Apple : Dropbox Spaces looks to declutter your desktop |
- Dropbox Spaces looks to declutter your desktop
- iPhone 11 and 11 Pro deals US: get the best prices in September 2019
- HP drops stylish new Chromebook x360 models with stylus support
- macOS Catalina: macOS 10.15 release date, news and features
- Surface Studio 3: what we want to see
- Cisco routers have major security flaw
- Surface Book 3: what we want to see
- Here's why you shouldn't buy a new Chromebook just yet
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 release date, news and rumors
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7: release date, news and rumors
- Best phones under Rs 12,000 in India for September 2019
- Microsoft October Event 2019: will we see a new Surface device?
- Best PC games 2019: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss
- Intel Project Athena release date, news and features
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 at Verizon: buy one phone, get another for free
- The best Lenovo laptops 2019
- The Apple AirPods are down to their lowest price ever at Walmart
- This stretchy, bendy battery could power a new generation of flexible phones
- You can now control your Xbox One with Google Assistant voice commands
- Best free blogging site of 2019
| Dropbox Spaces looks to declutter your desktop Posted: 26 Sep 2019 01:50 PM PDT At its inaugural Work in Progress user conference, Dropbox revealed its vision for the smart workspace alongside the launch of Dropbox Spaces. The company views the smart workspace as a digital environment that brings all of a team's content together alongside their favorite tools to help users cut through the clutter and focus on what matters. Dropbox Spaces is part of the new Dropbox, which was announced earlier this year, and the new feature is an evolution of the shared folder into a collaborative workspace for teams. Dropbox has also utilized its machine intelligence platform, DBXi, to add new features to its service.
Dropbox CEO, Drew Houston explained how Dropbox Spaces was designed to eliminate clutter and distractions to help keep teams more focused on the task at hand in a blog post, saying: “We’re building the smart workspace because we need technology that helps us quiet the noise, rather than contributing to it. This starts with the launch of Dropbox Spaces, which brings together your most important content and tools into one organized place, so you can stay focused and in sync with your team.” New Dropbox desktop applicationAt its user conference, Dropbox announced its new desktop app, which was previously available in early access, is now generally available and will begin rolling out to users today. The new app includes several new features including file previews, Paper integration in the Dropbox file system and the ability to search across overview descriptions. The company is even making it easier for users to search for images by using machine intelligence to allow them to find images by searching for the contents of the image. Dropbox Professional users will be able to use this new feature first but it also being developed for Dropbox Business. Dropbox also announced a new “For You” tab in the Windows System tray and macOS menu bar that provides users with personalized suggestions for things such as meeting attachments, meeting note templates, team activity highlights and files and folders. Just like the company's new image search feature, the tab utilizes machine learning and will become smarter over time as users interact with it more. Dropbox Business admins will also receive a number of new updates including increased visibility into teams, members and their activity through the enterprise console. Finally, Dropbox announced a strategic partnership and $5m investment in BetterCloud to give Dropbox teams advanced data protection capabilities and orchestration functionality.
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| iPhone 11 and 11 Pro deals US: get the best prices in September 2019 Posted: 26 Sep 2019 01:07 PM PDT The September 10 Apple Event unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro smartphones. The latest iPhone is officially available to order today from all major carriers and retailers like Walmart and Best Buy. To help you wade through all the different plans, we've listed the best iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro prices and deals that are available in the US today. iPhone 11 deals from US carriers:iPhone 11 Pro deals from US carriers:iPhone 11 Pro Max deals from US carriers:The iPhone 11 Pro Max, the bigger version of the 11 Pro, is priced at $1,099 from carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon. Sprint is offering the Pro Max for $16.67 a month with an eligible trade-in and on a Sprint Flex 18-month lease, and Verizon is offering up to $500 off with select trade-in and Unlimited. While AT&T isn't offering a promotion on the Pro Max, you can get the iPhone 11 for free when you buy another eligible iPhone. Learn more about the newest iPhone with our hands on iPhone 11 review, iPhone 11 Pro review, and iPhone 11 Pro Max review. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| HP drops stylish new Chromebook x360 models with stylus support Posted: 26 Sep 2019 12:43 PM PDT One thing that many of the best HP laptops and best Chromebooks have in common is the ability to flip over backwards into a tablet mode. So, it's no surprise to see HP introduce two more Chromebooks that do just that, with the budget-minded HP Chromebook x360 14b and 12b. These new Chromebooks follow up on the Chromebook x360 14, with a similar design but pared down specs to bring the price lower. The new Chromebook x360 14b features a 14-inch touch display available in HD (720p) or full HD (1080p), while the Chromebook x360 12b has a 12-inch, HD+ display with a productivity-minded 4:3 aspect ratio. Front and center on both new products is the 360-degree hinge that allows them to fold over into a number of different poses. This let's the Chromebooks double as tablets with large touchscreens, and access to the Google Play store effectively makes them capable Android tablets. They also support active styluses for more accurate input. The new Chromebooks are powered by Intel Celeron N4000 dual-core processors with the option for a quad-core Intel Pentium processor. They also have 4GB of RAM and 32GB to 128GB of eMMC storage. While the specs are budget level, the laptops feature a metal design and slim bezels around the display. They also have B&O-tuned speakers, and include a one-year subscription to Google One.
A new stylus standardAn interesting new aspect to the Chromebook x360 14b and 12b is that they will take advantage of a new stylus standard called USI (Universal Stylus Initiative). This will allow for active styluses that work across multiple devices, including different device types beyond laptops. HP is just one of many companies making USI styluses, and the list includes Google and Intel. For these new Chromebooks, HP has designed the HP Rechargeable USI Pen, which will be able to magnetically dock on the sides of the devices. The Chromebook x360 14b will start at $379 (about £300, AU$550) while the 12b starts at $359 (about £290, AU$520), and both should be available this month in the US. HP's stylus for these tablets will be sold separately and cost $69 (about £55, AU$100) when it launches in November. International availability information is forthcoming.
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| macOS Catalina: macOS 10.15 release date, news and features Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:43 AM PDT The public release of macOS Catalina – the official name for macOS 10.15 – is just around the corner, and we should be able to install it on our Macs by October 2019. Apple first revealed macOS Catalina at its WWDC 2019 conference in San Jose, California earlier this year, during which the company showcased some of the exciting new features that macOS Catalina brings to the table, including its nifty capability to utilize an iPad as a secondary screen. Apple’s macOS Catalina has already been accessible as early beta software to app developers, permitting them port their iPhone and iPad apps to Mac before the public release of the operating system. Apple has introduced a new feature, christened "Project Catalyst," solely for this purpose – to allow developers to seamlessly port their iOS 13 and iPadOS apps to the macOS environment for Mac users. Apple's head of software, Craig Federighi, also revealed at WWDC that when the macOS 10.15 Catalina is finally available to the public, it will say goodbye to iTunes in order to give way to new apps. These apps include Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV. Each of these macOS Catalina apps will have new and improved features that aren't on hand in their earlier versions that were running on other Apple devices. macOS 10.15 Catalina, whose public beta is now available to download, will also feature Sidecar, a new built-in tool for using an iPad as a secondary display for your Mac or MacBook device. This feature will work both wired and wirelessly. Here's every major change to expect for Macs and MacBooks in 2019 when we usher in macOS Catalina. Cut to the chase
macos 10.15 Sidecar feature (Image Credit: Apple) macOS Catalina release dateThe public beta of macOS Catalina is now available for free, and is accessible for anyone to try out at this link. If you're feeling especially adventurous and have 100 bucks or quid to spare, you can even test out the special developer preview beta. Especially if you have plans to develop your own app. For anyone who isn't an app developer or willing to step into the beta before everyone else, macOS Catalina will be made available to the public sometime in October, as listed in its landing page on the Apple website. Apple hosted its iPhone 11 event on September 10, but the show came and went with nary a mention of macOS 10.15. However, Apple's macOS 10.15 Catalina page was updated with an "October 2019" release window. As to the exact release date, Apple has yet to share that. If you’d rather not wait a few more weeks, however, we’ll show you how to download the macOS Catalina beta. Otherwise, keep this page bookmarked as we will be updating it as more details regarding macOS 10.15 Catalina come our way. macOS Catalina compatibilityOf course, one of the first questions that come to mind must be: can the Mac or MacBook I own right now work with this new hotness? Luckily, every piece of Mac hardware that could upgrade to the current macOS 10.14 Mojave will be able to receive the new macOS 10.15 Catalina update. Here's the full list of devices:
