Sunday, September 1, 2019

Apple : Dell's OptiPlex 7070 Ultra is a minimalist’s modular all-in-one PC dream

Apple : Dell's OptiPlex 7070 Ultra is a minimalist’s modular all-in-one PC dream

Dell's OptiPlex 7070 Ultra is a minimalist’s modular all-in-one PC dream

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 12:18 PM PDT

The days of non-upgradeable all-in-one PCs are numbered. Rising from the ashes of all the all-in-ones discarded due to one dated or dying component is the Dell OptiPlex 7070 Ultra, a mini PC that’s designed to transform a monitor into a modular all-in-one.

Dell’s OptiPlex mini PCs are already small and designed to be mounted out of sight. However, this new model takes that to another level by making it thin, narrow and slender enough (at 3.78 x 10.09 x 0.78 inches) to be slid into a monitor stand, essentially turning your monitor into an all-in-one desktop.

The covert nature of the OptiPlex 7070 Ultra makes it appealing for folks who crave a clean, more minimalist workspace.

A modular and upgradeable all-in-one

But, that’s not all. In effect, the OptiPlex 7070 Ultra, according to a report by PCMag, is also the first all-in-one that’s modular.

That’s because not only can you simply pull it out of the monitor stand and replace it with a new model when it’s starting to show its age, but it’s also upgradeable to a degree. Simply, you can pop it open to upgrade the memory and storage.

This means that the OptiPlex 7070 Ultra, slated for release on September 24, might also find itself a sizeable market in the all-in-one community, especially with those users who are fed up with having to replace an entire all-in-one desktop all because one internal component needs upgrading.

OptiPlex 7070 Ultra specs

All-in-one desktop power users who need a dedicated graphics card for their demanding day-to-day workflow might unfortunately have to look elsewhere. The OptiPlex 7070 Ultra is designed for mainstream users who might do a little bit of photo editing and light video editing, but ultimately utilize this mini PC for typical productivity tasks, some gaming and entertainment.

The OptiPlex 7070 Ultra will come fitted with 8th-generation Intel i3 to i7 chips ­– set to run at 25 watts, up to 64GB in RAM and up to 1TB SSD, and a decent number of ports, including one that supports Power Delivery. 

As for the monitor stands its compatible with, a separate report says that it will fit a variety of monitors up to 27 inches, while PCMag adds that it will be compatible with both fixed-height and height-adjustable stands. A VESA mount will also be available so you can mount it in the back of any VESA-compatible display.

The OptiPlex 7070 Ultra will start at $749 for its base model.

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How to watch Peaky Blinders season 5, episode 3 online: free streaming in the UK or abroad

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 11:32 AM PDT

Razor-concealing hats, cigarettes and whiskey: the Peaky Blinders’ calling card trifecta has finally returned! After a nail biting break, the world’s favourite gangster family reappeared on our screens last weekend and now it's time to enjoy episode 3 - that's where our guide to watch Peaky Blinders online (from absolutely anywhere) comes in.

The season 5 trailer got us salivating and we knew that there would be hell to pay, and we're certainly not going to spoil things if you're yet to catch up on the first two Peaky Blinders episodes (or, indeed, seasons 1 to 4). The latest instalment of this gangster family’s adventures hits BBC One tonight, having recently switched from BBC Two due to its increased popularity and demand - this season is set to be a killer one.

For those of you who are up to speed with the Thomas Shelby and his orders, scroll down below for all of the most up to date information on where to watch Peaky Blinders episode 3 online.

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Watch Peaky Blinders online

How to watch Peaky Blinders, episode 3 online for free in the UK:

BBC One is the place to be for this and you'll need to be in front of your screen at 9pm BST if you want to watch as it goes out for your weekly dose of gangsters and violence. And there's BBC iPlayer on your laptop and the iPlayer app for mobiles, too.

The very handy BBC iPlayer allows you to catch up on all of the episodes that have gone so far, so ideal if you've missed any episodes or miss any in the future.

How to watch Peaky Blinders season 5, episode 3 from any other location:  

Unfortunately, BBC One is currently the only channel airing the episodes, so for anyone who's abroad when the episode airs you’ll have to cybershift and virtually transport yourselves into the United Kingdom. Does this seem impossible? Of course it isn’t, with a VPN you can go anywhere - even to Birmingham 1919, where the Peaky Blinders crew are exchanging whiskey for fist-fights.  

Now comes the difficult question: which VPN is the perfect one for you? Our current top pick is ExpressVPN, as the best all-round VPN, in terms of speed, security and the abundant amount of locations to choose from. As you'll see, it's top of the pile in our list of the best VPN providers.

And best of all...it's really easy to use. So, let’s run the steps down for you nice and easy:

When will I be able to watch Peaky Blinders online in my country?

If you are in the US, Canada, Australia, India or, indeed, anywhere else, you can stream seasons 1 to 4 on Netflix.

And luckily, you won’t have to wait long to watch the latest Peaky Blinders episodes online as season 5 will be internationally available on Netflix on October 4. 

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I’m sick of Chrome eating all my RAM – it's time for me to ditch it for FireFox… or even Edge

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 08:00 AM PDT

That’s it. I’ve had enough of Chrome. I, like the vast majority of internet users, have been using Google’s web browser for years now. Back when it launched almost exactly 11 years ago, Chrome promised a different, better way of browsing the web.

It convinced me to jump ship from Firefox, which I had found to be increasingly bloated and slow. Oh, what a difference a little over a decade makes! What was once a New Hope for browsing the web has now become the very thing it set out to defeat. It’s a turn to the dark side and a fall from grace that would make George Lucas proud (or at the very least hire a copyright lawyer).

These days, Chrome is just as bloated and resource-hungry as its competitors were. There’s a reason why Chrome’s lust for RAM has become such a popular meme on the internet.

I’m lucky enough to have a PC that boasts 32GB of the stuff. Now, that amount of RAM is – to be honest – overkill for most things I use my PC for. However, after a few hours using Chrome, gigabytes will have been swallowed up by Google’s web browser.

Yes, I admit that my shoddy tab organisation is partly to blame here. Because of the nature of my job (and the ultra-wide aspect ratio of my monitor), my browser can end up the distressingly high number of open tabs.

Even so, Chrome’s resource intensive nature is unacceptable. And, while a growing number of available extensions has helped make Chrome a more useful – and versatile – piece of software, it is led to Chrome becoming far too bloated.

cartoon PC anger

Where has all my RAM gone?

Losing features

Perhaps the final straw was the news this week that Google was dropping some useful features from Chrome. It made me question why I was putting up of Chrome. After all, I was spending an increasing amount of time complaining about it rather than just using the bloody thing.

So, what went wrong? To be honest, I’d argue that Chrome’s huge success has been its biggest downfall. The fact that it has such a huge slice of web browser market share has meant that Google has got a bit complacent. The company no longer has to work hard to convince people to try chrome. And because of that, I fear that the company has stopped innovating when it comes to Chrome.

Chrome's huge success has been its biggest downfall

In fact, some of the times Google try something new with Chrome, it ends up annoying its users – such as when it cut off ‘www’ from URLs. And, the growing number of extensions available to install for Chrome has, as I mentioned earlier, resulted in a bloated and ungainly web browser. So, it’s time for a change.

What are my options?

So, what should a Chrome refugee do? Possibly the most obvious answer is to return, tail between legs, to Firefox. Whilst many of Google’s recent changes to Chrome have annoyed users, Mozilla’s changes to Firefox have been met with broadly positive reactions from its community. I’ve read a number of news stories concerning updates to Firefox, especially to do with privacy and security, that have made me seriously consider returning to the web browser.

Another option is – and I can’t quite believe I’m typing this – Edge. Usually, the only thing I use Microsoft’s default Windows 10 web browser for is to download Chrome.

Perhaps it’s a left over distaste for its predecessor, Internet Explorer, combined with  a lack of features and limited extension support, that made me never consider Edge as my daily web browser.

It seems like Microsoft might have made a worthy Chrome replacement

Plus, Microsoft’s increasingly desperate pleas to stick with Edge that pop up in Windows when you search for and download Chrome simply made me even more determined to stay away.

And yes, I am aware that by complaining that Chrome is too bloated thanks to me installing too many extensions, then deriding Edge because of its lack of extensions, it makes me a complete hypocrite. But isn’t that the job of a modern web browser? Give us what we want, but protect us from our stupidity?

However, now that Microsoft has made a version of Edge that runs on the Chromium browser (which Chrome runs on), it seems like Microsoft might have made a worthy Chrome replacement, which offers some of the base features and performance of Chrome (and, yes, extension support) without the baggage.

