Thursday, September 12, 2019

Apple : Slack launches Dark Mode and data residency

Apple : Slack launches Dark Mode and data residency

Slack launches Dark Mode and data residency

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 01:59 PM PDT

The popular workplace chat and collaboration software Slack is bringing a dark mode to its desktop version and the company also announced that it will bring data residency to the service later this year.

The software's new dark mode for desktop option is available across all platforms and Windows, macOS and Linux users can now make the switch from the service's traditional light theme. Slack has also enabled dark mode variants of the software's existing sidebar themes.

Accessibility product manager at Slack, George Zamfir explained why the company decided to add a dark mode to its desktop app after doing so for its mobile apps on iOS and Android, saying:

“Dark Mode is an important feature for lots of people. It’s helpful for working at night or in low-light, and we know many need it for accessibility reasons like visual impairments, migraines or other visual disorders.” 

Data residency

As businesses around the world have begun to use Slack for their internal communications, the company also released a blog post announcing a new data residency feature to help organizations have more control over their data.

Since Slack is based in the US, the majority of its data is stored there. However, teams in highly regulated sectors such as financial services, government and health care need to meet the requirements of GDPR and other data protection regulations which require them to keep their data in the country in which they operate.

Later this year when Slack's data residency feature launches, global teams will have more control over where their data is stored. Frankfurt, Germany will be the first data region available outside of the US though the company plans to add more regions later.

Existing Slack customers will also be able to move either their organization's or teams' data to new residency regions once the feature goes live.

Via The Verge

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The Apple Watch 5 needs sleep tracking, not an always-on display

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 12:26 PM PDT

Apple Watch Series 5 just got a radical new feature: an always-on display... which essentially makes it as useful as a hundred-year-old analog wrist watch. 

While this Apple Watch wearer is overjoyed that I no longer need to flex my wrist just to see the time, the addition of an official Apple sleep tracking, rumored in the lead up to the iPhone 11 launch event, would have been much more useful than a display that never turns off.

Why do we feel so strongly about it? Well, Apple Watch has established itself as the ultimate health accessory thanks to its comprehensive health-tracking sensors and metrics used during the day, but a sleep tracking feature built and supported by Apple would have given good reason to wear it 24 hours a day. 

Still, here we are years later and no official sleep tracking is available.

Why didn’t sleep tracking show up?

So why didn’t we get sleep tracking on the Apple Watch 5? There are no obvious answers. Third-party app developers for Apple Watch have been offering sleep tracking solutions for some time now, but they can’t quite provide the functionality and neat tricks Apple would be able to work directly into the watch. Many of the best smartwatch alternatives out there have added their own sleep tracking, so why not the premier watch from Apple? 

To give the company the benefit of the doubt, it’s better to get the sleep tracking feature exactly right before debuting something emitting false positives. If the company’s sleep tracking software feature isn’t ready or enough studies haven’t been performed to certify its efficacy, it would make sense that Apple cautiously held off on introducing a new area of health monitoring.

In terms of what we can glean, it’s possible that Apple thinks its claimed 18-hour battery life isn’t enough, but that shouldn’t be the determining factor here. Personally, I can report wearing a Series 4 watch for more than 12 hours a day, using cellular and exercise tracking and I still have more than 50% battery life remaining at the end of the day. If folks can’t remember to top up their watch enough to last through the night, it shouldn’t prevent users who can from benefiting from a new feature.

One theory is that Apple is trading the extra battery capacity for the always-on display. The battery life is good enough that the company opted to spend the extra capital on making the watch more...watch-like. I get the reasoning: Apple might not want to push it and risk the watch not lasting a full day for the average user, but it’s a shame both features couldn’t have been added.

Other smartwatches that have always-on displays have typically incorporated tricks like keeping watch faces mostly static and limiting the on-screen information when the wearable is inactive. In Apple’s case, the Series 5 always-on display switches to a minimal and darker watch face to turn off some pixels and conserve battery. 

But, it is also incorporating a new Low-Temperature Polysilicone and Oxide (LTPO) screen allowing for a dynamic refresh rate, as slow as 1Hz a second—down from the high of 60Hz per second. Unlike other competitors however, Apple Watch largely keeps the same watch face and information refreshed and visible while inactive. A hyper conservative attitude towards battery life is probably the reason we have yet to see sleep tracking.

So when will sleep tracking arrive?

Don’t fret, sleep tracking is still likely coming. If you still aren’t convinced that Apple is building the ultimate health accessory with its watch, you probably haven’t seen the tear-jerking video it showed at its event. It’s worth watching. The Apple Watch is first and foremost a device to monitor your health, and Apple has gone to great efforts to lead the way in this area, most recently through the addition of the ECG feature to check for irregular heartbeats like atrial fibrillation (AFib) in real-time.

Sleep tracking is the other side of the coin for Apple’s (daytime) health initiatives, but so far the Apple Watch isn’t ready to help people with the other third or quarter of their day—the time they spend sleeping.

There’s no way Apple ignores the feature of sleep tracking forever; rumors about the company investing in the idea go back as far as 2014. With the most recent rumors detailing several features tied to sleep tracking and even a code name for the feature being leaked—the code name is burrito, by the way—there’s even a chance that the feature could come before or at WWDC in June 2020. I might even bet it comes in a point release for watchOS 6.

Always being able to look down and see the time and information on your watch face is nice Apple Watch perk, but a sleep tracking feature could help the 50-70 million Americans who reported having chronic sleep and wakefulness disorders. Until Apple addresses it, it will remain a lingering feature ripe for the picking – one that Apple needs to pick.

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Voxi has brought back its best ever SIM only deals in this impressive flash sale

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 12:09 PM PDT

Whether it's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, social media has the tendency to tear through our mobile data. One minute you're sitting happy with 30GB and the next, you're completely out and three hours into a binge of Twitter scrolling. Luckily, a flash sale from the people at Voxi is here to help you out.

Boosting the data on its two most affordable plans, Voxi has pushed itself up to offer some of the best value SIM only deals on the market, temporarily. These offers come to an end on 30 September, giving you a limited time to get your hands on them.

To be exact, Voxi has upped its 6GB of data plan to 8GB and its 15GB up to 20GB. While that is an excellent boost to the offer, the value really comes in Voxi's 'Endless Social Media'.

Whether you're using Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram or a host of other social media apps, you won't use up any of your precious data. That leaves you with all of that extra data for emails, Googling and all the other less social tasks.

You can see both of Voxi's data boosted offers down below. Or, if 'Endless Social Media' doesn't sound like your kind of thing, consult our guide to the best SIM only deals.

Voxi's impressive SIM only deals:

What other SIM only deals are available?

While these offers are great, there is a load of other SIM only deals you can go for. Three has been ruling the SIMO world for a while now with some excellent value offers. For the cheaper option, Three has a 8GB of data SIM for just £9 a month. Or go with its unlimited data offer. It costs just £20 a month and for the first six months, you only pay half that price.

Finally, its closest competition - Smarty. You pay £18.75 a month for unlimited data and get the benefits of a 1-month rolling contract. And, you can tether your devices so you can use your unlimited data on your phone, tablet and computer.

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NordVPN Teams is a VPN solution for businesses

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 10:20 AM PDT

VPNs have grown increasingly popular among business users who work remotely and need to access company resources securely which is why NordVPN has announced that it is creating a new VPN solution dedicated to business clients.

NordVPN Teams will provide users with a full range of features aimed at ensuring advanced digital protection and convenience for SMBs, remote teams and freelancers. The company's CMO Marty P. Kamden explained what prompted its decision to create NordVPN Teams, saying:

“Even though NordVPN is recognized and awarded as one of the best VPN services, initially it was created for personal needs. However, the number of our business clients is growing every day, and we wanted to create a product that can better meet their needs and expectations. That’s how NordVPN Teams was born.” 

NordVPN Teams

NordVPN is known for being easy-to-use and the company plans to make its business VPN solution just as accessible with an emphasis on effective access management. A convenient control panel will allow business users to add team members, create user groups, manage team permissions, select default servers for their teams, assign dedicated gateways and more.

NordVPN Teams will also retain many of the best features of its consumer version including 256-bit military-grade encryption, a kill switch, CyberSec, automatic connection on Wi-Fi networks and the company's award-winning 24/7 customer support with a dedicated manager.

When the company's business VPN solution becomes generally available later this year, it will be available on all major platforms.

NordVPN Teams is currently in the closed beta stage but interested users can begin signing up for early access on the service's official website.

  • Also check out the best VPN services of 2019

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Best laptop games: 20 games for laptops that won't melt your machine

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 10:06 AM PDT

The best laptop games used to prioritize convenience over visual splendor, but with the best gaming laptops now touting the most powerful processors and graphics cards, there are plenty of opportunities to play the best PC games like Far Cry 5.

Not that you should discount some of the best indie games either, which over the last few years have been beautiful without relying on complicated graphics – note Cuphead. Especially if you’ve got one of the best laptops, as opposed to a gaming one. Plus, beloved classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic may look dated, but still make for some of the best laptop games thanks to stellar gameplay and stories (even if, regrettably, that particular game isn’t considered canon anymore).

The best laptop games on the market today range from tiny indie games you maybe haven’t heard of, like Thimbleweed Park, to wildly popular triple-A games along the lines of The Sims 4. Whatever your play style, schedule and hardware, we’re willing to bet you’ll find something on this list that you’ll enjoy. 

  • Once you're looking for something meatier, check out our best PC games
  • CPU: 2 GHz
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 3000 or better

Whether he’s at LucasArts, Double-Fine or here and now in a new indie studio, veteran developer Ron Gilbert is guaranteed to serve up a slice of veritable gaming gold. 

That tradition of flawless output continues with Thimbleweed Park, a pixel art point ‘n’ click adventure that harks back to the glory days of Maniac Mansion while weaving it together with a very modern eye for creativity.

It’s essentially a murder mystery graphic adventure, where FBI agents Reyes and Ray - who in no way resemble another famous pair of fictional, UFO-chasing member of the Bureau - arrive in a quiet town to investigate a murder most horrid. 

The way it weaves together a truly clever story and a cast of peculiar yet instantly unforgettable characters is something most games with far larger budgets miss completely. Is it a wonder why it tops our best laptop games list?

  • CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E8400, 3.0GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+, 3.0GHz or higher
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • GPU: Geforce 9600 GT or AMD HD 3870 512MB

You might be turned off by the daunting amount of challenge it poses, but we assure you, Cuphead is worth a shot. If you don’t already find its vibrant, whimsical art style charming, then maybe you’ll be convinced by some backstory of how it was made.

Cuphead is from indie developer Studio MDHR (short for Studio Moldenhauer), named after the two brothers who started the project, Chad and Jared Moldenhauer. In fact, the whole company consists of family members and friends who sought out to complete their dream project.

Marija Moldenhauer, Chad’s wife, did all of the inking and clean up in this hand-drawn ode to 2D platforming classics like Mega Man and 1930s Fleischer cartoons like Betty Boop. And, if the 19 bosses aren’t enough for you, Cuphead is getting a major DLC next year featuring new bosses, areas and a new playable character.

  • CPU: 2 Ghz
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • GPU: 256 mb video memory, shader model 3.0+

If you adore farming sims (and, considering how well the likes of Farming Simulator and Harvest Moon sell, there’s a few of you out there), then few games are going to get you jumping for agricultural joy more than the bewitching busywork of Stardew Valley. 

Taking cues from the Harvest Moon games, Stardew Valley's top-down point of view and cutesy characters feel blended together impeccably, making it one of the best laptop games right now.