Goodbye, iTunes – hello, Apple Music, Podcasts Books and TVWWDC 2019 and macOS 10.15 Catalina has made it official: we are saying goodbye to good ol’ iTunes. From its ashes, however, rises a novel set of exciting apps for macOS: Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Podcasts and Apple Books – and they’re going to be refined versions of those that already appear on iOS. Apple Music will give macOS users access to their entire music libraries regardless of whether the tracks have been downloaded or are being streamed. This will also house music that have been ripped from CDs, assimilated into the same libraries. Apple TV, on the other hand, will house the app's channels and offer more than 100,000 iTunes movies and TV shows available for you to browse, buy or rent. And, content will be available in 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio wherever offered. Apple TV+ will also be accessed through this app as soon as the service rolls out later in the year. Meanwhile, Apple Podcasts will bring the service's more than 700,00 podcasts, as well as new episode updates, to the Mac in a completely fresh interface. This version of the app will also offer better search functions that can pull up episodes by hosts, guests or even discussion topics. Last but not the least, Apple Books will be home to all the audiobooks you can purchase, download and listen to. Much like the other new apps, it will also feature a familiar interface for anyone who is used to iTunes. Apple has revealed more information about these apps that will replace iTunes following WWDC and how they will work, if you want to get ahead of the public release. Worried about all your existing music and playlists, as well as iTunes gift cards and credit? Rest easy. Apple has stated that all your music and playlists will be transferred over to the Apple Music app in macOS 10.15 Catalina. Plus, any iTunes gift cards or unspent iTunes credits are still valid to be used in these new apps. In macOS 10.15 Catalina, the iTunes Store, which will be accessed through the Sidebar in the Apple Music app, can still be used to buy new music. And of course, you can subscribe to the Apple Music streaming service through the app as well – if you do, you can hide the iTunes Store for a cleaner, more minimalist interface. You'll sync your devices via Finder in macOS Catalina (Image credit: Apple) With iTunes making its exit, Apple explained that syncing devices in macOS Catalina will now be handled by the Finder app. It will be able to backup and sync those devices. According to Apple, it will also be easier to drag and drop files for quick transfers as well. Apple Sidecar at work in macOS Catalina. (Image Credit: Apple) Sidecar turns your iPad into another displayThis is probably the most exciting update that macOS will get with macOS 10.15 Catalina: the capability to extend your Mac's display to a nearby iPad, whether wired and wirelessly. A good amount of MacBook users are already iPad owners, so this essentially means that a substantial number of mobile workers just received a secondary display for free. Probably even more importantly for designers, this connected iPad can also be utilized as a drawing tablet with various specifically supported apps. Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Illustrator and iWork are the first apps listed to support this capability. We currently don’t have the official word on which iPad models will support the Sidecar feature. However, we can speculate that it'll most likely be those models that can also run the new iPadOS, which is expected later this year as well. Apple says that the following Mac apps will support Sidecar's Apple Pencil input and other enhanced features:
Screen Time for macOS has a special "One more minute" feature. (Image Credit: Apple) Screen Time comes to macOSOne of Apple's most impactful changes to iOS 12 was Screen Time, an app that tracks your iPhone or iPad usage time and offers insights into the trends. This time around, this capability will not only come to macOS with Catalina, but also offer a new “One more minute” feature, giving you more time to save your work or finish up a game. This information will be synced across your other Apple devices as well, so that you have a complete profile of how often you stare at your collective screens, as well as get tips on what to do with that information. In addition, it will also include parental controls on time spent using a Mac, as well as with whom children are able to interact with on those devices. Twitter's return to macOS was made possible by Project Catalyst. (Image Credit: Apple) Project Catalyst – is this Marzipan?It seems that what was previously referred to in rumors and leaks as "Project Marzipan," is now known as Project Catalyst. And, what it is, is Apple's master plan to bring more apps from the iPhone and iPad to the Mac. For developers, it all seems to start with simply ticking off a box within the Xcode app in macOS 10.15 Catalina. A series of new features and protocols then become available to the app in the development phase, from which the developer can choose to add to their apps – presumably with additional yet lighter coding. It seems to make the process more seamless and even faster, with even the likes of Twitter use the tool to more effortlessly bring its native app back to macOS from iOS. Other fun improvementsSafari browser will have a new startup page that uses Siri Suggestions to surface commonly visited websites, bookmarks, iCloud tabs and more. Mail will allow users to block messages from senders, mute message threads from issuing push notifications and send unsubscribe requests from within the app to mailing list providers. Lastly, Reminders will soon get an overhaul in visual interface so that it will let users more easily create, keep track and organize their reminders.
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| Surface Studio 3: what we want to see Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:37 AM PDT The Surface Studio 3 seems long overdue, and we think it’s high time that Microsoft releases it. After all, even though the Surface Studio 2 hit the streets at the very end of 2018 and may boast high-end Nvidia Pascal graphics, it still runs on 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake laptop chips. Those 7th-generation laptop chips are pretty outdated these days, so the Surface Studio 2 is arguably already looking a little long in the tooth. A Surface device running on an Ice Lake processor that has… well, surfaced… recently on Geekbench, but it’s unlikely the Surface Studio 3 we’ve been waiting for. We also haven’t come across any credible rumors regarding the computer. So, we’re still left speculating: what exactly will the Surface Studio 3 look like? We’re not sure when exactly we’ll come across any concrete information regarding the new Surface Studio 3, especially so soon after the release of its predecessor. Microsoft cryptically announced a mysterious October 2nd event, but we highly doubt that the Surface Studio 3 will make an appearance. So, for now, we’ll have to settle for a wish list of sorts. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, however, as we’ll keep it up to date with all the latest news and rumors as they come. Cut to the chase
We don't anticipate seeing the Surface Studio 3 at the October 2 even or any time soon after. (Image credit: TechRadar) Surface Studio 3 release dateWe’re not sure what Microsoft has in store for us at the October 2nd event, but we don’t anticipate seeing the Surface Studio 3 there or any time soon after. Again, especially so soon after the release of Surface Studio 2. After all, the original Surface Studio was released in December 2016, and it wasn’t followed up until two years later with the Surface Studio 2 hitting the streets in November 2018. Considering these two releases, we wouldn’t expect the Surface Studio 3 until later in 2020. On the other hand, there have been considerable advances in mobile processor and graphics technology in that short span of time since the late 2018 release. This means that Surface Studio 2’s aging processor is nowhere good enough anymore. This alone could push Microsoft to update its desktop sooner rather than later. Surface Studio 3 will hopefully be filled with some more cutting-edge hardware. (Image credit: TechRadar) Surface Studio 3 priceBoth the Surface Studio and its sequel are expensive devices, and both represent a massive expense for artists. So, it would be safe to think that the Surface Studio 3 will be at least as expensive. The Surface Studio 2 already increased the price by $500 (AU$800, about £390) over the $2,999 (AU$4,699, about £2,390) original, setting users back $3,499 (AU$5,499, about £2,720). If Microsoft does choose to raise the price even more, we just hope it means that the Surface Studio 3 is filled with some more cutting-edge hardware that’s worthy of robbing a bank for. Thunderbolt 3 is now becoming the norm, and we'd love to see it on the Surface Studio 3. (Image credit: TechRadar) What we want to seeThe Surface Studio is already an extremely niche device, so it’s kind of hard to make comparisons to existing products to try and build a wish list for the Surface Studio 3. However, there are a few things that we think Microsoft could improve on the Surface Studio 1 and 2. Those, coupled with features that we think have already become standard in computing, are what we hope to see in the Surface Studio 3 if and when it is released. Come on, Thunderbolt 3 There are so many storage drives, monitors and other peripherals that rely on Thunderbolt 3 to do the job, and this is particularly true for professional products. By 2020, when we start seeing Thunderbolt 3 on flash drives, it will be all but essential. Even for the Surface Studio 3. The Surface Studio 2 already has the USB-C port – it just needs to take a step further. For a machine that wants to take center stage in the professional artist’s setup, the lack of Thunderbolt 3 – particularly for this price – is inexcusable. Hardware that’s actually up to date But, Intel launched Coffee Lake H-series mobile processors all the way back in April 2018 – more than six months before the Surface Studio 2 hit the streets. We’re not saying that the Kaby Lake chips aren’t going to get the job done, they will. However, Coffee Lake processors would have gotten the job done faster. Is it too much to expect an up-to-date processor? We don’t know which “Lake” Intel will be on in late 2020, but Microsoft: please include the newest processor in the Surface Studio 3? If we’re dropping over thousands on a computer, we definitely deserve up-to-date hardware. Up the screen resolution We’d like to see the Surface Studio 3 take screen resolution to the next level. We’re not saying skip right to 8K, but perhaps we could see something in between, perhaps something that might outclass that iMac Pro display to make it more compelling choice to would-be Apple converts. At the end of the day, no one really knows what the Surface Studio 3 is going to look like. But, stay glued to this page, and if we see anything new, we’ll update this article.
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| Cisco routers have major security flaw Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:26 AM PDT In is bi-annual software security advisory bundle for its Cisco IOS and IOS XE products, Cisco has disclosed more than a dozen high-severity vulnerabilities in its network automation software. The networking giant is recommending that all admins review which versions of Cisco IOS and IOS XE their devices are running to make sure that they have been updated to versions that address the 13 separate flaws it discovered. The 13 high-severity vulnerabilities disclosed by Cisco could give an attacker unauthorized access to an affected device, allow them to run a command-injection attack, or deplete a device's resources which would lead to a denial of service.
The CVE-2019-12648 bug in the IOx application environment of IOS is the most severe and it affects large network operators who use the company's 800 Series Industrial Integrated Services Routers and its 1000 Series Connected Grid Routers. Luckily though, the bug is contained within a guest operating system running on a virtual machine of an affected IOS device. However, it can be remedied by upgrading to a fixed version of IOS but if this is not possible, Cisco suggests that users disable the guest OS and it provided instructions on how to uninstall it in its advisory. Layer 2 network traceroute utilityCisco has also published an advisory regarding an issue in the Layer 2 network traceroute utility in IOS and IOS XE. Cisco Catalyst switches have this feature enabled by default and according to the company, public exploit code is already available for this issue. The L2 traacerout server does not require authentication by design and this means that an attacker can collect loads of information about an affected device including the hostname, hardware model, configured interfaces and IP addresses, VLAN database, Mac address, Layer 2 filtering table and Cisco Discovery Protocol neighbor information. In its advisory regarding this issue, Cisco explained that: “Reading this information from multiple switches in the network could allow an attacker to build a complete L2 topology map of that network.” To fix the issue, users can disable their L2 tracerouter server manually or upgrade to a version of IOS or IOS XE that has it disabled by default. However, the later won't be possible until later this year when Cisco releases updated versions of the software.