Cartoon of man using tablet

Have I been wrong about Edge?

Having had a play around with the beta version of Chromium Edge, I’ve found there’s a lot to like. Switching is pretty easy – all my saved passwords from Chrome appear in the new version of Edge – and Microsoft has added some nice innovations to differentiate it from Google’s all-conquering browser, including much better tab organisation – something I desperately need.

So, perhaps I’ve found my Chrome alternative. Of course, in a few years I’m sure Chromium Edge will become just as bloated and frustrating as Chrome is right now, and I’ll be in search of a new web browser again. Maybe I’ll dig out an old floppy disk with Netscape Navigator on it, and the circle of life will be complete.

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WoW Classic is a long (and slow) walk down memory lane

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 06:30 AM PDT

World of Warcraft has been out for 15 years at this point – no doubt an extremely long time for a game to both be out and as popular as WoW is. However, while the popular MMORPG has grown to include some amazing new features and has made life generally easier in Azeroth over the course of the 6 expansions – there's always been a contingent of the player base that wanted to go back in time to the original game. 

Enter WoW Classic, Blizzard's official response to the ravenous demands for nostalgia after the developer shuttered the unofficial Nostalrius server. This version of World of Warcraft turns back the clock to patch 1.12, or "Drums of War". This patch was released way back on August 22, 2006, and according to Blizzard "represents the most complete version of the classic experience". 

So, obviously, I was intrigued – after playing the current game for years, I've grown used to how everything feels, and wanted to get a visceral feeling for how much the game has changed. And, well, it's changed a lot. World of Warcraft, even in the state it launched in so many years ago, is one of the biggest and best PC games of all time. So, what was it like to travel back in time – and is what's there better than the game millions of us are already playing?

WoW Classic

Who says there's no 8K content out there?

Old-school experience, new-school performance

The game engine that World of Warcraft runs on is at least 17 years old, as it originated in Warcraft III. Now, obviously, without fine tuning over the years, that would be extremely problematic. In the Blizzard blog post we referenced earlier, this early build of the game didn't recognize modern graphics cards, and wasn't compatible with modern security or anti-cheat measures. 

However, Blizzard found a way to port the WoW Classic code to the modern engine, without changing the experience. That means that we were able to play WoW Classic at 4K, and with a 200% resolution scale, while still getting a solid 100 fps with our AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. So, the game was extremely smooth – at least when I gave up trying to join a server-queue ridden population realm.

To be honest, I was at least a little tempted to run the game at 480p on an old CRT monitor, but we just don't have that kind of equipment lying around. 

I haven't had a chance to get to endgame, yet – and probably won't for a few months at least – but, at least I don't have to worry about the game slowing to a crawl when we enter Molten Core with 39 other players to take on Ragnaros. 

WoW Classic

We can definitely say that Orgrimmar has changed a lot over the years

Rose-tinted glasses? Nah.

Jumping into WoW Classic, I have to admit, I was skeptical. Sure, everyone loves reminiscing on the past, before they had full-time jobs and responsibilities, when they were able to just tune the world out and get lost in WoW for hours at a time, but was the game actually better? Well, it kind of was, at least in the early game. 

You see, whenever I set out to level a new character in the current version of World of Warcraft, or "Retail WoW", I strap our new character with powerful "heirloom" equipment and just turn on autopilot for the next 20-30 hours until I hit max level. The leveling experience, and being out in the world, feels like a chore – something to get out of the way before I can get to the content that I actually want to play.  

But, the first thing I noticed when jumping into WoW Classic is that it felt like an actual game from the get-go. I'm this new adventurer in a huge and open world, and it feels like that. Azeroth is a mysterious place, and while we thought that our embarrassingly huge amount of time in the game over the years would spoil that mystery, it really didn't. Maybe it was just our hazy memory, but exploring Tirisfal Glades as a low-level Undead Warlock felt wonderful. 

It was dangerous, too. In the current version of World of Warcraft, I've grown accustomed to pulling every enemy in sight simultaneously, to just make everything go faster. I tried that once in WoW Classic, and regretted it immediately. Especially as a class that wears cloth, rather than the mail or leather of other classes' armor, I didn't exactly put up much of a fight. 

This meant I actually had to be aware of what was going on around me while leveling – something that was amplified by the fact that nothing was labeled on our map. 

WoW Classic

Sometimes, WoW Classic really is about sitting back and soaking it all in

Is WoW Classic better than Retail WoW?

I have to admit, there are a lot of aspects to the current version of World of Warcraft that I still love. As I've got older, I simply don't have time to dedicate to the game, and the systems in place now, like the Looking for Raid feature and the Dungeon Finder make it easy to enjoy the game on my terms. 

For me, there's definitely an appeal to being able to log in every once in a while, and get something done, without feeling the pressure to get in there every single day, just to be able to see everything. 

Still, there is a lot that you give up when you streamline the game to the extent that Blizzard has over the years. Even if WoW Classic is technically more simple, and the story is just all over the place, it feels more alive, feels more complex, and feels like more of a complete experience. It's easy to see why World of Warcraft was such a success back in the day, why it was so beloved by so many.

I probably won't spend a ton of time playing WoW Classic – I simply don't have the time. However, I would be lying if I didn't think it was a better experience for those that do have that time. I can't remember the last time I was excited to see a simple bag drop in World of Warcraft, and that excitement is definitely there in WoW Classic. 

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Leaked Ryzen Threadripper 3000 32-core CPU benchmark leaves Threadripper 2990WX in the dust

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 05:55 AM PDT

AMD’s 32-core 3rd-Gen Threadripper CPU has popped up again in an online benchmark which appears to show that this processor outperforms the previous generation flagship by around 30%.

This purported incoming chip has previously been spotted in Geekbench results, where it was codenamed ‘AMD Sharkstooth’, and now the processor has been found in the UserBenchmark database.

In this new benchmark spotted by prolific leaker TUM_APISAK, the (likely next-gen flagship) 32-core CPU is marked as ‘ES1’ meaning it’s an ‘engineering sample’, and possibly an early one at that (given the number 1 designation, with these sample chips usually getting later versions, too, ie ES2).

At any rate, bearing that firmly in mind, it shows a Ryzen Threadripper 32-core processor running with a 3.6GHz base clock and 4.2GHz boost.

Because it’s an early sample, these may not be the final speeds of the release product (of course, assuming this benchmark result isn’t falsified in any manner, too – it could be completely made up for all we know).

Stepping up

Previous leaks we’ve seen of this 32-core chip have shown it with a base clock of 3.6GHz, just as it is here. Remember that the previous generation Threadripper 2990WX 32-core effort ran with a base clock of 3.0GHz, so this is a considerable step up.

As for the UserBenchmark score, the freshly leaked processor hit 5,649 points in the multi-threaded test, and by all accounts the incoming CPU is around 30% faster than the 2990WX going by this result.

And remember, of course, that as we’ve already mentioned this is still an engineering sample, so won’t likely represent the full range of power that the Sharkstooth chip might hit.

Previous Geekbench leaks pointed to an increase of around 35% on the 2990WX, so these look to be excitingly healthy gains to say the least.

Via Wccftech

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Fitbit Versa 2 vs Apple Watch 4

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 05:00 AM PDT

Fitbit is one of the biggest names in wearables and its Fitbit Versa 2 comes in as something of a competitor for the Apple Watch 4 – the latest device by the biggest name in wearables.

Both are smartwatches with a big focus on fitness, but they also have a lot of differences, not least their price.

We’ve compared them in full below, so you can see exactly how similar – or not – the Fitbit Versa 2 and Apple Watch 4 are.

Fitbit Versa 2 vs Apple Watch 4 design and display

The Fitbit Versa 2 has a square screen similar to the Apple Watch 4

The Fitbit Versa 2 has a somewhat similar look to the Apple Watch 4, as both have a fairly square screen with rounded corners and up to 1,000 nits of brightness.

While Fitbit hasn’t confirmed the exact size or specs of the Versa 2's color touchscreen, we know that the watch body is 40mm, while the Apple Watch 4 comes in a choice of 40mm (with a 1.57-inch 394 x 324 screen), or 44mm (with a 1.78-inch 448 x 368 screen).

However, while the Fitbit Versa 2 only comes in one size, it does have both small and large straps in the box.

The Apple Watch 4 arguably has a slightly more premium build

Speaking of straps, the Fitbit Versa 2 comes with a silicone one (or a woven one if you opt for the Special Edition), while the Apple Watch 4 comes with a sport, leather or stainless steel strap. The case of the Apple Watch 4 is either aluminum or stainless steel, while for the Fitbit Versa 2 it’s always aluminum.

