towards their drop point. Full Multiplayer Reveal While fans have had a first look at Gunfight, Modern Warfare’s new 2v2 multiplayer mode, a more full reveal has been announced for August 1. On a Twitch livestream, Infinity Ward is expected to show how the game’s story will continue into its online play and how progression across modes will play out. Gunfight Infinity Ward gave fans their first peek at multiplayer gameplay via Twitch followed by a five minute long 4K trailer. Four players streamed Modern Warfare live on the streaming platform, debuting Gunfight, the brand new 2v2 multiplayer mode that will be in the game. Gunfight is a mode for four players where two teams will play in “multi-round cage matches” across three small custom maps. Every two rounds, teams will swap to opposite sides of the map. All four players will have the same loadout which will typically be comprised of a primary and secondary weapon as well as a tactical Grenade and a piece of Lethal Equipment. The first team to win six rounds are the winners. This is going to be a mode for players that like fast rounds, with each round counting down on a 40 second timer. If one team hasn’t wiped out the other by the time the 40 seconds is up, a flag will appear on the map. The first team to control the area around the flag for more than three seconds is them the winner of the round. Each round, overall, will last for around a minute so speed is key. Aim Down Sight reload Infinity Ward has confirmed in a blog post that Modern Warfare will have Aim Down Sight reload, the first time the feature has appeared in a Call of Duty game by default. Aim Down Sight reload will mean that, while aiming down the sight of your weapon, your view won't be pulled away to watch an animation when you reload. Instead, you'll stay on target. Animation director Mark Grigsby offered some details on the feature in the post: “One other thing we added this year is the ADS [Aiming Down Sight] reload. In the past, if you're ADS, and you're shooting and you reload, the weapon would go off to the side, and you'd have to retrain to get to your target. This time if you reload, it stays on the target, so you can stay in the battle.” "Ripped straight from the headlines" This mission sees you tracking down the instigator of the terrorist attack (AKA The Wold) to a townhouse in North London. As a member of the SAS, the player creeps up a ladder and into the back of the dimly lit home where they methodically assassinate the plain-clothes terrorists occupying the residency. There's even an unsettling situation involving a woman using her baby as a shield. It's pretty rough but Infinity Ward claims the new Modern Warfare sees missions "ripped straight from the headlines" and investigated the "civilian collateral damage" that comes hand-in-hand with war. What was peculiar was that our presentation was shorter than those who had attended earlier in the week. We were only shown the London townhouse mission, whereas other journalists were shown an extra - more controversial - segment which seen players taking on the role of a child soldier in an unspecified war-torn country. Image Credit: Infinity Ward Is this a reboot of the classic Modern Warfare? Instead, Infinity Ward is using the Modern Warfare name here to evoke a similar feeling, and some of the same characters will return but this is an entirely new storyline set in a different timeline. It's totally separate to what we've seen in the previous games as here those events haven't occurred. We'll still follow Captain Price in this different timeline, and it may mean we see over returning characters throughout too. Price features heavily in the trailer above, and he ends it by saying there's a team of his "old comrades" so it may well be that we see the return of other fan favorite characters such as Soap or Gaz. This new timeline is also why the game isn't called Modern Warfare 4. It should mean it's a good place for new entrants to the series to pick up the game, but there's sure to be a few nods to the original series for die-hard fans. Narrative director at Infinity Ward, Taylor Kurosaki, also noted that the game's storyline is still being tweaked but it's anywhere between five and nine hours long. That means it's not set to be very long, but at least this time there is a storyline. Call of Duty: Blacks Ops 4 opted to drop the storyline in favor of focusing on online play, which is something we've heard very little about so far for this game. Image credit: Activision/Infinity Ward No Zombie mode for Modern WarfareZombie mode might be a staple of the over-the-top Black Ops entries into the Call of Duty series, but the undead horde will not be being reanimated this time around in Modern Warfare according to Campaign Gameplay Director Jacob Minkoff. In an interview with PlayStation Lifestyle, Minkoff said that the team's goal is to create something on par with today's battlefields - which, unfortunately, don't include any undead wandering around. "We don't have the flexibility to do something like put zombies in the game. That would compromise the feeling of playing in a world that feels realistic and authentic and relative to today's conflicts and things we face," Minkoff said. If you want Zombies, you'll just have to wait for the next Black Ops game. Image Credit: Activision / Infinity Ward Return of the JuggernautWhile Call of Duty Modern Warfare didn't have a huge presence at E3 2019, it did pop up at an E3 Coliseum event where Activision had the first two multiplayer screenshots. One shot shows a sniper in a ghillie suit, while the other shows a juggernaut suit – one of the most powerful pieces of gear from the original game. A whole new engineThis title will be the first to use a whole new engine for the series, and that should allow for some drastic graphical improvements over previous titles including Black Ops 4. It's the first time the games will use a new engine in 14 years. We've yet to learn the name of the engine, but we know that the franchise has been working on it for five years. We expect to learn more about it in the coming months, but we can expect some more detailed environments, improved volumetric lighting and ray tracing technology too. Expect controversyAccording to ComicBook.com, the game be "heavy on troubling, realistic emotions, very much inspired by the controversial 'No Russian level" That mission is in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. It was highly controversial at the time for depicting an undercover CIA agent who takes part in a mass shooting of civilians. The trailer suggests other terrorist attacks may feature in the story, and children also feature so it may be these elements are used to stir up controversy.