It doesn’t sound very exciting, tending to fields, growing produce and raising livestock – but that’s the beauty of it. There’s a unique kind of peace to the mundanity of Stardew Valley’s minutia as you expand your farm, catch some fish down at the river and even head into the village to strike up friendships (and maybe something a little more) with a cast of NPCs. Farming has never been so much fun or addicting.

  • CPU: Intel i5 Quad-Core
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 4000

In a lot of ways, we’re inclined to describe Night in the Woods as Life is Strange meets Bojack Horseman. The interactive dialogue bits remind you of the the former while the overarching themes of coping with mental health issues rings true in the latter.

Night in The Woods itself was developed in Unity by Infinite Fall, the virtual studio where you’ll find coder and composer Alec Holowka and Twitter jokester slash illustrator and animator Scott Benson. Together, these two have crafted not just a game, but a stunning world full of relatable characters that you will hopefully resonate with.

You take the role of Mae, a cat who dropped out of college and recently returned to her hometown of Possum Springs. It’s an entirely narrative-driven game, as modern point-and-click adventure games are, with very few gameplay hooks that will keep your attention. So, if you’re into Telltale Games or Life is Strange, Night in the Woods may be the best laptop game for you.

Best of all, it will run pretty effortlessly on integrated graphics, given that it has an appealing, but not highly demanding, art style. Surely, this is a title we’ll be talking about for years and years to come, even if it was snubbed at The Game Awards.

  • CPU: 1.2GHz
  • RAM: 512 MB
  • GPU: DirectX 8-compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memory

You’d wonder whether Hotline Miami’s neon-drenched ultraviolence would exist if the film Drive had never been made, and while it’s hard to miss just how enthusiastically it doffs its bloody mask at the Gosling classic, the end result is an utterly brilliant little indie title and among the best laptop games to date.

With a pixel art conjuring that top-down look of Grand Theft Auto’s retro years, Hotline Miami indulges in its almost psychedelic violence. The concept is simple: don on a mask (each one is styled on an animal and adds is own buffs, debuffs and unique abilities), enter a stage and coat the walls with the blood of your enemies.

Add buckets of neon, a synth soundtrack that’ll have you sewing a scorpion onto the back of a white jacket in no time and one messed up storyline to the mix, and you’ve got a classic in its own right.

  • CPU: Intel Core i3-2100T @ 2.50 GHz / AMD Phenom II X3 B73
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4850 or NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

While it’s a 2018 title and has a decently massive following, your laptop’s integrated graphics can still handle Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. It has largely the same forgiving system requirements that its predecessor, so if you are a fan of that game, you should be able to immerse yourself in this best laptop game as well.

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire drops players in the Deadfire archipelago and tasks them with hunting down a rogue god. And, much like its predecessor, it boasts rich storytelling and deep RPG gameplay that harkens to the days of Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights.

Although all the backgrounds are in 2D and viewed from a top-down perspective, they’re still lovely to behold. Additionally, the myriad spell effects will keep you enchanted as you work your way through the intense and tactical combat.

And, because it's coming from Obsidian, a studio known for making the best RPGs of all time, you can be confident that you’re getting an adventure that’s worth every penny.  

  • CPU: 1.5 GHz Core2Duo
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • GPU: OpenGL 1.4 or better

If somebody told you a game about working in a border control office would be one of the most addictive games ever, would you scoff and walk off shaking your head?

Well, you might give a little indie gem by the name of Papers, Please a chance. Set in a fictional take on the Eastern Bloc, you’re an immigration clerk tasked with processing refugees from an unfriendly neighbouring nation.

The core concept is simple: check each person’s documents against a clear set of rules, process those who meet the requirements and detain those with false papers. 

The game is designed to test your attention to detail, as well as the strength of your moral compass. Sometimes you’ll have to decide if certain sympathetic characters should be granted asylum, even if it goes against the rules. 

The twist is good performance effectively feeds you family, while mistakes put their lives in danger. It’s dark, but engrossingly so.

  • CPU: Intel Pentium 3 1Ghz or AMD Athlon 1GHz
  • RAM: 256
  • GPU: 32 MB with Hardware T&L

Come on! Do you really need convincing to go out and get a copy of Knights Of The Old Republic? Arguably the greatest Star Wars game ever made (yes, even better than Dark Forces II and Rogue Squadron), KOTOR proved that the most recognisable lore ever could feel fresh and exciting again outside of the silver screen.

Hailing from Bioware, the Canadian studio that would go on to produce the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, KOTOR delivers compelling characters, intense action that mixes real-time tactics with turn-based mechanics a galaxy of stories that felt tangible and real. Sure, it’s technically not canon anymore, but it still remains one of the greatest games ever coded – not to mention, the among best laptop games. Get this in your collection now.

  • CPU: 2GHz+
  • RAM: 3 GB
  • GPU: 512MB

Part role-playing game, part bullet hell shooter, Undertale is a game like no other. The fact that this remarkable game is the work of one man is impressive, considering the depth of consequence developer Toby Fox has built into Undertale’s world.

In the small boots of a child who’s fallen into a monster-filled world underneath the earth where only the quick thinking survive, you’ll encounter vicious bosses.

The fact you can befriend bosses as well as battle them changes the fabric of the story, and shows that it’s not just NPCs that offer crucial moments of dialogue. It’s a game of empathetic reflection, where your actions dictate how a boss or monster reacts to you. 

Aggression leads to more powerful attacks against you, while avoiding retaliation will soften the blows. Strange and seductive in its own special way, Undertale is a curio definitely worth chasing and one of the best laptop games to play right now.

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64X2
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 100 series (512 Mb) or Radeon HD 3xxx or better

When it comes to CCGs (collectible card games), Hearthstone does a pretty impressive job of keeping you and your deck of animated cards entertained throughout - but what happens when you want something a little less innocuous? You give a CCG with a unique spin such as Chronicle: RuneScape Legends a gander.

Based on the classic lore of Runescape, Chronicle blends card-dealing with the 3D setup of a RPG. Cards represent real characters and enemies that appear across a 3D-rendered pop-up books. 

Cards are played consecutively, with player characters facing each one (ranging from foes to curses to stat buffs), before facing off against one another at the end. It’s bizarre, brilliant and categorically worth your time. 

Hey, it’s even got new single-player content when you don’t want to test your mettle against other users. Not bad for a low-spec CCG.

  • CPU: 2GHz
  • RAM: 1GB
  • GPU: Card with 128MB+ dedicated memory

FTL sounds like an ultra-hardcore game when you describe it: a real-time strategic space roguelike. A roguelike is a game that makes you start from scratch when you die. However, FTL is actually ideal for pretty casual laptop gaming. You can even get it for iPad, in fact.

You tool up your star ship, recruit your crew and do your best not to get annihilated as you take an important message from one end of the galaxy to the other. Screenshots don't really give FTL justice, as all you just see is a blocky graphic of your ship, not really its spacey surroundings.

However, it's the best laptop game for public play: nothing on-screen to make you feel too embarrassed or keep fellow passengers glued to your screen, if you play on train journeys.

  • CPU: dual-core 2GHz
  • RAM: 2GB
  • GPU: DirectX 9 compatible

Few games stay relevant as long as Skyrim. It should feel ancient and dated, but a mod scene has kept it relevant in the past half-decade. Being so old has also meant not as powerful hardware has been able to catch up with its real-life spec requirements.

It'll run pretty well on Intel Core-series processors from the last 2-3 years, and even plays pretty well on some recent Atom/Pentium CPUs on its lowest settings. If you have a real dog of a laptop, there's also a mod that'll cut down the settings even more than the game itself allows, called Ultra Low Graphics Mod. Imaginative naming.

It’s one of the best laptop games to date, and many agree – in case you've been locked in a cupboard for the past five years, Skyrim is an enormous open-world RPG that won countless 'game of the year' awards when it was released back in 2011.

  • CPU: 1.7GHz dual-core
  • RAM: 2GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 3000 or newer

Remember the game that earned millions and millions of dollars of funding on Kickstarter back when such things were unheard-of? That's Broken Age, the point 'n' click platform made by one of the people who came up with Monkey Island back in the 90s.

It didn't exactly and single-handedly revive the genre. However, it’s still a fun tale that is nowhere near as frustrating as most of the early 90s exploits, most of which are best viewed through a pair of rose-tinted nostalgia specs. From a distance.

You play as both male and female characters, skipping between chapters in their respective stories to make sure the narrative doesn't get stale. We're steering clear of spoilers, so we'll let you discover it on your own.

  • CPU: 1.7GHz
  • RAM: 512MB
  • GPU: DX 8.1 compatible card

You might head straight for 2D games when you think of games that'll work with pretty modest hardware. However, some once-fancy 3D games work very well with non-gaming laptops. Valve's Source engine is especially good at working with less powerful GPUs, making classics like Half-life 2 play beautifully on modern integrated graphics hardware.

If you're not up for a thinking person's FPS like Half-Life 2, you might want to check out fantastic first-person puzzler Portal 2 instead. It is also based on the Source engine. Portal 2 takes the portal gun from Half-Life 2, which makes teleporting holes in walls, and makes a whole game out of it. It’s possibly one of the best games of all time, actually, and of course, of course among the best laptop games ever.

  • CPU: Intel Pentium D
  • RAM: 2GB
  • GPU: Intel HD

It's easy to think of Minecraft as retro in some way, but it's actually far more innovative than some of the nay-saying haters would have you believe. It is not just for kids, either. Try it, you might just like it.

This world-building classic was never out to wow audiences with its Crysis-style graphics, but its highly scalable visuals let you tweak Minecraft to suit any machine. As well as being able to experiment with the draw distance and the few visual effects the game uses, you can change the field of view as well.

Minecraft is also best-suited for laptop gaming, as you don't need to be very accurate with your cursor. This is handy if you're using a trackpad rather than a mouse.

  • CPU: 1.6GHz
  • RAM: 1GB
  • GPU: x1950 Pro, 7900 gt

Take 90s platform stylings, add a roguelike twist, a thoroughly modern random level generator and a few RPG sprinkles to the mix, and you have Rogue Legacy. It's one of the most addictive indie games of the last decade – not to mention, one of the best laptop games.

You play as a knight type, leaping right into a castle full of nasties. When you die, and you will die, you return as one of that warrior's descendants. The castle will be different, as will the class of your character. While you have to start from scratch every time, you can unlock bonuses by collecting gold from chests in the castle.

This is the bit that makes it more accessible than a true roguelike game, where you really have to start from square one when you die.

  • CPU: 2GHz
  • RAM: 1GB
  • GPU: Nvidia HD 4450

Don't Starve is an outrageous little game where you wander around in a slightly twisted nightmarish world, exploring and picking up supplies to try to survive, day by day. When the sun goes down, awful creatures start prowling in the shadows. If you don't build a fire, you're a goner.

You also have to eat to keep yourself healthy, and even your mental health deteriorates if you don't find out ways to pep yourself up.

There are some nice visual effects in Don’t Starve, but as a predominantly 2D near-top-down game, it's happy to work with all but the lowest powered laptops.

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
  • RAM: 2GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 1000

If you don't mind risking addiction in your laptop gaming, Hearthstone is a title not to miss. It is a little like nerd classic card battler game (and also video game) Magic: The Gathering, but much better-suited to quick, casual play.

Like many other modern casual games, however, you'll probably end up playing for a lot longer than five minutes. And it feels even more "right" on a laptop than a bulky desktop.

It's a Valve game and, like most Valve titles, fares extremely well on lower-end hardware. It officially supports the Intel HD 1000 integrated GPU, from way back in the Sandy Bridge generation half a decade ago.

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
  • RAM: 2GB
  • GPU: Intel HD

Is Civilization the ultimate "PC" game? Many of us have spent a handful of full days working through Civilization's virtual recap of the ages of man, whether it was back in the 90s, or just last week. Civilization V has more of the casual vibe that previous Civ games, but that makes it more palatable if you're looking for something to kill 30 mins, rather than 3 hours.