Another design difference between the two is that while the Apple Watch 4 has a digital crown, the Fitbit Versa 2 has a standard button.

Ultimately they’re visually quite similar, but the Apple Watch 4 arguably looks a bit more premium, and is more customizable.

Fitbit Versa 2 vs Apple Watch 4 fitness and features

Both watches are water-resistant to 50 meters, so you can safely use them to track your swimming. They also both include general activity tracking, plus sleep tracking, and tracking for numerous different exercises, helped by a heart rate monitor.

The Apple Watch 4 goes further here though as it includes GPS (whereas the Fitbit Versa 2 can only connect to your phone’s GPS). The Apple Watch 4 also has an ECG (electrocardiogram) which can read the rhythm and electrical activity of your heart. This isn’t offered by the Fitbit Versa 2.

The Fitbit Versa 2 lets you talk to Alexa

As for other features, Fitbit has added Amazon Alexa to the Fitbit Versa 2, so you can leverage the power of Amazon’s AI Assistant. Apple Watch 4 owners get similar skills from Siri.

Both watches can also display notifications from your phone and allow for contactless payments (with either Fitbit Pay or Apple Pay). They also both have storage space for music. So there are a lot of similarities here too, but with its GPS the Apple Watch 4 feels like a more full-featured fitness device.

Fitbit Versa 2 vs Apple Watch 4 OS, power and battery

While the Fitbit Versa 2 runs Fitbit OS, the Apple Watch 4 uses watchOS 5. These are both full smartwatch operating systems with support for apps, but Apple’s – being on version 5 – is the more mature of the two.

The Apple Watch 4 also comes in an LTE version, so you can go truly phone-free. This isn’t offered by the Fitbit Versa 2.

The Apple Watch 4 can come with LTE, but likely has worse battery life

As for core specs, Fitbit hasn’t gone into many details, but we know there’s space for at least 300 songs. The Apple Watch 4 meanwhile has 16GB of storage (which is likely a lot more than the Versa 2) and a dual-core S4 chipset.

Battery life could be one area where the Fitbit Versa 2 wins out though, as it promises 5+ days of life, whereas the Apple Watch 4 only promises up to 18 hours.

In practice we actually found you could get up to two days from it, but that’s still well short of Fitbit’s claims for the Versa 2. We’ll let you know how well those claims hold up in our full Fitbit Versa 2 review.

Fitbit Versa 2 vs Apple Watch 4 availability and price

The Apple Watch 4 is out now and starts at $399 / £399 / AU$599 for the 40mm GPS-only model, rising to $429 / £429 / AU$649 for the larger 44mm one. Want LTE? That starts at $499 / £499 / AU$749 for the 40mm model and $529 / £529 / AU$799 for the 44mm one.

The Fitbit Versa 2 is set to hit US stores on September 15 and should arrive in other regions before long. It costs £199.99 / $199.95 / AU$299.95 (unless you opt for the Special Edition which comes with a woven strap). So it’s roughly half the price of the cheapest Apple Watch 4.

Takeaway

As you can see, these are quite similar devices, but with the Apple Watch 4 offering more in both big (GPS) and small ways. It has an arguably more premium design, more choice in terms of style and sizing, more storage, optional LTE connectivity, and more.

However, its battery life is theoretically a lot worse and it costs upwards of twice as much, so if you want an affordable alternative – and can live with having to use your phone’s GPS – then the Fitbit Versa 2 could be a strong choice.

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Huawei Mate 30 Pro release date, news, price and leaks

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 04:58 AM PDT

Update: After Google suspended Huawei's future access to Android Play Store and security updates, there are serious question marks over the future of Huawei and Honor phones.

While Google and Huawei have promised to support phones currently on the market, Google confirmed that the same doesn't apply to the Mate 30 Pro - and it won't ship with "licensed Google apps and services." Sure, users could sideload them later, but most folks won't go to the effort of doing so; more to the point, that locks Huawei out from crucial security and feature updates. We'll see how the situation develops.

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro is the next major phone launch from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer and the successor to the Mate 20 Pro. The new handset (along with the base Huawei Mate 30) is getting its official unveiling on September 19.

And while there's still uncertainty around the company's future business in the US despite a 90-day extension of its limited license, this is a phone that should still be worth considering.

That said, while the Huawei P30 and the Huawei P30 Pro have full access to Android and Google's apps, there's an outside chance that Huawei Mate 30 Pro may launch with the firm's own operating system. We doubt it though as things stand at the moment.

Latest leak: A new report suggests Huawei may be ready to debut the fastest wireless charging on the market in the Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro.

There's quite a bit we know about the Huawei Mate 30 Pro now, and all the rumors and leaks are collected below. We’ll also update this article any time we hear any credible new information.

Could the phone come out, and if it does will it reach our list of the best Android phones? We'll have to wait until launch to find out for sure.

It's not just the Mate 30 Pro that's worth keeping an eye out for though. The new iPhone and Google Pixel 4 are both hotly tipped to arrive in the coming months too, giving you plenty of new options to consider.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The successor to the Mate 20 Pro
  • When is it out? September 19 is the official launch date
  • What will it cost? Likely to rival other top flagships

Huawei Mate 30 Pro release date and price

Originally we expected Huawei to introduce the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro in October considering the company announced both the Huawei Mate 20 range and the Huawei Mate 10 in October of their respective launch years.

Now Huawei has said the phones will be launched on September 19, which actually matches up with a previous rumor from Russian news site High-tech Mail, via a briefing with Huawei's Consumer Business Software President.

Huawei has yet to confirm when the handsets will actually go on sale around the world, but mark your calendars for September 19 for our first official look at the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro.

The Mate 30 Pro is landing in September.

There aren’t any price rumors yet either, but the Huawei Mate 20 Pro cost £899 / AU$1,599 (around $1,150) at launch, so it’s likely that the Mate 30 Pro will cost at least that much.

It’s worth noting also that given Huawei’s ongoing issues in the US, the Mate 30 Pro probably won’t be available there.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro news and rumors

One of the major Huawei Mate 30 Pro rumor so far comes from a Huawei patent, which shows a phone case with space on the back for extra camera lenses.

You can see the image below and based on that it looks like there could be room for five rear lenses, up from three on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and four on the P30 Pro.

Of course, patents don’t always become real devices, and even if this does get used it might not make it to the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, but it would make sense for Huawei to increase the number of lenses on its flagship, given that a number of other phones are doing the same.

A leaked patent which could show us the Huawei Mate 30 Pro

This could point to extra lenses on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro. Image Credit: Mobielkopen

We've also heard from Huawei itself that the Mate 30 range might support 5G, but that so far the company is only "considering" this.

Beyond that, we can be confident that the Mate 30 Pro will have a new generation of the company’s top-end in-house chipset. 

The current top version is called the Kirin 980 and made its debut in the Huawei Mate 20 range. Based on previous names we can guess that the next one will be called the Kirin 990.

Another report suggests Huawei may be able to include 25W wireless charging, which should mean super quick recharge times for your phone when using wireless pads.

The Mate 30 Pro is also likely to have at least four rear cameras, given that the Huawei P30 Pro does, and it might have a similar design to that phone, including a tiny notch and hardly any bezel.

Having said that, multiple leaks have now shown a design with a larger notch, along with a curvier screen. The curves of the screen can be seen below.

But we've also seen an older set of renders supposedly showing the handset. The over-sized camera block matches the cutout in the patent leak above, and appears to house at least four cameras.

On the front, this Huawei Mate 30 Pro leak suggests the handset will have dual front-facing cameras, surrounded by screen in a similar fashion to the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro render leak

Is this our first proper look at the Huawei Mate 30 Pro? (Image Credit: IT Home)

Big camera blocks are starting to become one of the major design points for phones set to launch in the second half of 2019, with both the iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4 also tipped to adopt larger bumps.

We've actually heard an alternative to this large phone block, though, as a leaked render shows a circle camera block with the lenses aligned in an X shape. It's a futuristic design for sure, but it's rather surprisingly large, and could be obnoxious in physical form.

That circular block can be seen again in another leak (below), albeit without the 'X' configuration and oddly only seemingly housing three lenses. This leak also highlights the large notch, and seems to show a headphone port on the standard Mate 30, but not on the Mate 30 Pro.

As well as the actual design of the cameras, we've heard a tiny bit about the camera capabilities, thanks to Huawei trademarking the phrases 'Cine Lens' and 'Camera Matrix'.