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| Surface Book 3: what we want to see Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:24 AM PDT The Surface Book 3 has big shoes to fill. When the first Surface Book hit the streets, it was extremely successful. Yet, as incredible as it was, its sequel, the Surface Book 2, refined everything the original did, which resulted in a machine that makes the MacBook Pro look like a cheap toy. It’s unsurprising, therefore, that we can hardly wait to see what the Surface Book 3 brings to the table. Microsoft's upcoming event on October 2 is days away, and we could see a big hardware push from them, which means we might see the Surface Book 3 show up. However, that’s still speculation. Regardless, we can see it now: a Surface Book 2 with a sharper, richer display, Thunderbolt 3, and – if the recently benchmarked Microsoft Surface powered by Intel Ice Lake were anything to go by – more powerful internal components. In other words, the Surface Book 3 could end up being the best 2-in-1 laptop we’ve seen. With these features, it might be the perfect device to give Apple’s pro laptops a run for their money If Microsoft is able to extract and reproduce what made the first two Surface Book devices so good, and distill it into the third model, then the Surface Book 3 might even end up as the best laptop to date. Unfortunately for us, there is little to no tangible information about the Surface Book 3 right now. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t at least speculate based on past releases, leaks and rumors, and our tech expertise. With that in mind, let’s dig into what we think and hope the Surface Book 3 might look like. Cut to the chase
We're still hoping that Microsoft will showcase the Surface Book 3. (Image credit: Microsoft) Surface Book 3 release dateThe Surface Book 2 was rolled out in late 2017 so it’s already got a few years under its belt. However, based on the release pattern of Surface devices that aren’t the Surface Pro, it would be hard-pressed to the Surface Book 3 until late 2019 or early 2020 at the earliest. Two new Surface devices were released in October 2018 – the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2 – but there wasn’t any sign of a new Surface Book. If you also account for the fact that Microsoft has recently given the 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 a quad-core processor, we don't expect to see a Surface Book 3 coming out any time soon. However, we’re still hoping that Microsoft will showcase the Surface Book 3 or at least share an update about it at its October 2nd event, even if they don’t roll it out until early 2020. Until we have more concrete information, or even rumors, we’re sticking with our late 2019 or 2020 Surface Book 3 release date prediction. Fingers crossed that the would-be Surface Book 3 sticks well within the same price range as its predecessor. (Image credit: Microsoft) Surface Book 3 priceUnfortunately for us, since there’s no concrete information about the Surface Book 3 right now, we don’t really know what to expect when it comes to how much it will cost. Looking at the pricing of the Surface Book and the Surface Book 2, however, we can certainly speculate. Currently, due to a new lower-storage model, the 13.5 inch Surface Book 2 starts at $1,199 or £1,149, while the 15-inch iteration stays at its $2,499 or £2,349 (AU$3,649) price tag. If you ask us, that’s already plenty pricey. We won’t likely see a price drop. However, fingers crossed that the would-be Surface Book 3 sticks well within that price range, as anything more would already be too expensive for many users or potential buyers. Microsoft has to make better use of the room provided it with the 15-inch Surface Book. (Image credit: Microsoft) What we want to see in a Surface Book 3A Surface Book 3 release seems so far away at this point, especially because we don’t have any solid information on what to expect. So, all we can do right now is put together a wish list, if you must, of what we would like to see improved in this follow up. Here are the features we’d like to see in the Surface Book 3, based on speculation, leaks and rumors. More powerful internals Use the extra space accordingly Thunderbolt 3, please The good news is that looks like this might actually happen. Microsoft has patented a magnetic USB-C connector that would kind of function like the existing magnetic Surface charger. Whether or not it will actually support Thunderbolt 3 remains to be seen, but we don’t see why it shouldn’t. Better power management Regardless of who the next iteration is made for, it should come with improved power management so as to not dip into its battery reserves for extra juice. A 4K display would be nice All accessories included Black color option Just imagine, a Surface Book 3 that might not only give the MacBook Pro 2018 a run for its money, but one that has a more striking color option than the Space Gray on the latest Apple flagship.
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| Here's why you shouldn't buy a new Chromebook just yet Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:24 AM PDT Lenovo Chromebook owners looking to replace an aging device can now rest easy after Google announced it is extending update support on a number of devices all the way to 2025. The company's Auto Update Expiration (AUE) policy has always been somewhat controversial among its customers because it means that smartphones and Chromebooks running its software will only get updates for a certain period of time after their release. Once a device has reached the end of its AUE, it won't receive the latest features nor will it get the latest security updates which could end up leaving the device vulnerable to hackers.
Before purchasing a Chromebook or one of Google's Pixel or Android One smartphones, it is important to be aware of the AUE, so you don't end up purchasing a model that is about to reach the end of its lifespan. Lenovo AUE revisionNormally when Google finishes certifying a Chromebook model's base hardware design, the device is given a window of 6.5 years in which it will continue to receive updates. So potentially a brand new Chromebook could have less that 6.5 years of support depending on when it was purchased. However, now Google has extended the AUE dates of a number of Lenovo Chromebooks including the Flex 11 Chromebook, the 100e Chromebook 2nd Gen MTK, the N23 Yoga Chromebook, the 300e Chromebook, the 300e Chromebook 2nd Gen MTK, the Ideapad S330 Chromebook, the Ideapad C330 Chromebook and the Poin2 Chromebook 14. When Chromebooks first launched, they were positioned as a low-cost alternative to Windows laptops. As the years went on though, Chromebooks with improved specs and features were released such as the Chromebook Pixel and because of their higher price, a longer support cycle makes a lot more sense as these devices will likely keep running for longer and consumers are more likely to want to hang onto them. By extending the AUE of Lenovo Chromebooks, Google could eventually end up changing its AUE policy for more of its devices.
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| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 release date, news and rumors Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:14 AM PDT If you’ve been wondering what Surface Laptop 3 will bring to the table, you’ve come to the right spot. When the first Surface Laptop first came out a little over two years ago, stuck with Windows 10 S Mode, it didn’t make for a compelling device, especially next to the rest of the Surface lineup. However, Microsoft refined the formula enough and redefined the Surface Laptop image, and when the Surface Laptop 2 finally hit the streets last year, it became one of the best laptops on the market. Which leaves us thinking: what exactly will the Surface Laptop 3 look like and what innovations will it bring to the table?
Beyond the necessary upgrades to its internal components – Intel Whiskey Lake or Ice Lake chips – to start, higher resolution and a Thunderbolt 3 connection are among the highest on our wishlist. Although a Thunderbolt 3 would only happen if Microsoft is willing to abandon its proprietary Surface connector. At the moment, we really don’t have any concrete information regarding the Surface Laptop 3. However, some are speculating that Microsoft might show it off at its October 2 event. In fact, a recently spotted benchmark seems to show a Surface Pro or Surface Laptop running on a 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor. Could it be the Surface Laptop 3 we’ve been waiting for? There’s a good chance. Still, until Microsoft releases any official information about the next generation Surface Laptop, all we can do is speculate based on leaks, rumors and information on past Surface Laptop releases. Here are the Surface Laptop 3 speculations, predictions and rumors that we’ve heard through the grapevine. Be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any news Surface Laptop 3 release date news and rumors that comes our way. Cut to the chase
We might end up seeing the Surface Laptop 3 later in 2019. Surface Laptop 3 release dateUnlike the Surface Pro 7, for example, Microsoft has only released two Surface Laptops. This isn’t surprising, as it’s a product line that has only been around for less than two years. Though that also means that we have less information to work with when guessing the release window. The original Surface Laptop came out in June 2017, alongside the Surface Pro. However, the follow up, Surface Laptop 2, saw an October 2018 release. So, while we might end up seeing the Surface Laptop 3 later in 2019, it’s hard to predict exactly what month it will get released. Granted, June 2019 has come and gone without so much as a teaser from Microsoft. So, we’re now hoping for an October release. Since Intel has already started shipping out the Ice Lake chips on August 1 – and with Microsoft gearing up for its October 2 event, we could see the company showcasing the Surface Laptop 3 at the event and releasing it a few days or weeks later. Especially if that recently benchmarked device touting an Ice Lake chip is the next Surface Laptop. This is all speculation, of course, so you should take it with a grain of salt. We’ll update this section as soon as we hear anything about the Surface Laptop 3 release date. It's likely that Microsoft will charge the same price for the Surface Book 3 to keep it competitive. Surface Laptop 3 priceThe first Surface Laptop was released with a $799 (around £560, AU$1,000) price tag. That was with an Intel Core m3 processor and Windows 10 S out of the box. The Surface Laptop 2, on the other hand, raised the price of entry significantly, charging users $200 more than the original at $999 (£979, AU$1,499). To be fair, this higher price point did come with full-fat Ultrabook processors in every configuration – not to mention, the full Windows 10 Home. So the upgrade was worth the price increase. It’s highly likely that Microsoft will charge the same $999 (£979, AU$1,499) for the Surface Book 3, to keep it competitive with similar Ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13. We'd like to see faster processors and Thunderbolt 3 on the Surface Laptop 3, to start. What we want to seeThe Surface Laptop 2 already considerably improved on the Surface Laptop that it’s trickier to know what else Microsoft could