It'll work on almost any Intel Core series laptop from the past five years, but if you find yours still isn't up to the task, don't forget Civilization IV. Despite being ancient, it still works fine on Windows 10 through Steam.

  • CPU: Core 2 Duo
  • RAM: 2GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 3000

EA gets a lot of flak. It was rated as the most hated company in America two years in a row, after all. However, it doesn't half know how to court a big audience. And that means making sure games like The Sims 4 work on just about everything.

This infamous lifestyle sim even has a "laptop" mode designed for systems that can barely make it through the title screen of The Witcher 3. The game itself is very much business as usual: you slog through a virtual life, making bucks and designing living rooms. Or doing your best to torture some poor virtual peon by locking them in an inescapable toilet.

Other less casual EA games that work incredibly well on most laptops include Dead Space 1-3 and Dragon Age: Origins.

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iPhone through the ages: just how much has it changed?

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 09:59 AM PDT

With the launch of the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, let's look back over the twelve years of iPhone products to see just how much they've changed.

It was January 9 2007 when Steve Jobs took to the stage of the Moscone Center in San Francisco to announce the arrival of the iPhone, which went on sale on June 29 of the same year. That's a dozen years ago!

If you find it difficult to remember that far back, people were flocking to the cinema to get teary-eyed at Will Smith in The Pursuit Of Happyness, and rocking out to Beyonce's Irreplaceable.

While our pop music and movie choices may not have changed much, smartphones were elevated forever: from that point on, touchscreens, apps and digital media were the way forward.

The next big landmark is the iPhone journey is near, with the next three iPhones (which we're expecting to be called the iPhone 11, iPhone 11R and iPhone 11 Max), about to be announced. We're also expecting to see the Apple Watch 5, iOS 13, watchOS 6, iPadOS, and perhaps even more.

Click on through to see every version of the iPhone from the first eleven years.

Launched: June 2007 (US), November 2007 (UK)

Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone as three devices in one: a touchscreen iPod, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a truly mobile web browser.

Now we take touchscreens, digital media playback and web access for granted, but in 2007 the iPhone was unlike anything that had appeared before. Its 3.5-inch screen had a 320 x 480 pixel reoslution (one of the best displays of the time), with a 2MP camera built in, and up to 8GB of storage.

Third-party apps were not yet allowed on "iPhone OS". In the TechRadar review, we noted that despite several shortcomings, the phone had "changed the mobile device landscape… multitouch will prove to be a model for interfaces in the future".

Launched: July 2008

High-speed connectivity was big news in 2008, which is why the second generation iPhone included 3G in its moniker (rather confusingly, as this was the second generation iPhone). It also brought with it a thinner shape, a plastic back and – crucially – support for the newly launched App Store.

The app store model worked so well you'll now find it replicated in everything from your smart TV to your Windows 8 laptop, and the change helped Apple's phone really start to gain traction.

We said in our iPhone 3G review that buyers would be "amazed by the function and feel of this handset". The iPhone era had begun in earnest.

Launched: June 2009

The iPhone 3GS upgrade was viewed as disappointingly minor at the time, but look at the detail and a different picture emerges: as well as faster performance, the new handset offered a better 3.2MP camera (that could now record video as well as take photos), extra storage options and voice control (the precursor to Siri).

The display was the same 3.5-inch 320 x 480 screen, and the device's appearance remained largely unchanged from the 3G model. TechRadar's take on the unit praised the multimedia and internet capabilities, while still finding niggles with the camera, call quality and battery life – this was the first of the more iterative updates to the iPhone, but did enough to keep users happy.

Launched: June 2010

If the 3GS was a minor upgrade, the iPhone 4 was a serious step up – a new, flat design with an integrated antenna (although questions were raised about how you held the device), a high-resolution Retina display (640 x 960 pixels) that showed the rest of the world how it was done and a superior 5MP camera (featuring HD video recording), on top of internal performance improvements.

The competition was catching up, and Apple had responded in brilliant fashion. We were certainly impressed, despite some reservations about the high price, saying "It's intriguing to see record-breaking numbers queuing up to pick up this device – but after playing with it for a few days, you can see why."

Launched: October 2011

Apple pulled out the "S" tag again for the fifth generation handset, indicating a minor upgrade rather than a major overhaul.

The design of the iPhone 4S was the same, but inside was Apple's new A5 processor, vastly improved graphics capabilities and an 8MP camera with 1080p video recording. iOS was evolving at the same rate as the hardware, of course, and Siri began life as an iPhone 4S exclusive.

The improvements were enough to persuade us to describe it as "the best thing Apple has ever created" in the official TechRadar review.

Launched: September 2012

After six handsets, Apple finally decided it was time to tweak the iPhone's screen size and aspect ratio.

Coming in at 20% lighter than its predecessor, the 2012 iPhone adopted a 4-inch screen, running at 640 x 1136 pixels.

Otherwise, despite the usual speed bump and a stronger antenna, it was very much business as usual in terms of the design and capabilities.

Our biggest gripe in our iPhone 5 review was with the aging iOS, but with iOS 7 arriving on September 18 that issue is very much negated, which will please a number of iPhone 5 users who've been holding onto the handset for nearly a year.

Launched: September 2013

The big step in the seventh stage of the iPhone's evolution was the arrival of the iPhone 5C, a slightly cheaper, plastic-backed model to help battle Android in the busy mobile middle market. The signs were there already – remember Apple kept the iPhone 4 and 4S on sale during the iPhone 5 era.

Apart from the plastic shell and larger battery, though, the iPhone 5C was, in terms of specs, a carbon copy of the iPhone 5 – which was retired to make way for the two new handsets.

As for the flagship iPhone 5S, it was a case of under-the-hood improvements again: more power, a better camera, and a fancy fingerprint reader hidden under the home button. The bigger changes arrived with iOS 7, the most radical revamp of the mobile operating system since the App Store arrived back in 2008.

Launched: September 2014

After the smaller changes that came with the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, Apple was back to its revolutionary best with the following generation, as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus brought the biggest alterations in design and features since the leap from the iPhone 4S to the iPhone 5.

The most striking change the eighth generation iPhones ushered in was undoubtedly the screen size, with the iPhone 6's display leaping from the iPhone 5's 4 inches to 4.7 inches. Apple also upped the resolution from the 1136 x 640 of previous iPhones to 1334 x 750. This meant that the larger screen still had a high pixel density of 326ppi (pixels per inch), so image quality was incredibly sharp and detailed.

As the name suggests, the iPhone 6 Plus went even larger, with a whopping 5.5-inch display, marking Apple's first foray into the phablet market. The iPhone 6 Plus also got a resolution boost to full high definition, 1920 x 1080. With a pixel density of 401ppi, not only does the iPhone 6 Plus have the largest screen of any iPhone ever, but it also has the clearest.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus also benefit from Apple's use of "dual-domain pixels", which along with the 1300:1 contrast ratio makes the screen on the handsets look absolutely fantastic.

Both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus also ditched the industrial and sharp-edged design that had been with the iPhone for four generations, in favour of a more ergonomically-pleasing chassis with a screen that curves into a body with rounded edges and corners.

Both handsets feature metal backs, and as we pointed out in our reviews, they take a lot of design language from the iPad Air, resulting in a product that looks and feels genuinely premium.

Another big change is that the boosted screen sizes and the corresponding increase in body dimensions have meant that the power button now resides on the right-hand side of the devices.

Along with the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Apple, released iOS 8, which kept many of the flat aesthetics of iOS 7 and ushered in some neat new features.

It wasn't a completely smooth launch, however, and after only a few months Apple has already patched it to iOS 8.1.3 in a bid to squash bugs and fix problems.

The rocky launch of iOS 8 was in stark contrast to the assured releases of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, with Apple proudly announcing that the two iPhones broke the company's records for pre-orders in the first night they were available.

Launched: September 2015

Say hello to the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. So what can you expect from Apple's ninth generation smartphone? As the names suggest the 6S and 6S Plus don't exactly ring the changes. Rather they build on the solid base provided by the 6 and 6 Plus from 2014.

The keep the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays, with the same resolutions, and there's nothing new in the design department with Apple sticking with the well received look of its eighth generation devices. There is however a new color, with rose gold joining silver, gold and space grey. Lovely.

Both still sport all metal bodies, but they're now formed from 7000 series aluminum, which Apple says is super tough.

There is a new power unit under the hood, with Apple's new A9 chip boosting performance, while the rear facing camera is now an impressive 12MP offering with a new Live Photo feature which can capture a few seconds of video with each snap.

The big talking point here though is Apple's new 3D Touch technology. This allows the display on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus to monitor how much pressure you're applying to it.

With the ability to measure the force of your finger, the new iPhones can provide additional functionality. Peek at content without the screen it's embedded in by lightly pressing on it, and press firmly to open it in a separate window.

Launched: March 2016

The latest cheaper release from Apple is the iPhone SE, which takes a lot of features from the iPhone 5S and brought them into a phone ready to face the market of 2016.

It's the perfect choice for you if you're looking for a smaller iPhone as it comes with a 4-inch screen. The body looks much like the iPhone 5S and while the design may seem a little tired, it still feels premium to the touch.

Plus the iPhone SE comes with a 12MP rear-facing camera, a 64GB storage option and iOS 9 software.

The screen technology on the iPhone SE is a little out of date but the iPhone SE is the cheapest Apple phone you can buy right now and it offers up a better battery life than any other iPhone you can buy today.

Launched: September 2016

Next up is the Seven Brothers from Apple - the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. Launched in September 2016, the iPhone 7 Plus  received 4.5 stars out of 5 in the TechRadar review (although the 7 was a little less impressive).

We praised the camera on both of these devices, especially the iPhone 7 Plus, as that comes with a telephoto lens which allows you to take 2x lossless optical zoom photos with ease. 

The iPhone 7 still has a great shooter though, with fantastic low light skills and one of the best point and shoot rear cameras on the market.

This is also the time Apple embraced waterproof phone tech. Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus come with IP67 ratings, which means you can submerge your phone in water for a few minutes or more without worrying about it getting damaged.

Perhaps the biggest headline of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus is the fact the company has said goodbye to the 3.5mm headphone jack. Apple called the decision "courageous" to lose the legacy tech, but many have been disappointed the company has ditched it.

Launched: September 2017

No you've not missed a slide, the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus simply do not exist. Instead, Apple offered us the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus during its September 12, 2017 launch event at its brand new Cupertino, California HQ.

Don't let the lack of the 'S' suffix fool you though, as these two new iPhones look incredibly similar to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus they replace - it's another incremental upgrade (but Apple did have something rather special alongside these two - move to the next slide to learn more!).

Back to the iPhone 8 handsets though, and this time around you get an all glass rear, which in turn has brought wireless charging to both phones while the screen has been improved color wise, but still has the same resolution as predecessors.

The rear facing 12MP camera on the iPhone 8 has also been improved, as has the dual snapper on the back of the iPhone 8 Plus, giving you brighter, clearer and more colorful snaps.

Both phones also benefit from Apple's brand new A11 Bionic processor and upgraded GPU, ensuring there's plenty of grunt under the hood.

Launched: September 2017

The iPhone X was the phone that stole the show in 2017, pushing aside the incremental upgrades that are the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and dazzling Apple fans around the world with a bold new look.

TechRadar's own Gareth Beavis went as far to say the iPhone X is "the most important iPhone ever launched" - no pressure then.

The main event was the bezeless 5.8-inch Super Retina HD display, packing in 2436 x 1125 resolution for a 458ppi pixel density. 

It was the first iPhone ever to use an OLED display, meaning it packed a more powerful punch, and it led to another iPhone first too.