We're expecting the former to be a lens with specific features designed for video recording, but the latter is a bit of a mystery at the moment, as it could refer to many things.

Elsewhere, a leak has suggested that at least one of the phones will have four rear cameras, consisting of two 40MP lenses, an 8MP lens, and a time-of-flight (ToF) depth sensor.

On the front of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, leaked images of the display show screen cut-outs for many cameras – more than for a dual-lens front-facing snapper, as some smartphones have, so it's possible that the device will have Apple-style facial unlocking.

What we want to see

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro is likely to be a powerful, impressive phone, but for it to really stand out it could do with the following things.

1. An improved camera

The cameras on the Mate 20 Pro are generally very good, but in our review we found that shots taken with the ultra-wide-angle lens would sometimes have warped edges.

We also noted that the phone’s HDR skills weren’t a match for some of its top rivals, such as the Google Pixel 3 and iPhone XS, so these are two things that we’d like to see improved for the Huawei Mate 30 Pro.

2. More lenses

Three is good, more is better.

While we’re on the subject of the camera, we’d also like more lenses. The three on the back is a good start, but with the likes of the Nokia 9 getting five lenses there’s always room for more.

This may well happen too, as early rumors suggest that extra rear lenses could be a feature of the Mate 30 Pro.

Similarly, we’d like to see an extra lens on the front of the phone, especially if it can be used to power Apple-calibre facial recognition.

3. No notch

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a good-looking phone, but one element that could start to look dated in 2019 is its notch, since phones are starting to arrive with punch-hole cameras instead.

But ideally we don’t even want that for the Mate 30 Pro, what we’d like to see is a truly all-screen design with the camera and sensors somehow built into the screen. That might not be possible, but Huawei is often among the first to show new technology in handsets, so you never know.

4. A slicker interface

One ongoing issue with all of Huawei’s phones is the heavy EMUI overlay the company sticks on top of Android.

We’d like to see the Huawei Mate 30 Pro stay closer to stock Android. Better yet, ditch EMUI entirely and use Android One – which would also ensure software updates could be offered rapidly.

5. An improved in-screen scanner

The Mate 20 Pro's scanner needs work.

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has an in-screen fingerprint scanner and it was among the first phones to sport one. It’s a cool feature but in the Mate 20 Pro’s case it’s not perfect.

It’s only on a small area of the screen, so can be hard to find without first turning the screen on (which brings up an icon). It also isn’t perfect at recognizing prints.

That’s all forgivable since it’s the first generation of the tech, but by the time the Mate 30 Pro launches, Huawei will have had another year to perfect it, so let’s hope it will use the time wisely.

6. A 3.5mm headphone port

Like many phones, the Mate 20 Pro lacks a 3.5mm headphone port, but we’re still not convinced that it’s time to abandon wired headphones.

There are lots of arguments for the convenience of wireless headphones and the fact that the space used for the port could better be used for other things.

This is all valid, but many of us still have wired cans that we don’t want to bury just yet. Some of us also don’t want to have to charge our headphones, and when it comes to sound quality wired can still have the edge.

7. Something new

Most of the things listed above are focused on perfecting the Mate 20 Pro, but what we really want to see for the Huawei Mate 30 Pro is something completely new and exciting.

Some sort of futuristic feature perhaps or a completely new, completely dazzling design. We’ll leave the specifics to Huawei, but in the face of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the iPhone 11 it’s likely to take more than impressive basics for the Mate 30 Pro to truly stand out.

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The best Labor Day sales 2019: deals on TVs, laptops, furniture, mattresses and more

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 04:51 AM PDT

The Labor Day sales are almost over, but you still have a few days to enjoy the late summer deals.  So whether you're looking to treat yourself to a summer sizzler of a bargain or planning ahead to best equip yourself for the upcoming school year, this is the place to be.

This years' Labor Day sales include discounts on TVs, laptops, furniture, mattresses, and appliances from retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, Walmart, and more.

To help guide you through all the promotions and offers, we've put together a list of the best sales that are currently going on. We've also hand-picked the top standout deals from a variety of categories such as appliances, electronics, home items and more. Some standout deals include the Vizio 65-inch 4K TV on sale at Walmart for $479.99, the Lenovo Ideapad laptop on sale for $209.99 at Best Buy, and 40% off the Echo Dot at Amazon.

We'll also tell you everything else you need to know about the Labor Day sales event such as the date, retailers that are participating, and what deals you can expect and from what categories.

What are the best Labor Day sales? 

The most popular categories discounted during Labor Day include furniture, home items, TVs, laptops, and appliances. You'll also find seasonal end-of-summer items on clearance such as patio furniture, grills, outdoor play items, and more.

Labor day is also an excellent time to find deals on mattresses with retailers like Casper and Purple offering site-wide sales. Home Depot and Best Buy are just a few retailers that are discounting top-brand appliances all weekend long, and if you're looking for TV deals, Walmart has fantastic price cuts from LG, Vizio, Samsung, and more. There's also back to school deals still going on if you're looking for laptop sales from retailers like Dell and Lenovo.

The best Labor Day sales:

Our best Labor Day sale picks:

When is Labor Day 2019? 

Labor Day is a federal holiday that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers to the United States economy. Labor Day is observed annually on the first Monday of September, and this year it falls on Monday, September 2, with the long holiday weekend kicking off on Friday, August 30.

When do Labor Day sales start?

Most Labor Day sales start the week before the holiday, but some retailers like Home Depot and Best Buy began their promotions last week. Other retailers won't start their sales until Friday and some will wait until the actual holiday to offer sitewide discounts. Most offers will last through the weekend and end on Monday, September 2 at midnight.

You can shop more TV deals with our roundup of the best cheap TV sales and 4K TV deals happening now.

You can also shop more of the best Walmart sales and deals that are currently going on.

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It's official: the Huawei Mate 30 phones are launching on September 19

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 04:38 AM PDT

We've already heard plenty of rumors and speculation around the Huawei Mate 30 Series phones, but here's something official: a launch date of Thursday September 19, with the unveiling happening at an event in Munich.

That's per the official Huawei Mobile Twitter account, so it's time to mark it on your calendars, book some time off work, or do whatever else you need to do in preparation.

The launch date tweet and accompanying preview site are encouraging us to "rethink possibilities" – so make of that what you will. There's also extensive use of what looks like a camera lens graphic, suggesting the Mate 30 phones will come packing some serious photo-taking capabilities.

We will of course be bringing you all the news as it happens from the Mate 30 Series event, and no doubt we're in line for plenty more leaks and rumors between then and now.

Some of the shine of the launch event is likely to be taken off by the news that the Mate 30 phones probably won't be able to use Google apps and services, thanks to the ongoing trade disputes between the US and China.

It's possible that Google will apply for an exemption for the Huawei Mate 30 handsets, but if not, Huawei is going to have to rely on its own HarmonyOS. We won't know exactly how this is going to play out until we see the phones themselves.

We're expecting both a Mate 30 and a Mate 30 Pro, at least. Previous leaked images point to a circular housing for the rear-facing camera, which could pack in as many as four individual lenses.

Other rumored improvements include faster wireless charging, but most attention is going to focus on exactly what software and apps the Huawei Mate 30 phones come running.

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Samsung Galaxy S10 deal bargain: free upfront, 512GB storage and a load of data

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 04:00 AM PDT

Where the expression normally goes 'bring out the big guns', Carphone Warehouse's latest deal is better likened to bringing out a fully sized tank, offering one of the best Samsung Galaxy S10 deals we've seen for a while.

So what exactly is this offer? Well it starts with its storage capacity - 512GB sound like enough for you? Following that up with an impressive 30GB of data, you would expect to be paying a whole lot of money to get this, but you really don't need to worry about that.

There are no upfront costs to pay and the monthly bills only come to £39. In other words, if you're looking for a new Samsung Galaxy S10 deal, Carphone Warehouse has the market beat right now.

It's no surprise really that Carphone has gone and slapped a 'lowest ever price' on this deal, all you've got to do is grab it before it's gone. 

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Carphone Warehouse's Samsung Galaxy S10 deal:

Why go for the Samsung Galaxy S10? 

Fitting perfectly between Samsung's affordable S10e and its mammoth S10 Plus and Note 10 devices, this phone is the perfect middle ground. You're getting a high-quality screen, in-screen fingerprint scanner and a powerful battery/processor combo. A quick glance at our best smartphone guide shows we currently rank it as the third best phone in the world.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S10 review here

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Why buy from Carphone Warehouse?