do to make it even better. Still, we’ve come up with a few things we’d like to see in the Surface Laptop 3, using our tech expertise as our guiding hand. Faster processors There are technically faster and more powerful Ultrabook-class processors out already, starting with Intel’s Whiskey Lake chips. However, those deliver such a small upgrade in performance, that it really isn’t worth upgrading. At CES 2019, Intel announced its 10nm Ice Lake processors, promising a two-fold increase in performance for certain workloads. While Intel’s performance claims should be taken with a grain of salt, the gains to performance and battery life that a 10nm process would afford are still exciting. And, we’d love to see that in the next Surface Laptop. Thunderbolt 3, please Luckily, Microsoft has patented a new magnetic USB-C charger, that would have the best of both worlds. We just hope the technology is ready and on the Surface Laptop 3 before its release. Freshen up the design And, it’s not like Microsoft is against pursuing thinner designs. Microsoft has patented a thinner Type Cover, with a touchpad built right into the printed circuit board. This could possibly lead to the Surface Pro 7 having a smaller footprint overall, but we’d also be interested to see if this design philosophy would carry over to other Surface devices. Thinner laptops are always in demand, so a thinner and lighter Surface Laptop 3 is highly likely. However, we have seen a recent patent from Microsoft that could make the fur-coated design of the Surface Laptop 3 make a little more sense. The patent describes a touch-sensitive fabric, that could give the Surface Laptop 3 more touch controls on the chassis of the device, maybe for volume or brightness. A fuzzy Touch Bar, perhaps? This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7: release date, news and rumors Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:07 AM PDT Surface Pro 7 is probably one of the most highly anticipated releases from Microsoft. But, whether or not it lives up to the growing needs of its target audience is something we’ll have to wait and see. After all, even though Microsoft has been steadily crafting some of the best Windows tablets and 2-in-1 laptops for a while now with its Surface lineup, the Surface Pro 6 that hit the streets back in October 2018 only offered minor improvements over its 2017 predecessor. That made us think that we weren’t going to see more significant improvements to the Surface Pro formula. So far, however, the Surface Pro 7 is looking promising – that is, if we were to go by the rumors we’ve come across. We’ve started to see all sorts of patents for the new Surface Pro coming out of the woodwork that might change the game for how we use Microsoft’s tablets. For instance, there’s a brand new USB-C magnetic Surface charger, which we really hope sees the light of day. Couple that with Intel’s new Ice Lake chips, which is highly probable if the new benchmarks spotted online were that of the Surface Pro 7, and it might end up being the most powerful Surface Pro yet. That is, as long as Microsoft doesn’t pack it with new ARM processors instead. However, because nothing is confirmed, these are all just educated guesses. We probably won’t have long to wait, as we might actually hear more once Microsoft's October 2nd event comes around. Rest assured, we will continue to update this article with any new information that reaches us. Cut to the chase
We may see the Surface Pro 7 in October if Microsoft wants to stick to that annualized release. Surface Pro 7 release dateSince the Surface Pro 6 only recently came out, it’s doubtful that we’ll see the next one released before the end of 2019. The Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 6 both hit the streets in October 2015 and 2018, respectively. On the other hand, the Surface Pro 2017 did get a June release date. So, while it’s likely that the Surface Pro 7 could come out in October 2019, the release schedule for Surface Pro devices seems to be about every 16 to 18 months. In other words, it’s also very possible that there may not be a Surface Pro 7 until Spring or Summer 2020. We may see it be released in October, however, if Microsoft wants to stick to that annualized release. We’re only days away from its October 2 event. And, since it’ll be a whole year since Microsoft has launched new Surface hardware, and two years since it released the Surface Book 2, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the Surface Pro 7 will rear its pretty head then. Don’t worry, we’ll update this article just as soon as new information comes our way – official or otherwise – regarding the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 release date. Will the Surface Pro 7 get price bump of $100? Surface Pro 7 priceThe Surface Pro 6 will set you back $899 (£879, AU$1,349) for its base configuration, a marked price increase over the Surface Pro 2017, the base model of which was $799 (£799, AU$1,199). So, the pricing of the Surface Pro 7 could go in one of two directions: either it will get another price bump of $100, or stay the same price as before. It’s unlikely that the price will drop, however. If the price does go up by another $100, and launches at $999 (about £770, AU$1,380), it’ll put the Surface Pro 7 at the same price point as computers like the Dell XPS 13 and the HP Spectre x360 – as well as the new iPad Pro. Like anything else we’ve listed, we won’t actually know the real pricing of the Surface Pro 7 until Microsoft actually shares them. But again, we’ll update this article if and when that happens. We'd like an improved Type Cover on the Surface Pro 7. What we want to seeEven with the Surface Pro 7 launch likely imminent, it’s hard to predict what exactly is in store for the next Surface device. Still, based on all the patents that Microsoft has filed lately, like an update to the Surface Pen that would make it more accurate, we put together a wish list of upgrades that we’d like to see. Blazing speed Still, we’ve heard some rumors that Qualcomm Snapdragon-equipped Surface devices are “floating around”. It’s unlikely that the top-end Surface Pro 7 would utilize an ARM processor like this, as there would be possible problems with software emulation of x86 apps. Nevertheless, we might see an entry-level Surface device implementing these ARM chips. If the Surface Pro 7 does use these new processors, you should expect quite the improved performance and battery life across the board. Thunderbolt 3, please Luckily, we have reason to think that Microsoft will release the Surface Pro 7 with Thunderbolt 3 support, or at the very least basic USB-C charging. Microsoft has patented a new magnetic charger with a USB-C input that would work like the current Surface charger. We’re not actually sure of whether Surface Pro 7 will support Thunderbolt 3, as it depends on Microsoft’s openness to switching its proprietary technology for Thunderbolt 3 that it will have to pay Intel to license. That is, unless USB4 becomes available in time for a release. An improved Type Cover Just like the charging capabilities, we may have an idea of what the next generation Type Cover could look like. Microsoft has patented a thinner Type Cover that could minimize the footprint of the device all around. It looks like Microsoft is planning on doing this by using a trackpad that’s integrated right into the printed circuit board. It could also use haptic feedback in the keys, to improve the tactile response when typing, which would be crucial when you’re doing so on a slimmer keyboard cover. It’s a strange move, but it’s caught our attention regardless – if Microsoft can make the Type Cover thinner without making the same mistakes as Apple’s Butterfly keyboards, it could be a game-changer. We’ve also seen a patent that would make the fabric covering the Type Cover smarter. It should feature touch sensitivity, so you can swipe through news stories and photos without needing to find the touchpad or the touchscreen. We’re not sure who was asking for this tech, but it’s still a cool concept. Image Credit: TechRadar This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best phones under Rs 12,000 in India for September 2019 Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:04 AM PDT Thanks to the ever-increasing competition in the budget smartphone segment in India, Indian smartphone buyers have never had it this good, especially in the sub-Rs 15,000 segment. There are options from several companies if you’re looking for a good smartphone under Rs 15,000, but options under Rs 12,000 can be a little limited and confusing. If you are looking for best phones under Rs 12,000 in India, we have prepared a list that is tailored for your needs.
Want a budget smartphone that looks like a premium smartphone? The Honor 10 Lite should be on your list, then. Sporting a gradient glass back design and a waterdrop notch, the Honor 10 Lite punches much higher than its price tag would otherwise suggest. The Honor 10 Lite offers some important upgrades in terms of power and cameras over the Honor 9 Lite. This coupled with a fabulous design and the aggressive starting price of Rs 10,999 make it a very noteworthy addition in this list. Xiaomi offers great value for money with its hardware, but its MIUI skin has its share of critics. For such users, the company has a line up of Android One smartphones that offer the stock Android experience coupled with the value for money factor that Xiaomi smartphones are known for. The Mi A2 might seem a little old at this point, but if you are looking for that smooth, stock Android experience under Rs 12,000, the Mi A2 is what you need. Xiaomi is known for offering great value for money smartphones regardless of the price segment, and that is no different with the Redmi 8A. Although it is a very affordable, entry-level smartphone, the Redmi 8A offers hardware that was previously limited to sub-Rs 20k smartphones like the Poco F1. Despite being targeted at the entry level segment, the Redmi 8A's rear camera is an extremely capable snapper. It also has a massive 5,000mAh battery and supports a whopping 18W fast charging - something that many smartphones that cost twice or thrice as much don't offer. The Redmi Note 7S replaces the Redmi Note 7 and offers 48MP camera under Rs 10,000. It features the same gradient glass back design, waterdrop notch and a bright high-quality display at the same time. When you also consider the massive 4,000mAh battery and the updated MIUI skin, the Redmi Note 7S sounds like a very good proposition. Xiaomi has a slew of options for users across several price ranges. The standard Redmi series slots in the sub-Rs 10,000 range, sometimes conflicting with the base Redmi Note phones and the entry-level Redmi A series. Nevertheless, this offers another option for buyers looking for a smartphone under Rs 12,000. The Redmi 7 sports a gradient design and a waterdrop notch, which can be an enticing set of features at a starting price of Rs 7,499. The smart design, coupled with a massive 4,000mAh battery and a price tag of Rs 7,499 make the Redmi 7 an unmissable option in this range. Samsung has been trying to reinvent itself in the budget segment for a while now, and the Galaxy M series is a good testament of the company's efforts. The Galaxy M20 offers a good balance between power, performance and battery life. The Galaxy M20’s understated, minimalist design coupled with the waterdrop notch, a bright display and the massive battery help it get into this list. If you want a Samsung phone under Rs 12,000, the Galaxy M20 is a good option. The Realme 3 is a fabulous looking device, mostly thanks to the stunning blue and black gradient design on the back. While the bezels look a bit too thick on the front, the Realme 3 is a looker. The camera experience is average, and some users may not take too well to ColorOS, but the Realme 3 is a noteworthy option nonetheless. The large battery coupled with a HD+ resolution display and a mid-range processor should give you a two-day battery life with normal usage. The Galaxy M10s is a noteworthy option in the sub-Rs 12,000 price segment, especially if you are looking at alternatives for Redmi smartphones. It offers a big display and an adequate battery to go with it, while still costing fairly low. While the Galaxy M10s may not offer the premium design that some other smartphones offer, the One UI and other Samsung features make up for it to some extent. The 4,000mAh battery and 15W fast charging support also add substance to this option. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft October Event 2019: will we see a new Surface device? Posted: 26 Sep 2019 11:00 AM PDT Microsoft officially sent out invitations to the press for its October Event 2019 to be held in New York City. The company still has given no hints as to what it plans to showcase during this much talked about event, even now that we’re only days away. However, there have been many leaks and rumors in the past few months that all but confirm the forthcoming debut of a few major Surface products. With the Surface Pro 7, Surface Laptop 3 and a completely new product dubbed ‘Centaurus’ showing up in different leaks and rumors from anonymous sources, we’re expecting a possibly star-studded showing. That’s not to mention the incumbent product lines that are just about due for an upgrade like the Surface Book 3 and Surface Studio 3. Though we haven’t heard much of anything regarding those devices in particular. With that, here are the highlights on each of the Surface products that we hope to see during the Microsoft October Event, in order of how likely they are to make an appearance. The Surface Pro 6 of 2018 What we’re likely to see: Surface Pro 7Now with leaks and rumors detailing the possible exact configurations of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, it’s almost definitely a shoo-in for the Microsoft October Event. We’re now anticipating to get an even more affordable configuration for the tablet in the form of one packing an Intel Core i3 processor (CPU). What we don’t know is whether Microsoft is finally adopting USB-C – particularly Thunderbolt 3 – instead of the proprietary Surface Connect port. We also would like to see Intel Ice Lake CPUs and an improved Type Cover. Both have been rumored, so we’ve got high hopes. The Surface Laptop 2 of 2018 What we’re likely to see: Surface Laptop 3The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is just about the only other incumbent Surface device to be discussed in rumors and leaks, with not just one but two configurations becoming available. That’s right; it’s rumored that a 15-inch version will be joining the 13-inch model this year. And, that’s not all: European retail listings are hinting that the Surface Laptop 3 will use AMD processors inside, as opposed to Intel. However, we’re more concerned with whether Microsoft adopts Thunderbolt 3 ports here as well. In addition, the design could also use a bit of updating. The Surface Book 2 of 2017 What we hope to see: Surface Book 3The computing world has changed considerably since the Surface Book 2 hit the streets, making the release of a Microsoft Surface Book 3 all the more important in 2019. Both versions of the 2-in-1 laptop could benefit from Nvidia’s new RTX graphics, for a start. While we haven’t heard much in the way of rumors or leaks concerning a Surface Book follow up, an update is well overdue amid massive gains by its ‘prosumer’ laptop competition. Of course, again, we’d like to see Thunderbolt 3 included, as well as stronger power management with those more powerful RTX graphics. The Surface Studio 2 of 2018 What we hope to see: Surface Studio 3Like the Surface Book 3, we’ve heard next to nothing about a Microsoft Surface Studio 3 release. But it’s also another long overdue update that we would love to see at the Microsoft October Event. That said, we’re quite fine with the all-in-one artist desktop’s design. What we would like to see updated here are the internals. That is, we’d like to see the follow up released rocking the latest Nvidia graphics and Intel processors. In years past, this has not been the case at launch. Finally, just give us Thunderbolt 3 already, and maybe up the resolution? A patent image of the would-be 'Centaurus' device What we hope to see: Surface ‘Centaurus’There has been a number of patent application releases and other rumors surrounding a new Microsoft Surface device, one that touts either dual screens or a single folding display. The various patent images and rumors conjure up thoughts of Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 foldable tablet. Of course, there’s very little known about how this device will fit into Microsoft’s larger portfolio, and what specific or unique use cases it will serve. Will it be a folding phone-meets-tablet? We can’t wait to see whether we find out at the Microsoft October Event.
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| Best PC games 2019: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss Posted: 26 Sep 2019 10:48 AM PDT Welcome to our pick of the best PC games of 2019. Now that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is here, along with Intel’s Coffee Lake Refresh processors, now’s the best time to get into PC games. The PC is perhaps the best gaming platform in the world – forget about your PlayStations and Xboxes – thanks to a remarkably huge catalogue of brilliant games, starting with the best Steam games 2019 has on offer. The best PC games cover a wide range of genres, from platformers and point-and-click adventures, to retro favorites and action-packed first-person shooters that take advantage of the best modern graphics tech for eye-popping visuals. There are even co-op PC games that you can play with friends. The sheer number of brilliant PC games can leave you wondering where to get started, which is where our best PC games of 2019 list comes in. We've put together the definitive list of the best PC games, from oldies like the Orange Box to newer fan-favorites like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Believe us when we say you’ll want to get all of these PC games installed so you can experience them firsthand. Looking for the best games to play on your laptop? Check out our best laptop games instead. But if you’re looking to game on your PC, you chose the perfect time to jump in on the platform, and as a warm welcome, we’ll dive into the best PC games you can play in 2019. The best new PC game: Borderlands 3Borderlands 3 The Borderlands franchise might not have much in terms of innovations. Plus, its third installation’s vehicle combat isn’t all that impressive, and its humor isn’t all that clever. However, Borderlands 3 has still proven itself more than capable of showing gamers a rollicking good time, with its arsenal of weapons and gear, deep RPG systems and new areas to explore, making it our pick for the best new PC game right now. It isn’t just your combat skills that are tested here; you’ll be better off sharpening your survival skills as well, as you’re dropped on a Mad Max-esque arid planet where encounters with dangerous local wildlife is to be expected as well. In Borderlands 3, however, you can get a respite from that to explore exciting – not to mention, stunning – new locales with better climates. And, having better weaponry this time around, like the ‘guns on legs’ and guns that moonlight as explosives, only make your journey all the more riotous. 1. The Witcher 3: Wild HuntThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is aging like fine wine. Even four years after its release, it’s still one of the most impressive open world games that’s ever existed – mixing Skyrim’s unapologetic scale with Grand Theft Auto V’s ridiculous depth. It’s such a jam-packed game, which is why it tops our list of the best PC games in 2019. Staggering, beautiful and an absolute time sink – in a good way – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t just the best PC game of 2019. It might just be one of the best video games of all time.
2. Dark Souls 3While it's debatably not as hard as earlier entries in the series, From Software's Dark Souls 3 takes everything you like about the Souls series and blends it with elements found in Bloodborne, the developer's more recent title for PS4. We won’t sugar coat it: you’re going to die in Dark Souls 3, possibly more than once. It takes patience to master its complicated combat system, but it also plays fair, which allows it to be more approachable for casual players to take part in its bleak, fantastical world. And, on the bright side, it’s much more optimized for PC than the first two games. Now that you can pick up Dark Souls: Remastered, and see where the apocalyptic series began, there’s never been a better time to link the first flame. 3. ControlControl It’s easy to see why Control is already taking the gaming world by storm. The creative team at Remedy Entertainment made sure that there’s plenty to love in this game, paying very close attention to the intricate details. A deeply cinematic game, this action-adventure offers its players spectacular visuals, inspired environment design and standout performances, as well as a deeply satisfying combat experience. Control places you in the capable shoes of fiery-haired Jesse Faden. You’re tasked to seek out The Oldest House, a building in New York City that’s in a constant state of architectural flux and only appears to those who desire to find it, and locate your missing brother, all while heading the Federal Bureau of Control as its director and overseeing the containment of paranatural entities. There’s nothing quite like Control on the market, and it makes it one of the best PC games to play right now. 4. Monster Hunter WorldMonster Hunter Monster Hunter has been one of the biggest gaming franchises you’ve never heard of for years now. With Monster Hunter: World, the series broke into the mainstream and came to the PC (finally), which makes it one of the best PC games you can play today. Monster Hunter: World puts you in the shoes of a monster hunter, and you’ll hunt progressively bigger and nastier monsters, strip them for parts, and craft bigger, badder armor. It’s a deceptively simple gameplay loop that ends up being one of the most compelling and rewarding PC games you can play right now. There’s a ceaseless onslaught of content in this game, and Capcom, the developers of this monster hunting hit, are committed to bringing a wealth of free DLC to the game – not to mention a new frosty expansion in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. If you’re looking for an addictive, immersive and most importantly, fun game to play on your own or with all your best friends cooperatively, check out Monster Hunter: World. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best PC games you can buy today.