The iPhone X does not have a home button. Repeat, the iPhone X does not have a home button.

Apple ditched the physical key in favor of a swipe up gesture from the bottom of the screen, while the fingerprint scanning Touch ID tech was also been kicked to the kerb.

In its place is Face ID, a facial scanner technology that accurately maps your face and - Apple claims - is much more secure than Touch ID.

All this comes at a cost - and the iPhone X was the most expensive iPhone ever when it launched, starting at an eye-watering $999, £999, AU$1,579.

Launched: September 2018

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launched in 2018 as the then-leading smartphone duo to grace Apple's illustrious range.

The iPhone XS features merely incremental upgrades over the iPhone X, with improved rear cameras, a new gold finish and more power under the hood.

Meanwhile the iPhone XS Max is a next leap forward for Apple, offering up a massive 6.5-inch display as well as the same upgrades as the XS.

If you fancy getting hold of either of these handsets though, be prepared to pay. The iPhone XS inherits the starting price of the iPhone X, while the iPhone XS Max price is even loftier.

Launched: September 2018

The iPhone XR arrived at the same launch event as the iPhone XS and XS Max, but offers something a little different.

It sits in a slightly odd position, as the 'entry-level' device of Apple's new trio and thus, logically, taking over the mantel from the iPhone 8. However, it has a much larger screen, no home button or Touch ID and includes Face ID.

It's certainly cheaper than the XS duo, but perhaps the iPhone XR price isn't quite as low as some where hoping for in the build up to launch when rumors suggested an affordable iPhone was on the cards.

 Launched: September 2019

The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are the latest and greatest Apple phones, which expanded their rear camera suite to a third ultrawide lens. Both have new matte glass finishes on the back cover, which don’t hold fingerprints, and the front display is a new ‘Super Retina XDR’ screen.

But otherwise, not much has changed - including, sadly, the retention of the notch on the front display. Both come in a new color, Midnight Green, in addition to gray, silver and gold. 

The iPhone 11 Pro is an upgrade on the iPhone XS, featuring the same 5.8-inch screen and size. It’s the smallest of Apple’s flagship phones, and will use the extra lens to great effect with the refined camera app, which smoothly transitions between near and far photography. It also gets 4 more hours of battery life than its predecessor, Apple claims.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max, aside from a more confusing nomenclature, has the same size and 6.5-inch display as the iPhone XS Max. As with its predecessor, there’s nothing terribly different, though the new version gets 5 hours more battery life than the older one.

 Launched: September 2019

Rather than wait another month as it did with the iPhone XR, Apple has come out swinging with this year’s budget flagship, announcing the iPhone 11 on the same day as its pricier siblings, the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

The iPhone 11 - rebranded as the ‘standard’ version, at least in nomenclature - adds a second ultrawide lens, which is a big improvement for its rear camera suite over its predecessor. 

The new phone cuts similar corners as the iPhone XR to be more affordable, like having an LCD display, one fewer lens, and being thicker than the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. But Apple has managed to make it even cheaper than the XR on launch day, making the iPhone 11 the cheapest Apple flagship since the iPhone 8.

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Fury vs Wallin live stream: how to watch the boxing online from anywhere on Saturday

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 09:58 AM PDT

With his career back on track, Tyson Fury looks to his extend his undefeated record against Sweden's Otto Wallin this weekend. The showdown is all set for the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and you can live stream Fury vs Schwarz as it happens - and no matter where you are - by following this guide.

This unorthodox boxing style and showmanship means that any Fury fight is going to be just about unmissable.

It's been just three months since the Gypsy King's last fight on US soil, following his impressive, quick-fire win over Tom Schwarz back in June.

Fury will ultimately see Saturday's showdown with Otto Wallin as another stepping stone towards a much wanted rematch against Deontay Wilder following his controversial split-decision defeat against the WBC World Champion back in December. The 31-year-old English fighter has his own WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title on the line against Wallin, but will be rightly expecting a quick dispatch of his Swedish opponent.

For his part, Wallin will be looking to become the first Swedish world champion since 1959. With an unblemished record of 13 knockouts in a 20-fight career, the 31-year-old will be hoping to overcome a five inch height difference and limited top-rank fighting experience to pull off a shock that would rival Andy Ruiz’s win over Anthony Joshua earlier in the year.

You can live stream Tyson Fury vs Otto Wallin anywhere in the world using the guide below - check out your options for a fight you won't want to miss. The cost varies quite a lot over the world, with the UK hosting an expensive PPV that's undercut massively in the US by ESPN+.

Live stream Tyson Fury vs Otto Wallin from outside your country

If you've been looking forward to this fight and already know where to watch, your plans may be scuppered if you're out of the country when it's on. That's because broadcasters geo-block their coverage if you try to watch from abroad.

But there's a clever workaround for this, which is perfectly legal (assuming the broadcaster's Ts&Cs allow it) and it involves using a piece of software called a VPN - better that than trying to get some dodgy stream from Reddit.

How watch the Tyson Fury fight in the UK

Live stream Tyson Fury vs Otto Wallin in the US

How to watch Fury vs Wallin: Australia stream

At the time of writing, we can't see any evidence that the Tyson Fury vs Otto Wallin fight will be shown at all. As a last resort, we suppose you could try downloading a VPN service and then signing up for an option from another country. We'll be sure to update this section if we hear anything differently.

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Best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti: which version is best for your PC?

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 09:51 AM PDT

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is, without a doubt, the best graphics card for anyone who is looking for an affordable graphics card that doesn’t compromise on performance. If you’ve been in the market for an Nvidia Turing card that fits your limited budget, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is exactly what you’ve been looking for..

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is able to hit that sweet price-to-performance spot by taking the RT and Tensor cores that power Nvidia’s new RTX and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technologies out of the equation. Though, rest assured, that despite missing these extra features, the GTX 1660 Ti is still such a great performing card that’s made even better by its affordability. 

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the best budget Nvidia graphics card on the market currently – even if the GTX 1660 does an admirable job of trying to give it a run for its money. With this new focus on value, it’s easy to see why its growing faster than other Nvidia Turing cards.

Unlike past Nvidia releases, Team Green didn’t roll this one out with its own Founders Edition of the GTX 1660 Ti. So, without this base model to set the stage for what we could expect from third-party cards, there’s a wide variety of cards going for varying prices.

It’s for this reason that we went ahead and found all the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti models you can buy today. Rest assured, not only will you be saving a lot of money, but you’re also getting your money’s worth.

PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC


The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC may not look like much, being tiny and all, but take our word for it: it packs a punch. Rocking a 70MHz factory overclock and solid specs, this card delivers the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps. That’s pretty remarkable. Better yet, all of this performance will set you back less than 300 smackers. This is the one of the best bang-for-your-buck graphics cards you’ll find available right now.

Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC 

Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC


If you’re seeking to max out the performance of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, on the other hand, then the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC is your best bet. It might just be the card for you, especially considering that it boasts the highest factory overclock we’ve seen on this mid-range graphics card yet. In addition, its enormous heatsink and triple axial fans keep this card running a full 10C cooler than most of its competitors. Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking this card is a non-issue.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC review 

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC


Prefer an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 card that’s more middle of the road? The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC is the closest thing to your average GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. The downside is that it’s only packed with a middle-of-the-road dual-fan cooler. On the upside, Gigabyte offsets that by employing 3D molded curves on the fan blades for even more effective airflow. The graphics card’s fans also spin in alternate directions, further improving airflow. Rounding it out is a 1,845MHz boost clock. This card, without a doubt, delivers more performance for not much more cash.

Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC


On top of being one of the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti available, Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC is one of the most compact graphics cards ever built, designed to fit in the smallest of PC cases. But don’t let the small size fool you: this graphics card still packs all the might of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti and then some, with a factory set 1,815MHz boost clock. Best of all, you won’t have to pay extra for this mini GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, so it will save you a lot of cash as well.

MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G


Just because you’re gaming with a mid-range card doesn’t mean you can’t also be trendy. If you’re building a cool-looking and immersive gaming rig, the MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch, with a stylish aesthetic and fully programmable RGB lighting. This means that you can personalize how it glows in sync with an MSI motherboard, enhancing your gaming experience. It isn’t just all looks either; this card also delivers a solid performance as well as a Twin Frozr cooler to keep things chilled.

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Best laptop for DJs 2019: The best laptops for music production

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 09:49 AM PDT

Using the best laptop for music production packed right next to your headphones is crucial, if you’re a musician or a professional DJ. You’ll required one of the best processors – not to mention, plenty of fast RAM – as these will allow the best laptop for music production to handle multiple music tracks. A fast and capacious SSD, hard drive or both are important as well, since you’ll be dealing with massive file sizes. 

In addition, if you’re frequently on the road touring, you’ll want a laptop that can handle a beating or two. You probably won’t need to go all out and pick up one of the best rugged laptops, but you should look for a device that won’t fall apart if you so much as look at it the wrong way. And, while we’re on the subject of mobility, a thin and light Ultrabook will keep you packing light while on the road.

The MacBook Pro may be the default for most musicians, but that’s not to say that the best laptop for music production for you might run Windows 10 instead.

To simplify your search for the best laptop for music composition, we went ahead and included our exclusive price comparison tool, so you can quickly spot the best deal for your budget. If you want to see a more comprehensive list of prices and retailers, just click the ‘see all prices’ button on each widget.

The best laptops for music production and DJs:

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)

Image Credit: Apple

For years, the MacBook Pro has been the go-to laptop for musicians all over the world, and its 2019 refresh follows in its footsteps, fitting the bill even more. As long as you can justify the price of entry, the MacBook Pro is the best laptop for music production… especially if you’re invested in the macOS ecosystem. With its 9th-generation Intel Core chips and up to 32GB of RAM, you’re going to be able to load up as many tracks as you want in Logic Pro X without crippling your laptop or suffering slowdowns. It’s also unexpectedly durable – you don’t need to worry about things bumping into it in your tour bag, as Apple has designed their MacBooks with a robust aluminum chassis that can survive hard falls and bangs.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, mid-2018)

Surface Pro 6

Image Credit: Microsoft

If you want the best laptop for music production to also double as a Windows tablet for light gaming and movie watching in your downtime, the Surface Pro 6 should be at the top of your list. Not only does this laptop alternative rock powerful hardware ideal for music production, but it has a stunning display as well – not to mention, a number of legacy ports for connecting your equipment. It might be lacking USB-C and Thunderbolt 3, but if you’re just in it for music production, that shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Read the full review: Surface Pro 6

Dell XPS 13 (2018)

Image Credit: Dell

The Dell XPS 13 has been one of the best laptops money can buy for a few years running now, and the newly-released 2019 version is no different. For aspiring music producers, the XPS’ move to an 8th-generation Intel Core chips should be appealing, as it will cut the time it takes to process tracks, making your creative process more streamlined and giving you more time to do other stuff. Better yet, the 1TB storage drive option is back so you’ll have more storage space than ever to save your large files in.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

Surface Laptop 2

Image Credit: Microsoft

With all the 2-in-1 laptops that switch into a tablet and is rich with features you might not use, sometimes a more traditional Windows 10 laptop is best for what you need. If you’re a fan of the Surface devices, you’ll be happy to know that Microsoft has rolled out the Surface Laptop 2, one of the best laptops in its lineup. Not only does this best laptop for music production feature a quad-core processor and plenty of memory, but it also has a beautiful touch display and most of the ports you need – even if it’s missing Thunderbolt 3. As long as you don’t need Logic Pro X, you really can’t go wrong with the Surface Laptop 2.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2

MacBook Air (2018)

Image Credit: Apple

The recently refreshed MacBook Air brings Apple’s thin and light mainstream laptop into the modern age, what with a sleek aluminum build, a Retina display and an actual modern processor. This all makes for the best laptop for music production if you would like to stick with macOS while saving some money. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to invest in a couple of dongles, as the two Thunderbolt 3 ports aren’t compatible with a lot of music equipment. 