Everyone knows the name 'Carphone Warehouse' but what is it that makes the retailer really standout?

Providing 'text to switch' features - allowing you to easily change over your number when you switch contracts - as well as phone trade-ins to save money with your old handset, Carphone is working to make your purchase as easy as possible.

Combine that with Carphone's next day delivery guarantee and click and collect options from 850 stores and the high-street retailer is looking like a strong option - discover its latest prices and offers with our Carphone Warehouse deals guide.

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LG B9 vs LG B8 OLED: is the new B Series OLED worth the upgrade?

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 03:00 AM PDT

As we drift into the latter end of 2019, the question on many consumers’ lips will be this: how exactly does the new LG B9 OLED compare to last year’s LG B8?

These are two of the cheapest OLED TVs on the market - only beaten by the Hisense O8B - and remain the entry-level model in LG's OLED lineup. But their equivalent position in the lineup doesn't mean they're equal in all things.

With the LG B9 OLED now on sale in the UK, and due to follow shortly in the US, Australia, and elsewhere, we’ve pulled together a side by side comparison of the pricing, specifications, and format support of the two televisions, to give any prospective buyers the best idea of whether to go for LG B9 or LG B8 in their hunt for an affordable OLED.

LG B9 vs LG B8 pricing

This is an easy one. Almost exactly the same as the B8 model, the LG B9 is starting at £1,529 (around $1,995 / AU$2,900) RRP for the 55-inch model, and £2,499 (around $3,055 / AU$4,530) RRP for the 65-inch model. 

For reference, the B8 retailed at £1,599 for the 55-inch at launch, but has yet to see any price reduction. We expect it to shortly to acknowledge and incentivize the updated model – if LG doesn't take it off shelves entirely.

Like the B8, the LG B9 undercuts this year’s C9 OLED by a good $200/£200, making it the most affordable of the LG TV 2019 range, and quite a bit cheaper than the LG E9 or LG W9 sets, which feature even more premium materials and higher-end speakers – despite all having the same OLED panel.

LG B9 vs LG B8 processor

What makes that price drop especially impressive, though, is that the LG B9 has the same a7 Gen 2 Intelligent processor of its higher-end siblings.

The lower price of the B8 last year was largely credited with the set’s use of an older processor than the more advanced OLED TVs in the range. By keeping the same price difference, without a drop in processing smarts, it makes this B series a much stronger proposition than its predecessor.

Our only complaints with the B8 last year were the middling HD upscaling and occasional video noise in dark scenes – but it's unlikely you'll see as much of that in the B9.

LG B9 vs LG B8 specs and design

LG B9 has a more narrow stand, but an overall larger weight

Processor aside, is anything materially different with the design, formats, or inputs of the LG B8 and LG B9?

The B9’s screen appears to be the same size, though the TV stand it rests on has a slightly different shape that's a bit shorter and slimmer than the B8’s stand, measuring 38 mm high and 246 mm deep rather than 45 mm high and 220 mm deep. The weight of the set, too, has risen, coming in at 19.9kg rather than the B8’s 17.7kg (including the stand).

In terms of audio, the output has gone up considerably too, doubling the volume of the B8’s 20W speakers, to 40W output on the B9. The B9 also adds in a subwoofer, making for 2.2 channel speakers rather than the B8’s 2.0 channel setup.

The LG B8 made do with 20W speakers, which have been upgraded to 40W, with an extra channel subwoofer

If you’re connecting your headphones or smartphone to the TV via Bluetooth, you’ll be pleased to know that the B9 uses the latest 5.0 standard instead of the B8’s older 4.2 connection, meaning the B9 should connect faster and more reliably.

Both are 4K TVs with HDR panels, and support the dynamic Dolby Vision HDR format, as well as Dolby Atmos surround sound. They both ship with LG’s sleek magic remote and streamlined webOS smart TV platform. With LG’s ThinQ AI integrated, too, you’re getting a very smart system, with built-in Alexa / Google Assistant support and the ability to connect to Google Home and Amazon Echo devices.

LG B9 vs LG B8: takeaway

We’ll be looking to publish our review of the LG B9 OLED in the coming weeks, for anyone who can wait before making a purchase. If you’re an impulse buyer, though, or just need a new television set for that big movie night you have planned, you may be considering buying the LG B9 now.

Our previous experience testing the 2019 LG TV range makes us think you won’t be too surprised by anything in the B9. With the same panel and processor, you can expect the same kind of standout OLED picture – with gorgeously deep blacks and incredible color contrast – of the LG C9 and E9 OLED we reviewed earlier in the year. Given it doesn’t ditch the a7 Gen 2 processor for an older chip, either, it may be the best buy in the LG range for price vs performance.

Keep in mind, though, that the B8 OLED was still a truly capable TV from 2018, and well worth the price in its own right.

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More details on Apple's new tracking tags leak out

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 02:30 AM PDT

We've already heard rumors that Apple is working on a personal item tracker – a lot like the Tile trackers you might be familiar with – and now more details have spilled out about how they're going to work.

According to some digging done by MacRumors into an internal build of iOS 13, the accessory will help you "tag your everyday items" and "never lose them again".

Everything you tag with one of these trackers – keys, wallets, backpacks and so on – will show up in the new Find My app that's coming with iOS 13. It'll be the place to go to track all your Apple products, from iPhones to MacBooks.

MacRumors even uncovered an image of the upcoming tracker in the iOS 13 code, though this may not exactly match what the finished product looks like.

Apple tag leak

The idea is that once the app detects you've been separated from one of your Apple tags (and whatever it's attached to), it'll start beeping. You can set up "safe locations", like your home, where this doesn't happen.

Users will also be able to put tags into "lost mode", the code suggests, where you can enlist the help of other iPhone owners in tracking down the item (this sounds like the same system for finding lost MacBooks coming in iOS 13).

Finally, there's going to be an augmented reality aspect to the app as well, guiding you towards your lost items through an overlay on top of the camera display.

This all sounds very similar to what Tile trackers and other similar products can already do, but if you're keen to find out more about Apple's take on the technology, these tags should be unveiled with the new iPhones on September 10.

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Rangers vs Celtic live stream: how to watch today's SPL football 2019 online from anywhere

Posted: 01 Sep 2019 01:58 AM PDT

After those few years in the wilderness, the Old Firm derby has returned as an absolute staple on the Scottish Premiership football calendar. The latest chapter of the century-old Glasgow rivalry is on today and we'll help you get hold of a Rangers vs Celtic live stream, no matter where in the world you are.

As the seasons go on since Rangers' return to the top flight of Scottish football, this fixture grows in importance. The two teams are neck-and-neck at the top of the table, both with 100% winning records after three games of the 2019/20 Premiership season. Who will buckle first?

Celtic are of course the champions - for the last eight years running - and their squad unsurprisingly still looks like the strongest in the division. Neil Lennon is back at the helm this season after Brendan Rodgers' departure towards the start of 2019 and he'll be urging his players to remember the 5-0 destruction job they inflicted on their rivals back in April last year.

But this Rangers team, now managed by the legendary Steven Gerrard seem to get stronger with every month that goes by. They're desperate to make this the season that they break their almost decade-long wait for a championship, bringing in the likes of Jermain Defoe to give them the edge up front.

Keep reading to discover all the details you need in order to live stream Rangers vs Celtic, regardless of where you are on Earth this weekend.

Use a VPN to watch SPL football from outside your country

Let us take a wild guess...you booked your holiday or work trip abroad without checking first when the Old Firm games would be this season. Oops. Try and watch online coverage of your domestic broadcaster and you'll soon discover that you can't because of geo-blocking.

There's a really straight-forward and easy to use solution though. We recommend getting hold of a VPN, rather than scouring the web for some ropy illegal stream.

How to stream Rangers vs Celtic live in the UK 

How to watch Rangers vs Celtic in North America

How to live stream Rangers vs Celtic in Australia

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The best noise-cancelling headphones in the UAE for 2019

Posted: 31 Aug 2019 11:56 PM PDT

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy in 2019.

Commuting well and truly sucks - but it doesn't have to. One of the big reasons it's such an annoyance is it can be really noisy. Whether you're on a plane, train, bus, or even walking down a busy street, white noise, crying babies, and noisy conversations can leave you feeling drained by the time you arrive at your destination.

Often the best solution is tuning out the world and listening to your own music, audiobooks, podcasts or movies with zero distractions from loud fellow commuters.