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| Fortnite Battle Royale update news, patch notes and more Posted: 26 Jul 2019 03:12 PM PDT In such a short space of time, Fortnite Battle Royale has become certified gaming phenomenon. Pitting 100 players against each other on a single map, it melds fun, cartoonish gameplay with a fierce competitive streak, and has attracted millions of players across the globe across all ages and demographics. Season 9 is now officially live, and we've got details of all the latest updates. We knew from the teaser tweet that we had a futuristic theme to look forward to, and so it's been proved. To help you keep on top of what's new and what's coming up in Fortnite, we've put together this handy page which will be updated with all the latest announcements. So to get you ready for blast off, here's everything you need to know about Fortnite. What is Fortnite?There's been a lot of hype surrounding Fortnite since its release in July 2017. But what exactly is it? Fortnite is a battle royale game which sees you thrown onto an island with no weapons or armor and it's up to you to scavenge for supplies and fight for your life to be the last man or squad standing at the end of the game – with the added pressure of a shrinking map that closes in as the match progresses, forcing players into tighter skirmishes. The game is available for free on PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, with in-game purchases limited to purely cosmetic options. Fortnite update news and Fortnite patch notes
Fortnite is now into season 9 and version 9.41 is our latest patch with brand new items and gameplay to enjoy. Weapons and items This patch introduces a new weapon: the Storm Scout Sniper Rifle. This handy weapon comes equipped with a weather map that displays any upcoming storm circles before they'll be displayed on the mini map so you can be ahead of the curve. As a weapon, it also does some damage. Coming in Epic and Legendary variants, this weapon does 81 and 85 damage respectively while a headshot will do 202/212 damage. To celebrate another year of Fornite, Epic has thrown some presents and cake into the game too. Birthday presents, available in Legendary Rarity only (as all good presents should be) can have six possible packages of loot and can be picked up as Floor loot, Chests, Vending Machines, Supply Drops, and Llamas. Cake, on the other hand, will grant 5 health and 5 shield and can be found scattered around various places of interest. Gameplay Overtime challenges have come to Fortnite for season 9, providing new opportunities to earn rewards and gain XP. Those are the highlights, though there are plenty more small changes and bug fixes on top of this which can be found in the official Fortnite Patch Notes .
Can I play Fortnite on mobile?Yes you can! Well, maybe. After months of waiting, Fortnite is finally on both iOS and Android, though you'll need a phone that can actually run the game. iOS users can download straight from the App Store. As long as you're using iOS 11 on iPhone 6S/SE, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad 2017, iPad Pro devices or later you'll be fine. Oh, and you'll need an internet connection, naturally. Fortnite also hit Android phones and finally came out of beta in October 2018. You can see the full list of phones – and how to find the Fortnite Installer – on our Fortnite on Android page. Is it the full game? It is the full Fortnite game. There are some small differences: it’s not quite as visually impressive as it is on more powerful devices, the controls are touchscreen, and a lot of audio cues have been made visual so you can play comfortably in public without the need for headphones. But you won’t be missing out on any key features. What's the deal with cross-play? A sweet deal is what it is. While previously Xbox One and PS4 owners couldn't play the game together, Sony's U-turn on the matter means that now everyone across Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android can all take part in the crossfire. So if you've got friends that prefer PC, others that prefer console and you're off on holiday with your mobile, that's no reason for the fun to stop. There's also cross-progression. So, if you're logged into your Fortnite account on mobile and you later log into your console to play there, everything you did on mobile later that day is carried over. Sounds great, how do I get it? We have a guide on how to get Fortnite on mobile on TechRadar and we're constantly updating it with the latest rollout news. If your device isn't there yet, keep checking back and one day it probably will be. What's a Fortnite Battle Pass?The Battle Pass is a purchasable item in Fortnite that gives you access to exclusive in-game rewards. As players complete daily challenges and level up their rank, they earn Battle Stars which can then be used to unlock Tiers in their Battle Pass. Each new Tier you unlock will bring both Free and Premium rewards. The Tiers vary from season to season but in season three you get around 100 items in each Battle Pass which can take anywhere between 75 and 150 hours of play to unlock. Everyone that has a Battle Pass will get the Free reward they unlock, but only Premium Pass holders will get the Premium reward. Battle Pass Premium can only be purchased with in-game V bucks and not with real money. You can purchase a Battle Pass for around £7/$10 in the Battle Pass tab of the game’s menu. Twitch Prime benefits Those who use Twitch Prime and play Fortnite will be glad to know that they have access to free loot right now. Those with a Prime account can claim the Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack and the Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack 2 which include a host of cosmetic items and are available across all platforms. The first pack includes two exclusive gliders and outfits: the Havoc Outfit and Back Bling, plus the Sub Commander Outfit and Slipstream Glider. The second pack contains three exclusive items for Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode including the camouflage-heavy Trailblazer Outfit, the True North Back Bling, and the Tenderizer Pickaxe. There’s also a brand new dance emote for those that like the dance floor as much as the battleground. The packs can only be claimed on a single platform, but they can be shared across PC/console and mobile as long as you use the same Epic account across these platforms. You can’t however, share your loot across PS4 and Xbox One even if you are using the same Epic account. (Image credits: Epic Games) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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