Read the full review: MacBook Air (2019)

Image Credit: Dell

On the other hand, if you require a larger and more powerful laptop for running music production software on, the Dell XPS 15 might just be ideal for you. Swaggering the same InfinityEdge technology as the smaller XPS 13, the screen extends right to the edge of the machine. This means that it's as small as it's possible to make a 15-inch laptop. It's expensive, depending on which version you get, but the very top end version has a 4K color-accurate display that can offer you a brilliant overview of all the tracks you're working on.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15

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Best wireless routers 2019: the best routers for your home network

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 09:38 AM PDT

Contrary to what most people think, having one of the best wireless routers in your home is actually very essential. Whether you’re using your WiFi connection for work, gaming or simply connecting with friends and streaming videos, our computer lives exist almost entirely online, and having a less than stellar router can really hold you back.

You don’t want to deal with persistent buffering when you’re enjoying your favorite programs on Netflix, or to not be at your full potential when playing the best PC games. While your first impulse might be to call up your internet provider or upgrade your service, consider picking up one of the best wireless routers instead. After all, the fast the internet service won’t do you any good if your wireless router can’t keep up.

You’ll want to get one of the best wireless routers you can get your hands on. However, that might mean different things to different people. The best router might look like the most cutting edge wireless mesh router pumping signal into every corner of the house or it might look like an epic gaming router providing the signal. It might even mean upcoming Wi-Fi 6 capabilities that may make this list in the near future.

So if you’re looking for the best wireless routers on the market right now, you should keep a couple things in mind. MU-MIMO is a must for anyone with multiple devices, and considering that most homes will have multiple people with multiple devices, that’s probably everyone on the market for the best wireless routers. Check out the speed rating of the router as well – a rated speed of AC1900 should cover all your bases.

There are so many wireless routers to choose from, hundreds in fact, that getting the one that does everything you need might not be easy. To lend you a hand, we’ve collected the best wireless routers we’ve tested recently so you’re guaranteed to get a quality router, possibly the best wireless router for your home and your needs.

Google Wifi

The days of traditional wireless routers are almost at their end – the age of the wireless mesh routers is nigh. Google Wifi, alone, is proof that the mesh revolution is coming, so you can finally say adieu to the days when the only way to achieve wireless freedom was to install a bunch of wireless extenders. The idea of Google Wifi is simple – buy a set of points and position them in strategic places around your home. Then, just scan a QR code, and you’re all set. It’s no fluke that this wireless mesh router tops our best routers list of 2019, as it’s also the one that’s simplest to set up and get going.

Read the full review: Google Wifi

Asus RT-AC86U

If you’re familiar with Asus, especially its gaming products, then you probably have a good idea of what you’re getting with the Asus RT-AC86U. This wireless router may look like the lovechild of Doritos and Mountain Dew, if they spent a night together in a router manufacturing machine. But inside that gaudy gamer-centric design is a piece of hardware that, for its price, effortlessly outperforms almost all the wireless routers on the market. You’re also not paying a premium here for a gaming device, so if you’re in the market for a high-speed connection with a sensible price tag, the Asus RT-AC86U is your best bet.

Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U 

Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23

When the Netgear Orbi came out, it reshaped the wireless router scene. Then, in 2019, Netgear unleashed the Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23, an inexpensive option for casual users who don’t have a stately manor to cover. This makes it a worthy contender for the best wireless routers. Sure, it comes with fewer antennae and ethernet ports than its higher end counterpart, but it does deliver more than enough to provide very solid network coverage. In addition, the small form factor means that it will no issues blending in­ – not that you will feel the need to hide it.

Read the full review: Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23 

Samsung Connect Home

Now that smart homes are fast becoming standard, more and more folks need wireless routers that also moonlight as smart home hubs. This doesn’t only make things much more convenient, but it also reduces all the clutter created by having several routers, modems and hubs scattered around your home. The Samsung Connect Home isn’t the most feature-rich wireless router out there today, but it can categorically hold its own against the Google Wi-Fi, while also packing in the SmartThings hub. It’s still clearly one of the best wireless routers – especially if your home is filled with smart devices.

Read the full review: Samsung Connect Home

  • This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Google Wifi. 

TP-Link Archer C5400 v2

Are you in the market for one of the best wireless routers of 2019 with a quirky aesthetic to boot? If a ‘90s-inspired sci-fi design sounds like what you’re looking for, then the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 might be the fantastic wireless router for you. It’s not exactly the most modern-looking mesh router; however, it’s unique in that it can bridge consumer and enterprise users by offering high-end functionality at a sensible price point and with a relaxed setup. It’s odd looking, yes; but if you’re combing the market for a wireless router that can cover a mid-sized home, you can’t go wrong with this.

Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400 v2

Netgear Orbi Pro

If you need to bring your office’s networking into the modern age with one of the best routers of 2019, then you should seriously consider the Netgear Orbi Pro as one of your top options. It’s a modular Wi-Fi mesh router that takes some design and performance cues from its business-grade rivals. It’s on the more pricey side, but if you’re running a business where you cannot afford any slowdowns due to poor Wi-Fi, then it’s absolutely worth every dime.

Read the full review: Netgear Orbi Pro

TP-Link Deco M9

The market is now inundated with wireless mesh routers, but it’s hard to complain when the level of coverage these wireless routers deliver tops anything we’ve seen in the past. With devices like the TP-Link Deco M9, one of the best routers of 2019, we can see how they’re only getting better and better. By integrating IoT smart home support, on top of industry standard speeds and coverage, the TP-Link Deco M9 is, unquestionably, a brilliant choice for a smart home supporter. Fair warning, it is a little expensive. However, you’re also getting all these features and an excellent performance in exchange.

Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M9

D-Link Covr-C1203

Eager to jump on the mesh wireless router bandwagon without going broke? You’re in luck with the inexpensive D-Link Covr C1203. It’s among the best wireless routers for you, if you want to upgrade and save all at once. Not only does it offer comparable coverage to that of the Google Wifi while being affordable, but it also looks futuristic in a good way. It’s a slightly slower than Google’s legendary router, but it will still be fast enough for the typical user. It’s no wonder why the D-Link Covr C1203 gets our vote as one of the best wireless routers of 2019.

Read the full review: D-Link Covr-C1203 

Eero Home Wi-Fi System

If you’re shopping around for a wireless mesh router that offers you a lot of control over your network, then the Eero Home Wi-Fi system might just be the ticket. It’s got a premium price higher than that of your standard router, but it gives users complete control over their network, while still boasting a secure connection through AI. Even better, the Eero Home Wi-Fi System comes with subscriptions to 1Password, MalwareBytes and Encrypt.me VPN, which should give everyone linked to your network a very secure connection. 

Read the full review: Eero Home Wi-Fi System 

Amplifi HD

The Amplifi HD is one of the priciest wireless routers on this list. Yet, because of its clean, modern aesthetic, it’s found a loyal audience without issue. While the design doesn’t exactly top everyone’s priorities when choosing the best router for them, it does help encourage users to install and show them off it in central locations that will help boost the router’s signal. This wireless router swaggers with excellent performance and a smart design to match, as long as you’re willing to shell out a bit more than necessary.

Read the full review: Amplifi HD 

Joe Osborne, Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

Images Credit: TechRadar

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best free games 2019: the top free games to download on PC

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 09:30 AM PDT

The best free games give you the perfect escape from the stresses of daily life, perhaps after a long day’s work, without having to spend a dime.

Everyone loves free stuff, after all, and that’s no different when it comes to the best PC games. It’s a good thing that there’s an abundance of fun free games available right now on PC to occupy your time. Since free-to-play titles are a massive hit, you should be able to nab the best free games 2019 saw released from Steam, GOG and even (brace yourself) EA’s Origin client. You can even get some premium indie games for free every few weeks through the Epic Games Store app.

From free-to-play Battle Royale games like Fortnite to online CCGs like Hearthstone, the best free games cover a wide range of genres and styles. We’ve put the most popular titles through their paces, and handpicked the best free games 2019 has on offer so you can try them on for size.

 Linux, Windows or Mac - which one is best for you? Watch our guide video below:

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

This expansive, immersive multiplayer role-playing game hailing from South Korea has been one of the most anticipated games to be released (fingers crossed) in the West. Lost Ark rocks gorgeous graphics, an action-centric MMORPG game set in a beautiful, incredibly detailed world where you can explore, go on quests and even rub elbows with other players.

Unfortunately, it’s still not officially available in the Western market just yet. However, the CEO of Smilegate has already expressed interest in bringing it to the US, Canada and Europe. In fact, rumor has it that the South Korean developer might follow through this year, which would make it one of the best free games 2019 brings to the table, if it does happen. Things are looking promising, however, as the beta is now available in Russia.

Release date: Hopefully sometime in 2019

1. Fortnite Battle Royale 

The Battle Royale is massive right now, and Epic Games has developed it to perfection with Fortnite Battle Royale. Initially created as a sort of add-on for Fortnite, Battle Royale blew up in a way that nobody predicted, quikly becoming one of the best free games 2019 has on offer.

One of the best free games at the moment, Fortnite Battle Royale is entirely based around a simple scenario: you’re dropped in a map with 99 other players in a free-for-all melee, and the last one left standing at the end wins. Because of its meteoric success, Epic Games is hard at work adding new game modes and features all the time. Take Playground mode, for example – it drops you in the map and lets you build up structures for a set amount of time before the floodgates open and the carnage begins.

What’s especially cool is that with Fortnite you can play with your friends, regardless of which platform they’re on. Whether you’re on PC, Xbox One, iOS, Android or PS4, you’ll be able to match up against millions of other players from all these different platforms.

Dota 2

Image Credit: Valve

2. Dota 2 

The Dota universe may have evolved from a WarCraft 3 mod, but Dota 2 is very much its own entity, and holds its own as one of the best free games of 2019.

This top-down arena battler is very active, drawing in multimillion-dollar prize funds for serious tournament players. However, it’s not just for the most hardcore gamers.

A brief tutorial now shows you how to play, with the Steam Community providing guides to the original MOBA. Don't expect a warm welcome or an easy learning curve from its complicated gameplay mechanics. However, bring a few friends, and Dota 2 will have you hooked on one of the biggest crazes in PC history.

 3. Planetside 2 

Two years before Destiny dropped into orbit, we had Planetside 2, an all-out, epic, first-person battle that’s so incredible, you’ll want to pinch yourself every time you boot it up just to remind yourself that a game this fantastic is absolutely free. There are in-game purchases, obviously, but you can still dive into the biggest battlefield in gaming and still have an awesome time with the default equipment.

There's simply nothing as exciting as taking part in a massed assault on an enemy base and coming out on top, or living in a world where an enemy convoy might appear on the horizon at any second. Planetside 2 is proof that 'free' doesn't mean prosaic.

Paths of Exile

Image Credit: Grinding Gear Games

4. Path of Exile

Path of Exile is a free dungeon crawler reminiscent of Diablo III, and it’s somewhat different than most of the best free games on hand in 2019. It’s not just about fragging real-life people until they scream at you in shrill pubescent tones through their Skype headsets.

Path of Exile takes its time, more than your typical multiplayer game. But, give it a chance, and you’ll find yourself addicted. There are hidden mechanics and features to uncover after playing for hours, as well as a huge skill tree to slowly progress through. It really is the best free game for former Diablo addicts.

Even basic loot can be of use because there's always a chance to enhance even the simplest weapon with magic. If you’re bored with the grind of Diablo III, it's a good one to check out.