This is why we're eternally grateful that noise-cancelling headphones exist. These wonders of the modern era totally tune out any unwanted sounds, allowing you to reach aural nirvana - even if it's only for the duration of a flight or a train journey. 

They're vital for any adventure you're about to embark upon - whether it's a multi-hour flight or a train ride that's part of your every day commute - so to help you pick out a pair of headphones that deliver all of the above in spades, we've put together a list of the top noise-cancelling headphones, listed below.

How to buy noise-cancelling headphones

So what do you want to look for when looking for a pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones? Look for anything with the words "active noise-cancellation technology" on it.

Active noise cancellation involves some pretty interesting processes to cancel out sound. Along with the padding which passively blocks sound, microphones planted in the ear wells of headphones actively analyze the ambient noise level and reflect sound waves back into your ear that work to zap the outside noise. The goal is to hear nothing but the music, or whatever it is you're listening to.

Active noise cancelling headphones are more effective at what they do, but the downside is that this noise cancellation requires batteries in order to function, which means you'll have to remember to keep them charged.

Now that you know all that, you're ready to choose a set. Let's take a look at the best noise-cancelling headphones around:

Additional resources:

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones?

The Sony WH-1000XM3 are the best noise-cancelling headphones in the world two years running. Sure, they might be a small refinement of last year's excellent WH-1000XM2, but subtle tweaks like using USB-C instead of microUSB and  adding padding along the bridge help make Sony's award-winning cans even better.

So why does everyone love these Sony headphones so much? Well, it's exceptionally good at cancelling outside noise. Put a pair on while vacuuming and you'll barely hear the motor running. 

For music lovers, the Sony WH-1000XM3 features aptX HD and Sony LDAC, two of the best ways to listen to Hi-Res music from your phone without a wire. Finally, all of Sony's flagship headphones offer both Google Assistant and, starting in 2019, Alexa support, making them not only the best noise-cancelling cans on the market but some of the smartest, too.

Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM3

If you can find a pair, the Sony WH-1000XM2 are still some of the best noise-cancelling headphones around: They sound great, deftly wield noise cancellation technology and cost just as much as a pair of Bose QC35s. 

They might have a slightly shorter battery life than Bose’s flagship over-ear headphones, but Sony’s WH-1000XM2 outclass the QC35 in terms of performance and feature-set.  

You’d want to pick these Sony headphones over the Bose because not only do they provide the same level of awesome noise-cancellation, but they have three neat tricks that Bose just doesn't have on its older headphones: one is an ambient noise mode that only lets in mid-to-high frequency tones (announcements over a loudspeaker, for instance) and another being Quick Attention mode that allows you to let in all outside noise without taking off the headphones. (The latter is perfect when giving a drink order on a plane or speaking to a coworker for a brief moment before diving back into your work.) 

The last trick Sony has up its sleeve is the LDAC codec. Alongside the widely adopted aptX HD standard, LDAC enables Hi-Res Audio playback using the 1000XM2.

Great-sounding, feature-packed and just as affordable as the competition? The Sony WH-1000XM2 are a solid all-around pick for noise-cancelling cans.

Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM2

Bose QuietComfort 25

The Bose QuietComfort 25 are the best noise-cancelling headphones we've ever used. We say that as a publication who strives for maximum performance per dollar when purchasing headphones. We say that as someone who believes that, in most circumstances, you can find a cheaper product that performs as well, if not better, than a more expensive option if you do some research.

But, in the case of the Bose QuietComfort 25, that's simply not true. They are still the best noise-cancelling headphones on the planet in 2018.

If you want the same level of excellent noise-cancellation as the Bose QC35s but want to save a bit of money, consider opting for the last-generation QC25s. (The biggest sacrifice you'll be making is wireless.) 

Nevertheless, the QC25s are a finely-tuned set of headphones that provide over 35 hours of very good noise-cancelling performance with one AAA battery.

Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 25

Coming in at the number two spot is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II - a nearly identical product to the already-excellent Bose QuietComfort 35 but updated for 2018 with Google Assistant. This means you still get the class-leading noise cancellation Bose is known for, good sound quality and incredible comfort, plus a convenient assistant to answer any inquiries you might have while traveling.  

Taken as a whole, the Bose QC35 II NC is an excellent headphone for travelers and commuters. Bose has found a good balance of features that will satisfy most mainstream listeners. While we don't love them as much as the better-sounding Sony WH-1000XM2, they're still top of the class for noise cancellation.

Read the full review: Bose QuietComfort 35 II

If you prefer on-ear noise-cancellation, then the AKG N60NC Wireless are a great pair of headphones. 

At their mid-range price point the headphones offer fantastic value for money, with great sound quality and a level of noise-cancellation performance that's on a level with the much more premium entries on this list. 

These are a fantastically compact pair of headphones, and offer a very complete package for the price. 

Read the full review: AKG N60NC Wireless

With noise-cancelling tech just as effective as that in headphones from rival Bose, and with a more musical sonic ability, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC are a definite contender for the noise-cancelling crown. More affordable and easy to travel with, these lightweight headphones are a great value all-rounder, whether for flights, commuter trains or busy offices. 

Design-wise, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs seem a more slimmed-down, lighter and more focused effort than the bulky and expensive alternatives from Bose and Sony; and crucially, the HD 4.50 BTNCs are just as good with audio, and almost as good on noise-canceling. Whether you're after noise canceling for long-haul ravel, for the commute, or just to stay more productive in a noisy office, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs are worth considering. 

Read the full review: Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC

The PXC 550's greatest strength is their sound. Other wireless noise-cancelling headphones might offer a better user interface or better noise-cancellation technology, but ultimately none of the above match up to the sound quality of these Sennheisers. 

However, that said, there are a couple of irritations that prevent us from being able to fully and unreservedly recommend them, such as unresponsive touch controls. These annoyances aren't quite deal-breakers, but there are definitely other noise-cancelling headphones out there that don't suffer from the same issues.

Read the full review: Sennheiser PXC 550

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

The Samsung Level On Pro Wireless are one of the few headphones we've tested that feel like they're meant as a package deal for another device. Yes they'll work with every Bluetooth and 3.5mm jack-equipped handset on the market, but you're better off sticking to a Samsung device in order to squeeze every ounce of aural goodness from the Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio codec.

It's one of the comfiest pair of cans on the market, and they're also much cheaper than a lot of the competition. If it had a better sound quality for the vast majority of cell phone users it would be an easy recommendation but, as it stands, really makes the most sense at checkout when purchased alongside Samsung's Next Big Thing.

Read the full review: Samsung Level On Pro Wireless Headphones

Sony WF-1000XM3

It's not often you'll find a pair of wired earbuds, let alone a pair of true wireless earbuds on a list of the best noise-cancelling headphones; considering it's still rare to find the technology in earphones at all, the Sony WF-1000XM3s are very impressive indeed, and fully deserve a place in this roundup. 

The Sony WF-1000XM3s manage to offer a level of noise-cancellation that's very good for a pair of earbuds – they won't offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear cans, but if you're after a sleek form factor then the compromise is worth it. 

Not only are these hands down the best-looking true wireless headphones out there, but they combine serious noise cancelling tech with fist-pumping musicality. If you don’t want the inconvenience of carrying full-size cans, they’re a persuasive alternative.

Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3

If you haven't found something quite to your liking so far, we have one last option for you to look at – the all-new Nura Nuraphone over-ear/in-ear hybrid. Their form factor means you’ve not only got an earbud sitting at the entrance of your ear canal, but also an over-ear cushion sitting over your entire ear. This effectively means you’ve got two physical barriers meaning that the noise from the outside world can’t get to your ears. While more traditional over-ear headphones do a better job offering useful features at a reasonable price, the Nuraphone will appeal to the more experimental audio crowd looking to be on the bleeding-edge of the next big thing.

Read our full review: Nuraphone Headphones

We're constantly reviewing new noise-cancelling headphones, but let us know on Twitterif there is a set that you'd like us to take a look at.

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The best Bluetooth speaker of 2019 in the UAE: the best portable speakers for any budget

Posted: 31 Aug 2019 11:41 PM PDT

Best Bluetooth Speakers Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's expert round-up of the bluetooth speakers you can buy in 2019. 

Bluetooth speakers are a great gadget to take to days at the beach, nights out in the garden, and picnics at the park. However, that doesn't mean a great portable speaker isn't extremely useful to have on hand at home while you take a relaxing bath or work in the garden.

That means, for many of us, we need to find a Bluetooth speaker that'll see us through all kinds of occasions. Luckily, we've created a guide to help you find which portable, Bluetooth speaker is right for you. 