5. Grand Theft Auto VGrand Theft Auto V Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most anticipated console ports to ever hit PC gaming, and you won’t any arm-twisting to wander back into Los Santos's hugely detailed and highly interactive world. This time, however, it’s 10 times more fun with the PC's richer graphics and smooth 60 fps gameplay. And, don’t think you’ll be done after you’ve finished its 30-hour campaign. There’s an overflow of post-game content to enjoy, after all. Most recently, that includes The Doomsday Heist in GTA Online and even a radio station hosted by Frank Ocean. 6. Sid Meier's Civilization VISid Meier's Civilization VI Sid Meier's Civilization VI is the most recent title in the iconic turn-based strategy game, and it's one of our picks for the best PC game you can play to date. One of the things that make the PC the best platform for gaming on is the sheer breadth of different game genres on offer. Civilization VI might seem slow paced next to the likes of Fortnite; however, its scope is huge. Spread your empire across the map and crush your enemies. You build up your empire from a simple settlement to a world power, and you can decide to do this through military might, technological supremacy or cultural influence. Since its launch in 2016, it has had two expansion packs that really cement this game as an epic entry in our best PC games list. Civilization VI: Rise and Fall released in February 2018, with Civilization VI: Gathering Storm following in February 2019. 7. Alien: IsolationAlien: Isolation Set 15 years following the events of the first Alien film from 1979, Alien: Isolation is the suspense-filled game that fans of the franchise have long anticipated. Playing the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, you’re tasked to track down and retrieve the flight recorder of the Nostromo spacecraft from the first Alien film, which has been traced aboard the Sevastopol space station. First and foremost a stealth game, Isolation heightens the tension by giving you minimal weaponry. Its brilliant graphics shine on high-end PCs and clever AI helps ramp up the dread, leaving you trembling at every corner. This and more make Alien: Isolation well-deserving of a spot on our list of the best PC games. 8. OverwatchOverwatch Overwatch, if nothing else, has significantly altered the landscape, moving it away from the norm of gray-ish cover shooters to the dominion of competitive gaming. Its bright, vibrant colors are only made better with highly likeable characters, each coming with their own interesting backstories, which, while non-existent in game, make for a collection of amazing webcomics and cinematics. Overwatch is also one of the best PC games, due to how well it runs on all kinds of different hardware. Sure, it’s a bit aged now, but even in 2019, it’s the best PC game for anyone with a competitive streak. If you missed out on this game before, do yourself a favor – sign in to your Battle.net account and take Overwatch – not to mention, its colorful cast of characters – for a spin today. 9. Forza Horizon 4Forza Horizon 4 Microsoft's racing series is only getting better with each release, and in many ways this spin-off has exceeded the main Forza Motorsport line as the best racing games on PC at present. They're definitely more fun, adding a dash of arcade fun to the strikingly recreated cars and race tracks we've come to expect from Forza. Forza Horizon 4 is easily one of the best PC games you can buy today, and this entry brings the racing to the UK after having explored America, France, Italy and Australia in the previous three instalments of the franchise. Now, you can rip through charming villages, seaside towns and the city of Edinburgh by way of many miles of country roads and dirt tracks in between. It's fast, frantic and a lot of fun. You can purchase Forza Horizon 4 through the Microsoft Store. It's also available as part of the Xbox Game Pass for PC, or you can buy the Xbox One version and get a download code for PC using the Xbox Anywhere feature. 10. Thimbleweed ParkThimbleweed Park Fans of classic point and click games such as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle, which are some of the best PC games ever made, should add Thimbleweed Park to their must play list. Made by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, two of the people behind PC classics Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, Thimbleweed Park plays like a love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games. From the splendid retro artwork, entertaining dialogue and perplexing puzzles, Thimbleweed Park deserves its place on our list of the best PC games, merging the best of old school PC game design with modern technology. 11. Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceFrom Software is a household name when it comes to designing the best PC games. The minds behind the critically praised Dark Souls series have transported PC gamers to some of the most forsaken landscapes and through some of the most challenging yet rewarding gameplay. From Software is back at it once more, with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Sekiro places you in the shoes of the Young Wolf, a shinobi tasked with rescuing his young master. The game will take you through 16th-century Japan, but things will get eerie and supernatural: this is From Software we’re talking about. Don’t expect an easy time of it, however. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an awfully difficult game to master, and you’ll need quick reflexes to deflect enemy attacks, as well as to master stealth. You won’t be able to hide behind a shield all day, like you were able to in Dark Souls III. 12. MinecraftThe phrase "build it, and they will come" rings truer than ever with Minecraft, the survival-based sandbox RPG that has now been bought more than 100 million times since its release in 2009. In it, you can construct your own worlds using resources you find in the wild, or discover existing ones created by other players online. In Minecraft, you can either limit yourself to the numerous tools and blocks offered by the developer, Mojang, or you can install mods to truly capitalize on your investment. Moreover, sometime in 2019, you’ll be able to take part in the Super Duper Graphics Pack, an optional piece of DLC that offers more realistic lighting effects and textures to an already amazing game. 13. DoomId Software's Doom was a phenomenon for PC gamers in the ‘90s. The crudely rendered first-person shooter series was as controversial as it was adored, thanks in large part to its cutting-edge depictions of gore and violence that only a computer could deliver. Parents be damned, the franchise underwent a revival in 2016 with a fresh reset, aptly titled Doom. Although the multiplayer might not appeal to shooter fans regardless of age, the single player campaign will pit you against demons in Hell for a lengthy mission that is bloody satisfying, pun intended. 14. Fortnite Battle RoyaleHow could we not add what’s possibly the biggest game in the world right now to this list? Fortnite Battle Royale is a global phenomenon – not to mention, among the best PC games right now, if you like super-competitive online games. This is a game people keep coming back to, and that's mostly thanks to the addictive gameplay and regular updates from Epic. Fortnite Battle Royale is actually a game mode for the Fortnite game, but this mode has become so popular, many people consider it a separate game in its own right. As with other Battle Royale games, the aim of Fortnite Battle Royale is to fight your way through an ever-shrinking map until you're the last player standing. While that might sound simple enough, there's a whole lot of depth to this game once you start playing. 15. CupheadCuphead's 1930's animation aesthetics undoubtedly makes this one of the most stunning – and sounding – PC games on the list. Combining run-and-gun platforming and boss rush battles, it's an extremely challenging game – but that also makes it very rewarding. With hand-drawn cell animation, watercolor backgrounds and original jazz soundtrack, Cuphead is unlike anything you'll play on PC, and while the steep difficulty curve may put people off, if you're willing to hone your gaming skills, you'll be rewarded with one of the best PC games money can buy.
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| Intel Project Athena release date, news and features Posted: 26 Sep 2019 10:28 AM PDT Intel's Project Athena is an innovation program created by the chipmaker to aid laptop makers build the revolutionary laptops of the future. Announced at CES 2019, Project Athena sees Intel working with some of the biggest names in the laptop industry – including Acer, Asus, Dell, Google, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft and Samsung – to craft the next generation of laptops that are thinner, lighter and more powerful, as well as have lightning fast connectivity, a system that wakes from sleep in a flash and battery life that will last all day. If that sounds like a mythical invention to you, just take a look at the HP Elite Dragonfly, a Project Athena-certified 2-in-1 laptop that’s under 1kg in weight and has a battery life that lasts more than 24 hours on a single charge. It's somewhat akin to what Intel and laptop manufacturers did with Ultrabooks some years back. By coming up with a list of minimum specifications that laptops would have to meet to be known as Ultrabooks, consumers know they are getting the very latest – and greatest – hardware. With Project Athena laptops, Intel and its partners are seeking to make devices that can handle the demands of modern-day computing. It’s a very big deal, and we at TechRadar, for one, cannot wait to see the kind of laptops that this grand program will result in. Here are the news and rumors we've gathered together, and everything else we know so far about Intel's Project Athena. The companies that have signed up to Project Athena (Image Credit: Intel Corporation) Cut to the chase
What is Intel Project Athena?Intel Project Athena is a laptop design initiative that sees Intel work even more closely with a number of laptop manufacturers to help reinvent the future of laptops. Many people also consider Project Athena as Intel's way of battling the growth of Windows 10 on ARM devices, and laptops running on Qualcomm Snapdragon hardware. These devices offer always-on connections and remarkably long battery life, but don't use Intel hardware. While Windows 10 on ARM devices have excelled at battery life, start-up times and always-on connectivity thanks to built-in 4G LTE support, they have so far been unsuccessful in offer decent performance that’s comparable to Intel-powered laptops. An Intel infographic showing the aims of Project Athena (Image credit: Intel Corporation) Project Athena will see Intel offer guidance to equipment and PC component manufacturers to create future laptops that are smarter, faster (thanks to 5G) and more power efficient – which will likely mean much longer battery life. Intel has also revealed at the Project Athena Ecosystem Symposium event in Taipei, Taiwan that it will open three global Project Athena Open Labs facilities – two in Taipei and Shanghai, one in Folsom, California – in order to work with manufacturers and test their laptops to ensure they meet Project Athena's specifications. These labs started operating in June 2019. Josh Newman, Intel vice president and general manager of PC Innovation Segments, Client Computing Group, said that "Project Athena Open Labs are a critical step in enabling more extensive, day-to-day collaboration with the components ecosystem to continuously raise the bar for innovation across the platform." Intel has also revealed how Project Athena "creates a path forward to accelerate laptop innovation" through:
Intel Project Athena release dateIntel has implied that initial Project Athena laptops could release as early as the second half of 2019. However, if that's the case, then we wouldn't expect to see any Project Athena-certified laptops until very late this year. Since the Project Athena Open Labs didn’t launch until June, the early Project Athena laptops that we could see in 2019 will likely be Intel-made reference devices that will offer consumers and manufacturers a taste of what Project Athena laptops will be capable of. According to Intel, "the next wave of Project Athena designs" will come in "2020 and beyond," so expect to see Project Athena laptops from manufacturers, like Asus and Acer, next year. Ultrabooks are expensive - so expect Project Athena laptops to be pricey as well (Image credit: TechRadar) Intel Project Athena priceCurrently, we don't have any information on what sort of prices Project Athena laptops will sell for. However, that’s never stopped us from making a few educated guesses before. Considering the target spec and features of Project Athena laptops (which we'll get to in a moment), it's possible that these are going to be high-priced laptops. Intel's Ultrabook initiative, which was similar to Project Athena in the fact that it saw Intel working with laptop makers to develop laptops that met clear design and specification criteria, resulted in high-end machines with premium price tags. It's not too much of a stretch, therefore, to think that Project Athena laptops will be pitched at the high-end in terms of hardware and price. If we do see Intel-made Project Athena laptops this year, with the third-party Athena laptops following in 2020, then that’s another hint that the first wave of Project Athena laptops will be quite pricey. However, when third-party Athena laptops launch, prices could potentially become more affordable, as there will be more competition between the companies. It seems likely that Project Athena laptops will be pitched as alternatives to Windows on ARM laptops, like the HP Envy x2. Those ARM laptops have prices around $1,000/£1,000/AU$1,500, so it won’t be surprising if Project Athena laptops will tout that price point as well. Project Athena will compete with Snapdragon-powered laptops like the HP Envy x2 (Image credit: TechRadar) However, before you get too dismayed about being unable to afford an Intel Project Athena laptop, there are some clues that suggest we may see more affordable Athena-certified laptops as well. For a start, Intel has talked about how Project Athena will cover a range of laptop types. It's also been announced that some Athena laptops will run Windows 10 and Chrome OS. Coupled with the fact that Google is one of the Project Athena partners, it looks like we'll be getting Project Athena Chromebooks. Since Chromebooks are generation a lot cheaper than traditional laptops, they may provide a cheaper way to partake in some of that Project Athena goodness. Intel Project Athena specificationsIntel has recently released the specifications for Project Athena, and it is comprised of 15 responsiveness metrics and 3 battery life metrics. All 23 of these metrics are aimed at creating the next generation of laptops it has envisioned. Based on these specifications, Intel will determine whether each laptop model is up to snuff. When it does, it gets Intel’s “Engineered for mobile performance” seal of approval, which essentially tells consumers that it’s a Project Athena certified device.