5. League of Legends

Pick a champion and head into battle in this groundbreaking free-to-play game from the creators of the Warcraft III mod, Dota. League of Legends’ automated matchmaking, diverse cast of characters and pristine maps have made it a multiplayer behemoth over these last few years, and one of the best free games 2019 has that will definitely stand the test of time.

It’s an aggressive gameplay experience for sure, but one that rewards good teamwork and careful tactics. There is a bit of a learning curve as well, but you’ll be having fun shortly after you press play.

Like Dota 2, League of Legends attracts many high-end players, and the top tournaments offer prize pools of over $1 million. The wacky world of esports, eh?

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

Image Credit: Activision-Blizzard

6. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

Ever played the card game Magic the Gathering? Hearthstone is Blizzard’s attempt at building an online version of it, for free.

As a typical Blizzard offering, this one’s truly impressive. It’s instantly enticing, lacking the terrifying learning curve you would expect from an online fantasy card game. Hearthstone plays fast, has a very casual visual approach and benefits from a basic rule set, all of which add up to a very accessible card battler that offers you plenty of fun – especially if you’re a World of WarCraft fan.

Not that it's not challenging as well, especially if you go against an opponent that plays their cards right, which is why it gets our vote for one of the best free games to date.

7. Star Wars: The Old Republic

Taking the Star Wars MMORPG mantle after Star Wars Galaxies ended its run (may it rest in peace), Star Wars: The Old Republic was not intended to be free at release. However, it has since, like so many MMORPGs before it, adopted the free to play model. If you want to satisfy your inner Sith, this is the best way to do that for free.

Subscriptions are on hand for more in-game potential and end-game content, but in true best free games fashion, all the story missions are still accessible for free – it just might take a bit longer now.

It’s worth your time just to experience the Star Wars universe from different sets of eyes, like the hyper-professional Imperial Agent and Bounty Hunter. If you want to go with the dull option and just have a generic Jedi Knight, though – you can totally do that as well.

Forza Motorsport 6 Apex

Image Credit: Microsoft

8. Forza Motorsport 6 Apex

When Xbox head Phil Spencer said he was going to bring the console's best franchises to the PC, he wasn't joking. Among these notable games is Forza Motorsport.

Forza Motorsport 6 Apex in particular brought a complete Forza Motorsport game to PC gamers for the first time – before Forza Horizon 3 arrived in 2016. It’s not quite the full-fledged experience you get from full entries to the series. However, Forza Motorsport 6 Apex is the best free game that we could have asked for from Microsoft’s long-standing racing series.

Shunned by petrol-heads and embraced by gamers, Forza Motorsport may seem like an arcade-y offshoot of its biggest rival on PlayStation, but it consistently looks and feels incredible, which is reason enough to add it to our best free games 2019 list.

9. Dauntless

Dauntless is a household name at this point, after becoming an overnight success on PC, thanks to Monster Hunter World. It offers a remarkably similar experience that’s free and easier on your PC.

Drifting away from the clear environmentalist focus of Monster Hunter: World, where you’re trying to preserve the habitats, Dauntless simplifies things a little, just tasking you with slaying behemoths to protect a human colony.

The gameplay itself is much more straightforward as well, free of some of the more obtuse gameplay systems that you either love or hate in the Monster Hunter series. The core DNA of the series, however, is there – hunt monsters, craft gear, hunt more monsters, making it one of the best free games to have right now.

World of Tanks

Image Credit: Wargaming

10. World of Tanks

World of Tanks is a different kind of MMO, as you may have already guessed from the title. Team-based, massively multiplayer action with a wide array of war machines to drive into battle awaits, with new players able to jump into the fray right away.

The upgrade system lets you personalize, while being surrounded by an entire army at all times to remind you that loners won’t make it on the battlefield. But be forewarned: get sucked in, and you may find yourself spending a hefty sum on great big chunks of virtual metal.

Some premium tanks go for just a few dollars, while others require a bit more coin. You can see where maker Wargaming is earning some money from World of Tanks enthusiasts. Still, this doesn’t stop it from being one of the best free games right now.

11. Heroes of the Storm

It was only a matter of time before Blizzard joined the fray in the MoBA phenomenon, and with Heroes of the Storm, we’re only left asking: what took it so long? It’s an astonishingly approachable esports title, sitting somewhere between League of Legends and DOTA 2 in terms of complexity, but with the added bonus of playing characters you know and love.

You read that right: the roster is made up entirely of Blizzard characters from across its library of classic games. If you’ve ever wondered who would win in a fight between Thrall and Kerrigan, Heroes of the Storm can show you how that fight plays out on the battlefield.

Blizzard knocked it out of the park here, making it one of the best free games that keeps getting better by the day.

Everquest

Image Credit: Daybreak

12. Everquest

Its future was briefly in question after the sale of Sony's online entertainment division in February 2015, but Everquest is back with a vengeance, swaggering with new expansion packs and continued support by Daybreak Game Company. That’s one of the many reasons why it’s made our best free games 2019 list.

The first of its kind to commercially succeed with a 3D game engine, Everquest was released in 1999 as an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) and has since been documented as one of the most important games in the medium's history.

Featuring steadily released expansion packs (quite massive in scale, at least early on) with vast new areas, races and classes, Everquest brings to the table just about everything you could want or need from an MMO. Plus, it's notably better at handling co-op than its alternatives.

13. Rift

Initially hailed as the game that would finally depose World of Warcraft, Rift had its moment – and is still going strong depending on who you ask. It brought innovation to a genre that was evolving very slowly, letting you change your class whenever the urge compelled you.

The whole game is focused on separating giant boss battles and events that inhabit entire zones. It’s ambitious, thrilling, and monumental with dozens of interdimensional rifts that keeps things exciting and unique from other MMOs. And, even after Rift went free to play, Trion has stayed on top of things, bringing out regular expansions for everyone to enjoy.

Plus, you can ride a landshark.

Runescape

Image Credit: Jagex

14. Runescape

Runescape is one of the largest free-to-play MMOs available, and now is a good time for a deeper look. In 2013, it entered its third reboot – this is actually 'Runescape 3', although just jumping in now, you may not even realize that it has been around in one form or another for more than 10 years.

Despite the overhaul, it's definitely not the sparkliest MMO in the world, but hanging onto this many players shows it's doing something right. The big change introduced in Runescape 3 that made it appear a lot more updated was the ability to see much further. In Runescape 2, the horizon quickly gave way to fog… not so now.

You can download the game for free or run it in your browser using Java, making it much more convenient than most other online role-players of this enormous scale.

15. Maplestory

If you’ve grown tired of the dark fantasy aesthetic of most MMORPGs, you’ll love Maplestory’s creative and inspired flair. Described by Nexon as the original 2D side-scrolling MMO, Maplestory takes the classic Dungeons and Dragons-inspired genre, and makes it kawaii.

The lighter tone and customization of Maplestory makes it feel more like Harvest Moon than World of Warcraft or Rift. And, it has more emphasis on improving aesthetics than many other MMOs, letting players a lot more personalization over how their characters look.

Maplestory even has in-game weddings and dinosaurs that play guitar. Really, the only thing missing from Maplestory is an Oasis-inspired soundtrack.

Warframe

Image Credit: Digital Extremes

16. Warframe

If you're into third-person co-operative shooters, Warframe may be one of the best free games available. Players take control of members of the Tenno, an ancient race warring against enemies such as the Grineer, the Corpus, the Infested and the Sentients. Your Tenno soldier uses a Crysis-style Warframe armor equipped with guns or melee weapons to fight back.

Better looking than your usual free-to-play shooter, there’s a lot of fun to be had in Warframe's player-vs-enemy raids – so much so that some gamers see it as, "The Destiny that never was.” High praise all around.

17. Smite

Gods from every pantheon come together in Smite to duke it out in a free Dota/MOBA inspired clash. Even though Smite is pretty overt with its influences – it comes from the same developer that brought us the FPS smash Tribes Ascend, it’s still a completely different beast.

The camera is behind the characters this time, which lets you a more direct connection to the action than simply ordering your lord around with a mouse. However, the idea will either be familiar if you've played its inspirations, or a way to get a feel for the style, if you haven't. Gods include Zeus, Thor, Kali, Artemis and... Cupid? Well, at least he has his own bow…

Lord of the Rings Online

Image Credit: Turbine

18. Lord of the Rings Online

There are so many MMOs that have been released or re-released as free-to-play games. However, Lord of the Rings Online is one of those titles that most deserves another look. It’s already an incredible game in its own right, but it’s also one of the more mature MMOs on the market.

Ultimately, you’ll have to pay to unlock adventure packs. However, there’s no subscription fee and no up-front cost, making it one of the best free games 2019 wants you to check out. If you missed it at launch, or even if you quit playing since then, it’s time to give it another chance.

 19. The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit 

Life is Strange and its sequel are one of the best modern adventure games on PC. Lucky for us, there’s now a free way to experience this spectacular series. Unveiled back at E3 2018, the Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit puts you in the shoes of 9-year-old Chris as he, and his alter ego, Captain Spirit, go on a grand adventure.

It’s a free-to-play single player adventure game without any kind of monetization – simply a nice prelude into Life is Strange 2. Just don’t go in anticipating the longest gameplay experience in the world, as you’ll likely finish it in just a couple of hours. That still doesn’t stop it from being one of the best free games, however.

Eve Online

Image Credit: CCP Games

20. Eve Online

In 2003, Icelandic developer CCP Games unleashed Eve Online, an immersive and in-depth “sci-fi experience” that would ultimately grab the attention of well over 500,000 players. Eve Online is unlike any game in its category due to the vast range of activities to participate in as well as its (appropriately) out of this world in-game economy.

Unfortunately, the Eve Online player base has been shrinking since 2013. It shouldn’t be surprising that as time goes on, fewer and fewer gamers are interested in paying a subscription fee for a glorified space sim with a steep learning curve. However, since the Ascension Update, released back in November 2016, Eve Online has gone free to play – at least to some extent.

The new ‘alpha clones’ system featured in Eve Online is like the “unlimited free trial” feature in World of Warcraft. You can still engage with other players in piracy, manufacturing, trading, mining, exploration and combat, but there are limitations such as certain skills that are off limits. If you don’t want to limit your access to some of the game’s most lumbering ships, you can always opt for the Omega subscription. Otherwise, the game won’t cost a penny, which is why it makes for one of the best free games to grace the gaming world.

21.  Apex Legends 

To say that Battle Royale games are popular in 2019 would be a massive understatement. However, the level of success that Apex Legends has reached so quickly after launch speaks volumes. It’s certainly earned its spot on this list as one of the best free games. Not only is the game itself incredible, bringing unique mechanics from the awesome Titanfall games to a Battle Royale, but the game itself has reached over a stunning 25 million players after a week.

Apex Legends places 60 players in the middle of a gigantic map, armed with a bunch of unique abilities that make both combat and traversal awfully addicting. It’s not exactly the chaos of 100 player battle royale titles like Fortnite or PUBG, but it feels balanced. If somehow you haven’t joined the Apex Legends bandwagon yet, you’re sorely missing out.

Hawken

Image Credit: 505 Games

22. Hawken

Hawken is a game about mechs. Not just any mechs, but fast mechs. These aren’t your average slow, lumbering tanks of MechWarrior Online. These are more in line with the Exoskeletons of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

Of course, being a free-to-play game, expect to spend some money for upgrades to your starter mech. However, economic players can still get a taste for Hawken without spending a dime. Plus, attach an Oculus Rift, and you can see first-hand what VR games have in store for you. Admit it, you've always wanted to know what it feels like to power a mech for yourself since Pacific Rim came out.