All of our recommendations are based on our detailed audio reviews and our expert knowledge of the speaker space. So, if you’re looking for a new portable speaker, then stick with us and we’ll help you decide which device will be best for bringing an amped-up version of your music anywhere and everywhere to pair with your top smartphone.

If you’re worried you’ll have to pay a big premium for good quality audio, then think again. There are lots of options for great speakers that’ll cost as much as your weekly trip to the grocery store. The only problem when you’re choosing a new speaker is that there are so many good ones for you to pick from, which can be overwhelming. 

We’re here to help. Here are some of our favorite, portable, audio companions that’ll let you pump out the tunes whether you’re in the garden, at the beach, on the slopes, camping, cooking or anywhere in-between. 

How to pick out the best Bluetooth speaker

There are so many speakers on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which Bluetooth speaker you need. Although it may seem like the choice is endless, there are plenty with unique selling points that'll suit your needs. 

Some speakers are built with ultimate durability in mind, others are weather and waterproof for camping and tunes by the pool and some aren't fit for the outdoors and would look pretty inside your home instead. 

If you're having trouble figuring out which speaker might be best for you, start by picturing where you're going to use it and find a speaker that matches that setting. That means if you're a beach person, water- and dust-proofing are key.

If you're a party person, you might want the ability to connect two speakers together or a speaker with multi-point pairing that allows multiple devices to connect at a time. Battery life and sound quality are paramount for all speakers, and we've our best to take these in the utmost consideration when creating our list.

That said, here are 10 of our favorite Bluetooth wireless speakers, ranked by their price-to-performance ratio, that will surely work for you.

 The best Bluetooth speakers of 2019:  

While we weren't as impressed with the UE Boom 3 as we were with its predecessor, this is still the best Bluetooth speaker money can buy in 2019. This is a speaker that can get loud and not distort at higher volumes; be light enough to carry on a camping trip but remain durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected. 

It's both water- and dust-proof, and now has a one-touch mix button that lets you pull up your favorite playlists without ever picking up your phone. 

There are certainly more detailed speakers out there (see: Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin down below), but at a price that's relatively affordable to all, the UE Boom 3 hits all the right notes for the third year in a row. 

Read the full review: UE Boom 3

The Bose SoundLink Revolve is an excellent sound speaker for folks looking for true 360-degree sound. It’s great for sharing music during a party or for moving around the room without losing audio fidelity. However, the Bose SoundLink Mini II sounds slightly better and is slightly cheaper to boot. 

On the debit side, it’s also not fully dust or waterproof so you’ll want to think twice before bringing the Revolve to the beach. 

For half the price, the Wonderboom is a great speaker that is completely dust and waterproof and while it can’t match the audio fidelity or features of the Bose, it's still great for on-the-go listening. If bass is your game, the JBL Charge 3 is an excellent fully waterproof speaker that sounds great, but is big and heavy along with it.

Read the full review: Bose SoundLink Revolve

As a package, the JBL Charge 3 offers a compelling set of features and excellent sound quality to boot. It punches well above its weight, playing loudly and distortion-free. 

The Charge line of speakers have been on our shortlist of recommendations for a long time thanks to the way they combine great sound quality with the ability to charge your devices over USB. 

The latest iteration maintains JBL's dominance in the portable Bluetooth speaker market.

Read the full review: JBL Charge 3

The Bose SoundLink Mini II is relatively ancient, having been released in June 2015. However, writing off the SoundLink Mini II because of its age would be a mistake, as it remains one of the best sounding wireless speakers. 

That said, it punches way above what its size would suggest, producing deep bass, sparkling highs and a lush midrange. While most wireless speakers sound OK, the Mini II proves that small speakers don’t need to compromise on sound, and other Bose conveniences like a charging pad. 

Read the full review: Bose SoundLink Mini II

When someone asks us for a recommendation for a waterproof speaker, the UE Roll 2 was always on the top of our list. We loved the Roll 2’s unique form factor, 50-foot wireless range and, obviously, it sounded good, too. Where it was lacking was in the bass department. Logitech, UE’s parent company, has fixed the Roll 2’s lack of bass by creating the appropriately named UE Wonderboom. 

In our eyes, the UE Wonderboom bests the Roll 2 in just about every way –except for the Roll 2’s handy bungee cord. Still, ignoring that, if you’re looking for one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers on the market today, it’s hard to do better than the UE Wonderboom. Plus, it comes in some interesting colors, including Avocado and...you guessed it, Unicorn.

Read the full review: UE Wonderboom

B&O created a hit with the Beoplay P2. It’s a well-designed speaker that’s extremely easy to use, has a well-built companion app, and it sounds great. On top of that, the speaker is ultra-portable without compromising on much bass content. Sure, you could get something a little bigger (and stereo) for the same price, but at this size the sound quality justifies the price. The smart gestures are a nice touch too, although we wouldn’t buy the device solely for that reason.

Read the full review: B&O Beoplay P2

The Marshall Kilburn might not appear to be the best choice in Bluetooth speakers. It’s large, heavy, doesn’t have USB charging and isn’t waterproof – plus, AED 1,299 is a lot to pay for a Bluetooth speaker. 

But none of this matters because the Kilburn sounds so darn good. 

Over a month's time, we fell in love with the Kilburn’s design, feel and pristine sound quality. There’s no other portable Bluetooth speaker on the market quite like it. It’s a head turner and conversation piece. It’s a piece of audio art that you’ll be proud to show off to your friends during a party. 

Read the full review: Marshall Kilburn

It seems just about every speaker company has a wireless speaker that can take the abuse of being outdoors and Bose, a company most well-known for its brand of excellent noise-canceling headphones, is no different. If you’re looking for something from Bose to take with you on your next hike, the AED 549 SoundLink Color II is the company’s only splash-proof speaker that can stand up to the elements with an IPX4 rating. 

Read the full review: Bose SoundLink Color II

Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2

Bringing bluntness over refinement, the JBL Flip 4 is a good Bluetooth speaker for the rugged outdoorsman in your friend circle. It’s rough, tough design makes it perfect as a portable speaker to accompany all aspects of your life while its sound is solid without worrying your home audio system.

It’s all weather friendly design is a win, but a lack of definition and distinction in the mid-range ultimately means its sound quality is not quite up to scratch when compared with some, more high-end portable speakers.

Read the full review: JBL Flip 4

The newest speaker in the Denon Envaya line is one of the first speakers to absolutely blow us away in 2018. It offers powerful, room-filling sound that will sound great to most ears, plus comes with an IP67 rating, make it both dust and waterproof. It's also built like a tank, making it one of the most durable speakers we've ever laid our hands on.

Despite a nearly flawless performance, the Envaya isn't perfect: While sound quaity is full, powerful and rich, it doesn’t have the treble bite some like and the buttons located along the side can feel stiff and difficult to operate. These are ultimately minor complaints, however, and the Denon Envaya remains a great Bluetooth speaker – easily one of the best you can buy this year.

Read the full review: Denon Envaya (DSB-250BT)

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The best GoPro and action cameras in 2019

Posted: 31 Aug 2019 11:40 PM PDT

If you're looking for the best action camera, then you've come to the right place. Action cameras are unlike any other kind of camera. They're designed to be attached to helmets, surfboards, cars and other objects, and they're small, tough and simple to operate, with a lens that captures the world in high-definition video.

Their small size and dramatic POV ('point of view') footage has made them popular with extreme sports participants, who capture their adventures by attaching cameras to themselves or their equipment. They're also used by TV production companies where using a regular video camera would be impossible. 

You don't have to be an adrenaline-junkie or filming your own TV show. Action cameras are also great fun for the family, especially on days out or vacations when you simply want to hit record and document you time together. 

Who makes the best action camera though? GoPro is without question the market leader - in fact, they invented this whole action camera genre. They're not alone though, with a number of new rivals out there to tempt you. 

When it comes to key features on action cameras, most now shoot 4K footage, though some do these better than others, offering faster frame rates for buttery-smooth footage, while the very best action cameras have slick image stabilization systems to make the most of this. 

While action cameras are principally for shooting video, the best action cameras also shoot pretty decent still images as well, though don't expect anything better than a point-and-shoot compact camera. 

Other features to consider when looking for the best action camera include Wi-Fi, GPS and touchscreen control. These all bump up the price, and while they are invaluable in some situations, you can still get great footage without them.

Before we look at our top picks of the best action cameras you can buy right now, GoPro has just announced three new action cameras. 