Intel Project Athena featuresTo release a laptop as part of Project Athena, manufacturers will have to meet certain features and specifications. While we haven’t gotten our hands on a definitive list just yet, here are the features we know will be part of Project Athena. 5G connectivity: One of the chief features of Project Athena will be 5G connectivity. This means that every Project Athena laptop will come with the capability to connect to 5G cellular networks (via a SIM card). 5G will offer speeds far in excess of 4G, and 5G-equipped laptops will allow access to the internet without needing to connect to Wi-Fi. This is not only more convenient – as you'll be able to check your emails and browse the web from pretty much anywhere that has 5G network coverages – but also more secure, as you won’t have to rely on open Wi-Fi networks. The speed boosts promised by 5G could also allow us to use our Athena laptops in exciting new ways like streaming 4K content or playing games on services such as Nvidia GeForce Now and Google Stadia, which utilize remote PCs to power games that are streamed to your device. Longer battery life: Improving the battery life on laptops has been a constant struggle for manufacturers. With laptops getting thinner than ever, the space to add batteries is shrinking as well. With laptops getting more powerful – and more power-hungry – laptop makers have to carefully balance maximizing battery life without throttling performance. Project Athena intends to drastically improve battery life of laptops, with times between charges of around 9 hours, a lot longer than many modern Intel-based laptops. True, Snapdragon-based laptops have seen battery life figures of beyond 24 hours, which makes the 9 hours aim a bit less impressive. It's worth noting, however, that Snapdragon-based laptops have considerably poorer performance. If Project Athena results in laptops that perform well and have long battery life, then Intel could be on to a winner. Instant-on: No one likes waiting around for our laptops and PCs boot up Windows. Smartphones and tablets have spoiled us when it comes to devices that power up almost instantly. So, Project Athena is aiming to bring that to Windows-based laptops and Chromebooks with Intel hardware inside. Again, Windows on ARM devices already accomplish this, and they also remain connected even in sleep mode. Emails continue to be downloaded, for example, so when you open up the laptop, your emails are already there, waiting for you. We hope – and expect – for Project Athena to offer similar functionality. Intel hardware: We also expect Intel to set minimum hardware specifications, such as including SSD storage and support for Wi-Fi 6, the latest wireless networking technology. By setting these minimum specifications, Project Athena laptops will guarantee some of the latest and most cutting-edge technology available.
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| Samsung Galaxy Note 10 at Verizon: buy one phone, get another for free Posted: 26 Sep 2019 10:00 AM PDT If you're looking to save on the all-new Samsung Galaxy Note 10 phone, then you've come to the right place. Verizon is currently offering up to $950 off another Galaxy Note device when you buy a Galaxy Note 10 phone. You can also save $200 when you switch to Verizon and get a one month trial of YouTube TV for free. Shop other offers with the best Samsung Galaxy Note 10 deals and plans happening now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 26 Sep 2019 09:48 AM PDT The best Lenovo laptops cater to pretty much every need in 2019. Whether you’re looking for one of the best Ultrabooks, one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, a dedicated gaming laptop or even if you’re looking for a laptop for college students, Lenovo has your back. On top of the business-first ThinkBook range, Lenovo’s Yoga laptop lineup, like the beloved Yoga 920, is probably its best known. These Lenovo laptops convert easily between notebook, tablet and tent modes via a cunningly designed 360 degree hinge that’s often copied but never bettered. Lenovo’s Thinkpad lineup tends to focus on more conventionally designed hardware, and covers a wide range of specifications – from high-end multimedia powerhouses to cheap laptops under £500. Then, there’s legion, the best Lenovo laptops for gaming, which put respectable frame rates within reach of players without stacks of cash lying around. No matter whether you need something for work, or even one of the best gaming laptops, you’re likely to find a device that’s the perfect fit – for much less than you may expect. Lenovo Yoga C930 There’s a lot to love about the Lenovo Yoga C930, which is why it tops our list of the best Lenovo laptops for 2019. To start, Lenovo’s premium portable laptop boasts an excellent battery life, a robust feature set and a strong build. This 14-incher hardly compromises on anything as well. It’s graphics performance could be better, but it makes up for that with an 8th-gen chip, a self-charging stylus, terrific speakers and a vibrant screen. If you’re looking for a solid all-rounder, you’d be glad to pay the Lenovo Yoga C930’s premium price. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930 Lenovo Legion Y740 The Lenovo Legion Y740 is hardly the perfect gaming machine – flaws like uncomfortable keyboard arrangement, poor battery life and bad webcam placement stop it from becoming the ultimate gaming laptop. However, if you’re seeking an affordable gaming laptop that delivers top-notch performance and touts an elegant design that you can show off anywhere – including the office, if you’re planning on discreetly squeezing in a game at lunch – then this is the most ideal choice for you. Looking for a powerful laptop with some gaming capabilities, it’s also one of the best Lenovo laptops 2019 has to offer. Read the full review: Lenovo Legion Y740 Lenovo Legion Y7000P This gaming laptop has always been hard to find at retail. It’s not even currently available at the Lenovo site, even though it doesn’t seem like the company has declared it discontinued. However, the Lenovo Legion Y7000P is really worth scouring the Internet for, as it comes with enough firepower to power even the most processor-hungry, graphics-heavy titles, all for a very affordable price. Bargain-basement gamers will love its price tag, which starts at $1000, along with its minimalist gaming aesthetic. Read the full review: Lenovo Legion Y7000P Lenovo Yoga C630 Though previous Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops have fallen short in terms of performance, the Lenovo Yoga C630 has proven otherwise, offering users with an excellent performance for daily workloads, power-hungry tasks and even intensive games. It’s not perfect, but it does the job. And the integration of 4G connectivity is highly useful when you’re on the go and need an Internet connection. If you’re looking for one of the best Lenovo laptops that’s lightweight, both inside and out, this is a top choice. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C630 Lenovo Yoga 730 The powerful Yoga 920 is great for heavy media editing, but for all other everyday computing tasks, the Yoga 730 is a perfect partner. It has the same super-flexible hinge, letting you use it in various different configurations, is built just as solidly, and is far more reasonably priced than most other laptops in its category. Its aluminium chassis is compact and slim, making it ideal for working on the move, and its trackpad is smooth and lag-free. It also supports Windows-specific gestures, helping you get more done on the plane or train. Its battery life is decent, not remarkable, but the Yoga 730 is otherwise hard to fault. If you're looking for a new laptop for the daily commute, it'll serve you very well indeed. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation Do you have a lot of cash to spare and require a powerful workstation? Look no further than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation, whose impressive specs are only the beginning. You’ll also appreciate working with that bright and crisp 15.6-inch screen, especially if you’re getting the 4K version, as well as all that storage space if you go all out. Though, fair warning, this isn’t exactly the lightest laptop you’ll lug around, so investing in a sturdy backpack with padded straps is ideal for stowing it in. Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation Lenovo Yoga Book C930 Much like the Lenovo Yoga C930, there’s a lot to love about the Lenovo Yoga Book C930. We appreciate its light and thin design, that main display that’s a total stunner, and that innovative E Ink secondary screen, which you can utilize as a keyboard and for note-taking, among other things. Those who require a lot of internal power might not be satisfied with that this device has to offer, however, with an aging processor. However, if you only need a laptop for surfing the Internet, ticking off light productivity tasks, watching movies, reading e-books and sketching on, you’ve got a winner in this. It’s one of the best Lenovo laptops for you. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book C930
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| The Apple AirPods are down to their lowest price ever at Walmart Posted: 26 Sep 2019 09:46 AM PDT If you're looking to snag a discount on the latest model Apple AirPods, then you've come to the right place. Thanks to the release of the Amazon Echo Buds, you can now get the 2019 Apple AirPods on sale at Walmart for $169. That's a $30 discount and the lowest price we've found for the earbuds that come with a wireless charging case. Walmart also has the first generation AirPods on sale for $144. Apple AirPods deal:See more Apple AirPod deals with the cheapest AirPod prices, sales and deals that are currently going on. Interested in other wireless headphones? We also have the best cheap wireless headphone deals and sales. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| This stretchy, bendy battery could power a new generation of flexible phones Posted: 26 Sep 2019 09:31 AM PDT Swiss scientists have developed a stretchy, flexible battery that could power a new breed of phones that can be folded, bent and even rolled. The prototype flexible thin film battery was created by Professor Markus Niederberger and his team at Switzerland's ETH Zürich technical university. It uses a new type of electrolyte (the material through which lithium ions move when the battery is charged and discharged), discovered by doctoral student Xi Chen.