23. Evolve Stage 2

After disappearing from the face of the Earth following its release then eventually being dropped from Steam, Turtle Rock re-released Evolve back into beta a year and a half later. It was then that Evolve was revealed as a free-to-play experience. It was even given a new name: Evolve Stage 2, and now it’s one of the best free games we’ve ever played.

Despite going free-to-play, the game's core structure remains the same. It's a game of humans vs. zombies… err, monsters, a new twist on a beloved pastime. A team of four players, called hunters, is matched up against a single monster, with each hunter given their own class. Of course, with four players taking on one, there is a unique catch – hence the game's title. Monsters start out at a basic level then evolve over time by killing and consuming wildlife in nearby areas.

Evolve cost $40 before, so rest assured you’re getting access to a game with a triple-A quality, even if much of the content is locked behind a paywall. Nevertheless, you can give it a shot for yourself for the initial cost of $0 on Steam.

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks

24. The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

As we wait eagerly on news about The Elder Scrolls VI, you should take the time to give the classic The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall a try. This 1990s RPG is a precursor to the iconic ones that came after, and is a bit of a classic in its own right.

Its game world is many times the size of any of its sequels – indeed it’s the size of a continent, and is absolutely filled with atmosphere. It might look a little rough around the edges by today’s standards, but it’s worth diving into if you’re an Elder Scrolls fan.

It's available direct from Bethesda. The publisher started offering it for free to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the game. As if we don't feel old enough already.

25. Starcraft II

Among the most popular games to ever hit the PC/Mac landscape is Starcraft II, a competitive real-time strategy game whose Wings of Liberty installment is just one of three parts of the campaign. At one time, it was massive in South Korea, but the scene fizzled out a bit when MOBAs like League of Legends and Dota 2 hit the scene. Maybe that’s why Blizzard decided to transform Starcraft II to the free-to-play business model.

As a result of its engrossing strategy game mechanics, combined with creatively designed environments and a gripping narrative that can only a video game can tell, Starcraft II is one of the most widely enjoyed eSports in the entire world, not to mention one of the best free games.

Of course, being a Blizzard game, you’ll need a Battle.net account to access it. Other than that, both the campaign and the multiplayer are free to enjoy. Only certain characters need your prized coin.

Wolfenstein 3D

Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks

26. Wolfenstein 3D

Interested in knowing what Wolfenstein was before The New Order? Wolfenstein 3D is now free, and will teleport you to the year 1992 when celebrity game developers John Carmack and John Romero paired up to make a shareware game like nothing before it.

Wolfenstein 3D took concepts from Muse Software's Castle Wolfenstein and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein to create a three-dimensional first-person shooter that would later inspire the development of Doom.

Keep in mind while playing that while Wolfenstein 3D was cutting edge for its time, it's perhaps not what you would expect from a first-person shooter of today's standards. Still, it's an easy and free way to experience game history in an old-school World War II game rich with narrative about, well, shooting Nazis in the face. Just don't expect to be blown away by the story in the same way as the Wolfenstein franchise's more recent entries.

27. Team Fortress 2

It may be an old vet in gaming terms, but nothing offers such crazy fun as Team Fortress 2. Unlike most shooters of its age, players in this game are still there to have a good time instead of spitting insults at newcomers. And, there's no shortage of cool toys to have fun with. Infinitely silly and incredibly fresh, it's still one of the shooter genre's kings, free-to-play or not. Of course, it makes sense to add it to our best free games 2019 list.

As you might have guessed, there are some micro-transactions included. You can buy additional items, often used to personalize your character. You can even create your own. It's fun, and gets you even more involved in TF2. Those cheeky devils at Valve obviously know what they're doing.

Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links

Image Credit: Konami

28. Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links

If you grew up in the ‘90s, you probably have a lot of memories of playing Yu-Gi-Oh, or maybe even watching the anime. Well, an injection of nostalgia is waiting for you in Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links, and it’s free to boot?

In Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links, you won’t just have access to the titular card game competitively online.  You’ll also get to play against AI opponents voiced by actors from the anime. There are a lot of microtransactions here – you can buy new cards – but it’s a CCG in 2019, so there’s no real way around that. Be prepared to spend some cash.

29. Magic Duels

Magic: The Gathering is fun, but what if you can play it from the comfort of your PC? Thanks to Magic Duels, you can. Whether this is your first time or you’re a 20-year vet, Duels will let you do everything the card game does and more. While over 300 new cards are advertised as being accessible throughout the game, there’s also a unique story mode that lets you experience Magic like never before.

If narrative in your card games isn't your cup of tea, there's also a Battle Mode where you can go head to head with your friends, a four-player Two-Headed Giant battle and even an offline solo mode you can use to practice against AI.

DC Universe Online

Image Credit: Daybreak Game Company

30. DC Universe Online 

While it's yet another free-to-play MMO on this list, DC Universe Online places characters like Superman, Batman, Green Lantern and more into a massive (and shared) public world.

Choose whether you want to be a member of the Hero or Villain faction, then personalize your character. Soon, you'll be thrust out into the world of DC Universe Online at the hands of Daybreak Game Company.

After some initial training, the game assigns you a position, either a member of the Justice League or The Society, depending on your choice of hero or villain. Unlike other MMOs on this list and outside it, DC Universe Online is meant to be much more interactive while also keeping traditional MMORPG elements such as leveling, raiding, inventories and post-game progression. It's also easy using real-world currency too, which is why it has our best free games vote.

31. Paladins

It’s not difficult to see why Paladins gets a lot of grief because its similarities to Overwatch. At the same time, the team-based shooter is also decidedly different from that of Blizzard’s. Abilities are upgraded based on a collectible card system, and can entirely change the way each character plays.

What’s more, unlike Overwatch, Paladins is completely free-to-play. While cosmetic items are available to buy using real-world currency, everything else can be unlocked just by playing. For instance, you’ll start Paladins with a single deck of basic cards, and from there, unlock more dramatically impactful decks.

Regardless of how you choose to play Paladins, you’ll get XP as you go. As long as you’re completing the daily quests and achievements featured in the game, you’ll be compensated with Radiant Chests and Gold, which can then be used to purchase more cards, costumes and weapon skins to make your characters more unique and skillful on the battlefield.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 Lite

Image Credit: Konami

32. Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 Lite

You may be familiar with FIFA already, but Pro Evolution Soccer – or PES – is one of the best-selling video game franchises of all-time, not to mention one of the best free games 2019 has on offer. It doesn’t have all the flair (or licensing) of its EA Sports rival, but some would argue that it’s the better soccer game series, not to mention one of the better sports series overall.

PES 2018, in particular, is only a slight improvement over its predecessor, but it does introduce better dribbling and tries to perfect the fan-favorite Master League mode. The ‘Lite’ version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 allows you access to the Online myClub and PES League Mode in addition to the Offline Exhibition Match and Training Mode, all for free.

There are in-app purchases along the way, and you can always upgrade to the full version later should this one not satisfy.

33. Spelunky

You can now grab Spelunky on a number of platforms – it's pretty high-profile for an indie title. However, it started its life as a PC-exclusive, and its original 'non HD' Classic version is still available for free today.

The catch is that with each run through, the entire game is randomized to keep things interesting. In one game, you might stumble through screen after screen of spiked horrors and swarming monsters; in the next, the software will bend over backwards to give you gold and help you along your way.

You learn how each randomized world ticks and which piece of equipment will give you a fighting chance. And you’ll die a ton. And scream. And restart. Again. Is this one of the best free games that has graced our screens, or what?

Neverwinter

Image Credit: Perfect World

34. Neverwinter

As a free MMO, Neverwinter sets the bar high for itself as it's based on perhaps the most iconic role-playing game of all-time, Dungeons & Dragons. Like everything else in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the game is set in the Forgotten Realms, specifically, as the name suggests, in Neverwinter.

Touting eight character classes with groups of up to five players supported, Neverwinter is based on the fourth-edition rules of Dungeons & Dragons. However, the rules are somewhat different, as it allows players to heal their allies in addition to allowing for the use of special abilities in combat after racking up enough action points.

35. Doki Doki Literature Club

An ostensibly charming visual novel on the surface, Doki Doki Literature Club is a game that’s best experienced blindly. It comes from Dan Salvato, a game developer most known for his work in the Super Smash Bros. Melee modding community, who says he developed Doki Doki Literature Club because of his indifference towards anime.

It’s ironic, considering that the main character in Doki Doki Literature Club is consumed by anime and manga, and has minimal experience with the writings of more prestigious authors. As absorbing as the trio of female supporting characters appear to be in Doki Doki Literature Club, we would advise against getting too attached to them.

Without spoiling the story, the first thing you see when you boot up Doki Doki Literature Club is a content warning, indicating that those with severe anxiety should consider NOT playing. It’s not entirely unfounded, as you’re certain to learn the hard way that Doki Doki Literature Club is more horror than generic fan service.

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas

Image Credit: Grey Havens

36. Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas

For nearly 15 years now, Puzzle Pirates has been a household name for kids with unfettered access to the computer labs at school. It’s a massive, totally free-to-play multiplayer online role-playing game – among the best free games, in fact – originally created by the Sega-owned Three Rings Design. The objective is to join a crew and eventually become a captain by completing puzzles alongside other players.

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas, on the other hand, is the Steam-exclusive version of Puzzle Pirates that includes an entirely new ocean known as Obsidian. Dark Seas introduces factions and player-versus-player (PvP) combat in a way unique to the Steam release of Puzzle Pirates. It also comes from a different developer, a nonprofit called Grey Havens, which was established by several former members of Three Rings Design.

Before the advent of Dark Seas, you could only get the multiplayer portion of Puzzle Pirates on Steam. Now, the single-player mode can be downloaded and installed from Valve’s client as well.

37. Phantom Dust

Despite its development cycle being a disaster, the Phantom Dust remaster still succeeded. A new IP in the form of a Japanese budget card game for the original Xbox, it seemed too good to be true when Microsoft announced back at E3 2014 that a complete remake was in the works… and, as it turns out, it was.

The remake was shelved in 2016, but Microsoft still wanted to revive the cult classic one-off. And turns out, the company did so with a remaster, instead of a remake. Luckily, the new version of Phantom Dust for Windows 10 (and Xbox One, for console-goers) is free to play unless you opt to purchase some of the in-game “multiplayer cards”.

Dwarf Fortress

Image Credit: Bay 12 Games

38. Dwarf Fortress

Inspiring the creation of Minecraft was no small feat for 2D sandbox game Dwarf Fortress. Dubbed a construction and management simulator, Dwarf Fortress took simple text-based graphics and turned it into a reasonably modern, 2006 piece of software. It’s often deemed a cult classic, thanks to its open-ended nature, and serves as one of the most iconic examples of a procedurally generated roguelike.

This means Dwarf Fortress both randomizes its environments and makes the game's permadeath system a much harder problem to avoid. This led to the unofficial motto for the game "Losing is fun," which was either ironic or an accurate description of what happens in the game. Hard to say either way.

One thing's for sure. If you’d like to play an important part of gaming history, Dwarf Fortress is a solid start. It was even exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City back in 2013. Can't say that for a lot of free-to-play games, making this one of the best free games 2019 has on offer.

39. Fable Fortune

Surviving a troubled development cycle, Fable Fortune is the collectible card game that you undoubtedly expected to never see the light of day. Either that, or you’ve never even heard of it. We can’t blame you. The team behind the Fable franchise – the illustrious group of individuals at Lionhead Studios – closed their doors two years ago.

In the time following Lionhead’s closure, its parent company, Microsoft, licensed off Fable Fortune to a group of former Lionhead developers at a new company called Flaming Fowl Studios. It was there that Fable Fortune found private funding in spite of a failed Kickstarter campaign. The end result is a moderately competitive card game that’s absolutely free to play.