The top of the range GoPro Hero7 Black replaces Hero6 Black and is our best action camera pick right now. We'd even recommend you now avoid the Hero6 Black. Don't get us wrong, it's not a bad action camera at all, it's very good, but with the price of the older model only a little less than the Hero7 Black, you're better off spending your money on the newer model. 

 While it may share pretty much of the same headline video specs as the Hero6 Black that it replaces, the Hero7 Black offers a number of big improvements. The most significant of this is the addition of GoPro's all-new HyperSmooth image stabilization technology. It really is very impress, delivering gimbal-smooth video footage. TimeWarp video is a further new feature, one that combines the idea of regular frame-by-frame time-lapse shooting (which you can still do separately) with HyperSmooth – essentially, a stabilised hyperlapse, while the user interface has been overhauled for a much better user experience. Delivering buttery-smooth 4K video footage the Hero7 Black is the best action camera you can buy. 

 Read our in-depth GoPro Hero7 Black review 

It may have been overshadowed by the new Hero6 Black, but the Hero5 Black still has a lot to offer. Shooting 4K footage up to 30fps, video footage is incredibly smooth, while the ability to shoot stills in raw format brings even more flexibility. Waterproof down to 10m without the need for a protective case, it's also simple to use, while the addition of a rear touchscreen, voice control and GPS make it one of the most feature-packed cams currently available.

Read our in-depth GoPro Hero5 Black review

Bullet shape cams might have fallen out of fashion recently thanks to GoPro and its box-shaped cameras, but the TomTom Bandit bucks the trend. In fact, the Bandit packs features that other manufacturers will need to follow if they're to keep up with this newcomer. Taking years of GPS experience, TomTom has built in a series of sensors that not only record location but speed and G-force too, so that when these sensors pick up that something exciting has happened they automatically tag the footage. Back in the pub and with the app open and connected, a quick shake of your phone and the app will automatically edit your footage ready for upload. It really couldn't be easier.

Read the full review: TomTom Bandit

Olymous TG-Tracker

The TG-Tracker's futuristic design is hard to miss with an ultra wide 204 degree lens fronting a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor. Headline video resolutions include 4k at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps and an impressive 240fps at 720p for slow motion capture. This is an action camera ready for anything and even features a small LED video light built in. Sensors are the big news for the Tracker with GPS, compass, acceleration sensors plus a barometer and thermometer all capturing data from inside the compact case. The intel from these can all be displayed when viewing back the footage or in the video edit so you can show just how extreme you are. What's more, it's waterproof to 30m, features built in stabilization and can withstand temperatures down to -10C.

Read the full review: Olympus TG-Tracker

How often do you take an action cam underwater? Most people never will, so in some regard the YI 4K ActionCam is about cutting corners, but what it leaves out – GPS, voice control, auto-upload, and raw shooting – are hardly core features. In fact, it gives as much as it takes, with a large and responsive touchscreen, a big battery and a fast file transfers. It may lack a few niceties – and we would include lens distortion correction and image stabilisation in that list – but the YI 4K Action Cam remains a great value addition to any adventurer's kit bag.

Read the full review: YI 4K Action Camera

All action cameras are now promising 4K at 30fps, but Sony’s effort is about a lot more than just resolution and frame rate. The diminutive FDR-X3000R's biggest claim is Balanced Optical SteadyShot (B.O.SS) image stabilization, which works across all resolutions and recording modes. It also includes an underwater housing – a rarity in the action camera market – and comes with a wearable, mountable live view remote, a smartwatch-sized contraption that allows the FDR-X3000R to be operated from afar, and its images previewed in real time.

Read the full review: Sony FDR-X3000R

Garmin Virb XE

The original Garmin Virb introduced motion sensors and GPS tracking to action cameras, adding an extra element to capturing the action, like the TomTom Bandit. Building on the solid foundation of the original Virb, Garmin has revisited the design, losing the bullet shape and remodeling the camera around the popular 'box' style. This new shape makes chest mounting far easier and, as with the original, the build quality is excellent. The XE offers increased video quality, it's waterproof without an additional case, features Wi-Fi along with compatible app and software, this all makes the Virb XE one of the best action cameras at present.

Read the full review: Garmin Virb XE

GoPro Hero4 Session

The Hero5 Session follows on from the Hero4 Session, stripping back the action camera concept to its basics, but sharing many of the same specs as the Hero5 Black. That includes 4K video capture up to 30fps, image stabilisation, voice control and is waterproof down to 10m. The large Record button on the top starts and stops recording so there's no worrying about different modes and options – that's all handled by the app (though it does have a simple menu system if you wish). Back to basics, but still captures the quality of video that you'd expect from GoPro.

Read the full review: GoPro Hero5 Session

The SJCAM SJ7 delivers some good-looking footage, especially when shooting in 4K. However, this budget GoPro Hero5 rival doesn't boast the sort of professional features offered by the biggest name in the action camera game, such as voice activation, GPS and the ability to make quick and easy video clips via a smartphone app. If you want a action camera that delivers strong footage at a fraction of the price though, then the SJCAM SJ7 Star is worth a look.

Read our in-depth SJCAM SJ7 Star review

While the Hero 7 Black is the top of the GoPro pile, the Silver fills the void beneath this and while it can’t quite pull off all the fancy tricks as its big brother, it’s priced far aggressively, especially once you see just how much tech you still get. 

This includes stabilised 4K video recording, waterproofing down to 10m, together with a 2-inch touchscreen on the back and Voice Control that allows you to instruct the camera to perform almost all main functions without you raising a finger. A fine choice for first-time users. 

We can't all afford a GoPro Hero7 Black, but you can still grab yourself a relatively recent GoPro Hero model if you're on a budget. Understandably, this cost-effective alternative misses out on a handful of features, like 4K video recording and HyperSmooth stabilization, but it still captures good Full HD footage and is waterproof straight out of the box, with the 2-inch touchscreen that graces the back making it just as simple to operate as its bigger brothers. 

Also consider

Though not technically a action camera, DJI's new Osmo Pocket is still going after the same audience. While it's not as rugged as dedicated action camera rivals, the Osmo Pocket has a clever trick up its sleeve in the shape of a built-in gimbal. Gimbals as designed to counteract unwanted movement and help you shoot super-smooth videos - while GoPro's Hero7 Black has some clever image stabilization tricks, there's no substitute for dedicated hardware. The Osmo Pocket features three-axis stabilized gimbal and measures just four inches tall. The 1/2.3-inch sensor is capable of recording 12MP still images and 4K video footage up to 60fps, while there are built-in dual microphones that use advanced noise-canceling algorithms, which DJI says should ensure that you capture high-quality audio to match your footage. 

Read our full DJI Osmo Pocket review here

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Lara vs Alvarez live stream: how to watch tonight's boxing online from anywhere

Posted: 31 Aug 2019 05:14 PM PDT

Cuban-American fighter Erislandy Lara tonight gets a chance to avenge his 2014 split-decision defeat to Canelo Alvarez - this time with a square-off against his older brother Ramon. With a title up from grabs, it should be a compelling fight, so be sure to follow our Lara vs Alvarez live stream guide carefully.

As well as the WBA Super Welterweight belt being up for grabs, tonight's showdown will also see the winner get to face WBA "gold" champion Michel Soro.

Originally from Guantanamo, Cuba and now living and training in Houston, Erislandy "The American Dream" Lara comes into tonight's fight off the back of a frustrating draw against then-WBA ‘regular’ titleholder Brian Castano back in March.

That fight came after a split-decision defeat for the southpaw against Jarrett Hurd in a clash for the WBA, IBF and IBO junior middleweight belts in April last year.

His opponent tonight is Mexico-based 33-year-old Ramon Alvarez who has a mediocre record of 28-7-3 going into tonights fight, and is some way short of the calibre of his brother Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Having only won five of his last nine fights, any sort of result here against Lara will be regarded as a shock.

Among the night's undercard action is middleweight Kyrone "Shut It Down" Davis (13-2, 5  taking on Alexis Gaytán while unbeaten Cuban prospect Joahnys Argilagos takes on  Julio García in a super flyweight battle.

To catch everything online, you've come to the right place. Read on to find out how to stream Lara vs Alvarez live anywhere in the world.

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Watch a Lara vs Alvarez live stream from anywhere in the world

Keep scrolling to see how to watch the boxing in the US. But if you're worried about being away from your country and missing your domestic coverage of the Lara vs Alvarez fight, then fear not, there's a way to watch that doesn't involve trying to find a grainy, illegal feed.

How to stream Lara vs Alvarez live in the US

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How to watch Lara vs Alvarez in the UK

How to watch Lara vs Alvarez in Australia

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