The electrolyte takes the form of a gel containing water with a high concentration of lithium salt, which is far less flammable and toxic than liquid electrolytes in today's commercial batteries. This gel is sandwiched between two stretchable current collectors, lined with a thin layer of silver flakes that lie over one another like roof tiles, enabling them to maintain conductivity even when the battery is bent. Into the foldFoldable phones are an exciting concept, and earlier this year manufacturers seemed to be falling over themselves to release the first bendable production handsets, but the two major models (the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X) have been beset with problems and delays. Phones aren't the only possible application for the bendy battery, though; Niederberger also sees potential uses in flexible tablets, watches, and even fashion. "For instance, you could sew our battery right into the clothing,” he said. Smart garments are certainly interesting (Google recently rebooted its Project Jacquard concept with a smart Yves Saint Laurent backpack), but Niederberger is keen to point out that the bendy battery needs more development before it'll be ready to stitch into your clothes. For the time being then, fully foldable devices are still on standby. Via Tom's Guide This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| You can now control your Xbox One with Google Assistant voice commands Posted: 26 Sep 2019 09:26 AM PDT When Microsoft asked Xbox gamers what feature they wanted most, an overwhelming majority said their top request was that the Xbox would work with more digital assistants. The result? Starting today, you can now use Google Assistant and most Google devices to control your Xbox One. So how does it work? You can connect the two platforms by using Microsoft’s new Xbox Action for Google Assistant software. According to a blog post on Xbox Wire, you’ll need to join this Xbox group, sign in to your Xbox, and then add it as a device inside the Google Home app on iOS or Android. Once everything is setup you’ll be able to start up the Xbox using your voice, launch apps like YouTube, take screenshots and video, and start games. If your TV supports CEC you’ll also be able to raise and lower the volume, which is a handy feature. According to information sent to TechRadar, the Xbox Action for Google Assistant is compatible with any Google Assistant-enabled smart speaker or smart displays, including the Google Nest Hub Max, or any Android mobile device. Two's company, three's a crowdIf this sounds like a story you’ve read before, it might be because you heard about Microsoft adding support for Alexa voice commands last year... or you've used Cortana on Xbox, which basically shipped with the console back in 2014. The addition of a new third voice assistant might seem like overkill on a gaming console, but the good news is that now, regardless of which service you prefer, you’ll have access to a similar set of voice commands. So when does the integration begin? According to Microsoft's post, the new Xbox Action for the Google Assistant is available via a public beta on Xbox One today and is available to all customers in English during the beta period with support for other languages later this year.
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| Best free blogging site of 2019 Posted: 26 Sep 2019 09:05 AM PDT Free blogging sites have come a long way in recent years, and it’s now easier than ever to create a professional-looking blog to share a hobby with likeminded people, express your opinions, and establish an online presence. These free blogging sites are aimed at hobbyist bloggers – blogs are created and managed online, and hosted on the blogging platform’s own servers. If you want to create a self-hosted blog, the downloadable version of WordPress is an excellent option, with total flexibility, support for third-party plugins, and as much storage as your hosting plan allows. If you're interested in making a static website rather than an online journal, take a look at our guide to the best free website builders. Wix makes it dead easy to design and realize your blog, and you can do a lot more besides Wix has a range of paid-for subscription plans, but also a free offering, although it’s best to note upfront that this has some caveats. With the free product, your site will have Wix branding, and you’ll be limited to 500MB of data transfer per month, so it’s not for heavily trafficked sites. You also only get 500MB storage, too, so bear that in mind. You are, however, free to build a blog with an unlimited number of pages, and where Wix really shines is with its powerful blog functionality. The editor may be simple, but you get access to all the stuff you need – from image galleries through to videos and music – and there are a ton of ways to customize a post. There’s also a lot of flexibility in the way you can schedule posts, and neat touches like being able to set things up so that posts are automatically pushed to Facebook when they’re published. For instance, you have a feature called WiX Bookings, that allows customers to schedule appointments and classes right on your website. And what makes Wix truly compelling is on top of this, you get the run of the rest of what this website builder offers aside from blog support. That includes using Wix’s ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) editor to make building your site a snap even for novices, plus impressively diverse support for various different types of media, and quality customer support to boot (yes, even on the free plan). As of recently, Wix introduced Wix Turbo, which increases the speed and performance of websites considerably. When you consider what you’re getting for nothing, the bandwidth and data limits don’t seem like such a heavy set of shackles. And you can always upgrade at a later date if you want to break free of them in the longer run. Try it online: Wix Powerful and highly customizable, WordPress is a brilliant platform for blogs of any size, and bloggers of any level of experience. Creating your first blog is very straightforward, with a simple wizard that guides you through the process of choosing a name and suitable theme. You can leave it there and begin writing posts immediately, but the real fun lies in the more advanced editor, which lets you customize virtually every aspect of your blog’s appearance. Unlike some blogging sites, WordPress isn’t a drag-and-drop affair, and you’ll have to familiarize yourself with its system of menus. It’s well worth the effort, though, and enables you to create something truly personal. The editor also lets you create static pages – like a writer’s biography, for example. The post-writing interface is much like an ordinary desktop word processor (though some options are presented in a toolbar at the top, while others are in a menu at the side, which can be a little confusing at first). Again, time spent getting to know the interface is rewarded with advanced features like customizable social media sharing buttons, geotagging, and the ability to pick a custom style for individual posts. Sometimes you might want to create a photo gallery, for example, and other times a more text-focused style would be more appropriate. You can also view and edit the HTML source. As your blog grows, WordPress lets you track its stats, including page views, visitors, likes and comments over time. You can also see how readers reach your site, which content they viewed, and where they are in the world, so you can tailor your content accordingly. Your site is hosted on WordPress servers, with an address in the format yoursite.wordpress.com. Users of the free service don’t get email or live chat support, but the WordPress community forums are very active and questions are usually answered within a few minutes. Additionally, privacy protection for domains that are registered at WordPress.com is free. WordPress displays ads on free blogs, but provided you can live with that, it’s a top-notch solution for a free blogging site. Try it online: WordPress Blogger has been around for many years, but has kept up with current trends and technology, including responsive blog templates Blogger is another superb blogging platform. It’s not quite as powerful as WordPress, but more accessible for new users, which comes as no surprise when you learn that it’s owned by Google. Blogger offers an excellent selection of templates, all of which include mobile versions optimized for smaller screens – a very sensible addition with so many people accessing online content through smartphones. Blogger’s post-editing tool is much like WordPress, but offers fewer options. As a result, its toolbars are less confusing – a trade-off between power and usability. One of Blogger’s best features is its integration with other Google apps and services. For example, it uses your Google Drive account to store images and other files for your blog. Google Drive gives you 15GB of space free, so Blogger is a good choice if you’re planning to share a lot of high-res photos. Spam comments are a big problem on blogs, so Blogger’s automatic spam filter can help save your sanity. You can monitor comments via Blogger’s dashboard, which also lets you see visitor stats. There are some handy visualizations here, including a world map to show the global distribution of your readers. Your blog will have an address in the format yoursite.blogger.com, and, like all Google services, will include ads. Support is available through the Blogger user forum, which is very active but has a strange layout that can be a little off-putting. In all other respects, Blogger is brilliant – one of the best free blogging sites if you prioritize ease of use over flexibility and are a fan of the Google ecosystem. Try it online: Blogger Weebly takes a modular approach to blog building, with a drag-and-drop editor that lets you choose which elements to add to your site, and where. Pick a basic template, then plonk various types of content onto the page, including social media links, text, images, maps, and sections of code. It’s a refreshingly simple way to build a blog that feels unique to you, but doesn’t require any messing about with menus. It’s worth noting, however, that certain content blocks can only be positioned in certain areas; it isn’t a total free-for-all. This makes sense – forcing you to stick within the confines of your chosen template stops the page looking messy – but you might find it limiting. Blog posts are made in the same way: drag text boxes, picture frames, buttons and page breaks into position, then click to edit them. One particularly nice feature is the ‘secret draft link’, which lets you preview your unpublished post, and even share it with others via email before releasing it into the wild. Weebly has some other interesting tricks up its sleeve too, including an area for pasting in Google Analytics tracking code (though it doesn’t offer analytics itself). You’re only given 500MB for uploaded content, so photographers might want to look elsewhere. Weebly puts an ad in your site’s footer, but it doesn’t obscure any of your content. Try it online: Weebly Penzu is a personal blogging tool that lets you create your own private diary Whereas the other free blogging sites are designed to get as many eyeballs on your posts as possible, Penzu is the equivalent of a locked diary stashed in a safe. Penzu is a journal platform that makes your posts private by default and locks them down with at least one password (even after you’re logged in, you need a second one to read or edit your posts). That’s because it’s designed for private thoughts and personal reflection. There are free apps for iOS and Android that enable you to update your Penzu diary anywhere, but the contents are for your eyes only. Penzu isn’t a tool for self-promotion, so although it’s far from ugly, it understandably focuses on function rather than looks. Custom colors and backgrounds come at a price – currently $20 (about £14, AU$25) per year. It’s a shame that 128-bit AES encryption is also limited to the paid-for version, and there’s a fair amount of pressure to upgrade. Extra options are often dangled under your nose then yanked away, but the core offering is a good one, and if you simply want a place to record your thoughts and practise writing, Penzu could be just what you need. Try it online: Penzu
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