Skeptics will be quick to compare Fable Fortune to Hearthstone. But other than the fact that they both make our best free games list, the two games differ quite a bit due to Fable Fortune’s more complex set of hero powers, less randomness and a morality system that rewards a grasp of its ‘good’ and ‘evil’ points.

Fallout Shelter

Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks

40. Fallout Shelter

If you prefer the property management systems of Fallout 4 rather than the great majority of the role-playing game's content, Fallout Shelter is an excellent place to start. Up until recently, the simulation game was only on the mobile Android and iOS platforms. However, with the introduction of Quests in version 1.6 of Fallout Shelter, Bethesda Softworks also decided to port the game to PC by way of the Bethesda.net client.

All in all, Fallout Shelter doesn't feel that much different on PC, and that's a good thing. Mouse controls work well in lieu of a touchscreen, graphics look good even for low-end hardware and with windowed mode enabled by default, it's easy to find yourself caring after your vault residents during your downtime at work. With an unquestionably manageable price point (free), however with micro-purchases on hand, Fallout Shelter could very well become the next Solitaire in your office or at school.

41. Brawlhalla

Have you been missing out on the action, just watching all your friends play Super Smash Bros Ultimate, because you don’t have a Nintendo Switch? Well, with Brawlhalla you’re in luck. Brawlhalla is a 2-8 player 2D brawler that pulls quite a bit of inspiration from Nintendo’s classic franchise.

And, it pulls it off. It’s an exceedingly fun way to pass a few hours. With an esports league, you can rest assured that you'll always have people to throw down against. It might not quite be the same as playing some Smash on a friend’s couch, but it’s close enough to be worth your time. That’s why Brawlhalla makes it to our list of best free games.

Battleborn

Image Credit: 2K Games

42. Battleborn

CEO and president of Gearbox Software Randy Pitchford will tell you differently, but Battleborn is free-to-play. Officially branded as a “free trial” on Steam, there isn’t much to separate this hero shooter from other free-to-play games on the market. You can play for as long as you want using six of the game’s 30 characters, rotated weekly to shake things up.

Battleborn originally hit the market in May 2016, the same month as Overwatch. The main distinction is that Battleborn is influenced by MOBA games. Overwatch, on the other hand, is a more traditional PvP shooter with an eccentric cast of characters. Battleborn also has a single-player campaign, which can be purchased using real-world currency.

43. The Elder Scrolls: Legends

There appears to be this never-ending arms race developers are caught in to put out the next Hearthstone. That is, an incredibly popular collectible card game (CCG) that’s “easy to learn but challenging to master.” Those are the words, verbatim, publisher Bethesda Softworks is using to describe The Elder Scrolls: Legends.

A CCG that takes inspiration from the lore of the firm’s beloved RPG franchise, The Elder Scrolls: Legends distinguishes itself from the likes of competing virtual card games such as Hearthstone and The Witcher 3’s Gwent by using a two-lane system that keeps players on their toes when it comes to devising strategies.

And, if you simply want more Skyrim, you’ll be pleased to learn that the Heroes of Skyrim expansion for The Elder Scrolls: Legends packs in 150 additional cards, some of which are familiar faces like Aela the Huntress, J’Zargo and Delphine. It’s no doubt this one’s earned its spot on our best free games list.

Robocraft

Image Credit: Freejam

44. Robocraft

Whether you loved or hated World of Tanks, you’ll be delighted to learn that Robocraft, a worthy addition to our list of best free games, is what you get when you take traditional vehicle combat and twist it into something completely new. From independent developer and publisher Freejam, Robocraft allows you to commandeer jet cars (not jets and cars, but jet cars), tanks, flying warships, helicopters and drones.

In doing so, you’ll spend a lot of your time engaging in combat with other players online. Like a vehicle-based Fortnite, you’ll also play with different combinations of 250 preset blocks using a simple crafting interface, letting you equip the vehicle of your choosing with the weapons of your choosing as well.

Likewise, Robocraft lets you create or join clans with up to 50 members. Within those clans, you can invite friends to ‘parties’ and play cooperatively in an effort to beat other teams. When everything is said and done, and you’re happy with your creations, you can showcase them at the virtualized Community Robot Factory to get likes and shares.

45. Total War Battles: Kingdom

Real-time Strategy (RTS) games don't get much grander than those in the Total War series, and the latest entrant, Battles KINGDOM, is free-to-play. Available to play on iOS and Android, as well as PC, you can pick up where you left off even when you're not at your main battle station. Total War Battles: Kingdom is set at the turn of the 10th Century and combines army management with kingdom building to deliver a bite-sized RTS game you can dive into and play anywhere, anytime.

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Oppo Reno 2 UK launch confirmed for the phone with 4 cameras and a 20x zoom

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 09:08 AM PDT

The Oppo Reno 2 launch date has been confirmed as October 16 for the handset's UK introduction, with an unveiling event in London.

If the Oppo Reno 2 sounds familiar, it's because the flagship Android smartphone has already been announced in China, so we know all about what it will offer.

The headline features surround its photography potential, with four rear cameras and a touted 20x zoom.

Reno 2 specs

Design-wise, the Oppo Reno 2 borrows much from its predecessor, with a shark-fin pop-up camera section allowing the phone's face to sport a notch and bezel-free 6.5-inch AMOLED display (2,400 x 1,080 resolution).

Inside (the China version at least) there's a 3,915mAh battery, Snapdragon 730 chipset, 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage (expandable via microSD). 

That chipset is a mid-range offering, and could see the Reno 2 slide in below the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom which launched earlier this year.

The aforementioned camera array features no less than four vertically arranged cameras, with sensor resolutions of 48MP, 13MP, 8MP and 2MP. Round the front you'll find a 16MP snapper.

The Oppo Reno 2 is unlikely to change too much for its UK arrival, but there's a chance we may see adjustments in storage, RAM and power. Plus, we'll likely learn the price and release date on October 16 - we'll be reporting live from the event to bring you all the details as they're announced.

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iPhone cyberattacks hit new high - protect your device now

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 08:55 AM PDT

Devices made by Apple, such as the new iPhone 11, are being bombarded by cyberattacks more frequently than ever before, new research has found.

A report from Kaspersky has discovered that iOS devices and Mac computers are becoming increasingly common targets for hackers trying to steal personal details from users.

The company found that phishing attacks targeting Apple products has hit a new high this year, with around 1.6 million campaigns currently trying to target iOS and Mac devices.

Targeted

Phishing attacks look to trick victims into handing over personal details or login information to cybercriminals pretending to be someone else - in this case, spoofing official correspondence from Apple itself.

Kaspersky's report found a nine percent rise in the number of phishing attacks targeting Mac and iOS devices detected in the first half of 2019 compared to the entire previous year.

The most common scams target users with a fake page resembling the iCloud service interface, often pretending to come from Apple technical support. The page often tricks users into entering their Apple ID login credentials, with the emails threatening to block out user accounts if they don't click the link. 

Others look to scare the users into believing their Mac computer is under threat of serious security attack, which can be fixed with a couple of clicks and a few dollars.

“While technically these fraud schemes are nothing new, we believe they pose an even greater danger to Apple users than similar schemes against users of other platforms – such as Windows or Android," said Tatyana Sidorina, security researcher at Kaspersky.

"That is because the ecosystem around Macs and other Apple devices is generally considered a far safer environment. Therefore users might be less cautious when they encounter fake websites. Meanwhile the successful theft of iCloud account credentials could lead to serious consequences – an iPhone or iPad could be remotely blocked or wiped by a malicious user, for example." 

"We urge users of Apple devices to pay more attention to any emails they receive claiming to be from technical support, which request your details or ask you to visit a link."

For any Apple users looking to stay protected, Kaspersky recommends that users keep all their devices up to date with the latest software, which should only be downloaded from official outlets and the Mac App Store.

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The Apple Watch 3 is down to its lowest price ever at Walmart

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 08:21 AM PDT

The Apple Watch Series 5 was unveiled this week at the Apple Event, and that means retailers are slashing the price on older models. Walmart has just dropped the price of the Apple Watch 3 with GPS and Cellular down to $229. That's a $150 discount and the lowest price we've found for the best-selling smartwatch. If you're not interested in a cellular plan, Amazon has the GPS-only Apple Watch 3 on sale for $199.

The Apple Watch 3 is a health and fitness-focused smartwatch that also keeps you connected. The Series 3 watch helps you achieve your goals by tracking popular workouts like running, yoga and cycling and calories burned. The smartwatch also offers heart rate monitoring and will notify you when an unusually high or low heart rate is detected. The waterproof watch features GPS technology and offers up to 18 hours of battery life. The Apple Watch also includes the ability to make calls, send messages, and receive notifications.

This specific deal is for the Apple Watch 3 with GPS and Cellular and comes in a silver aluminum case with a white sport band. The cellular plan allows you to get internet and phone connectivity on your watch, even your iPhone is far away.

If you're not interested in a cellular plan with your smartwatch, you can get the GPS-only Apple Watch 3 on sale at Amazon for $199.

Discover more Apple watch sales with the best cheap Apple Watch prices and deals that are currently available.

You can learn more about series 3 smartwatch with our Apple Watch 3 review.

Interested in the latest smartwatch? You can read our hands on Apple Watch Series 5 review.

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New Amazon Echo gear on the way? Amazon teases big Seattle launch event

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 08:18 AM PDT

At this rate, you’re going to need to build an extension on your house to accommodate all the Amazon Echo speakers out there: Amazon has just announced that it’s going to be hosting a large launch event in Seattle at the end of this month, September 25.

In what’s now becoming an annual tradition for the company, we’re expecting Amazon to reveal details on refreshed Amazon Echo speakers, as well as a likely expansion of its own-brand Alexa-enabled home appliances.

It was a bumper showcase last year, with not only fresh Echo Dot and Echo Plus speakers in the mix, but also all-new devices like Echo Wall Clocks and even microwaves.

What we want to see

With such a large range of devices in its portfolio, there’s plenty of potential for refreshes and brand new launches right across the board.

We’d love to see an extension of the Fire TV-in-an-actual-television trend that the company has kicked off this year. The Fire TV interface is robust and feature-rich, but so far it’s been paired with only middling TV panels; a premium set with Fire TV built in would be exciting to see.

The Amazon Echo Plus, though billed as Amazon’s premium sound system, is still lacking against the competition. So a real effort to make it as sonically capable as top-tier audio gear, while retaining an accessible price point, would be appreciated.

Plus, with the Amazon Echo Wall Clock finally available globally, perhaps a more feature-rich timepiece, a talking clock even, powered by onboard Alexa, would be a massive improvement over what we currently have.

We’ll be on the ground in Seattle to share all and any Amazon news as it happens, so keep checking back for more details shortly.

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Best free blogging site of 2019

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 08:07 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

You can host a WordPress blog yourself, or create one online and have it hosted at wordpress.com

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

Blogs on Weebly are built from a combination of content blocks

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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Rugby World Cup 2019 live stream: how to watch every match online free from anywhere

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 08:03 AM PDT

The waiting is nearly over...the battle for the William Webb Ellis Cup begins next Friday, September 20, kicking off six weeks of egg-shaped action. The 2019 Rugby World Cup is set to be held for the first time in Japan and twenty teams will be going up against each other across 48 matches.

It's shaping up to be the most evenly-contested tournament in its history, and you can watch all the action, no matter where you are, by following our Rugby World Cup live stream guide below.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of tipsters are split between New Zealand, their neighbours Australia, and South Africa as to who will win the tournament.

Nevertheless, the balance of power in the rugby world has shifted towards the northern hemisphere in recent years, with Wales, Ireland, and England all having been in and around the world number one ranking position, and Scotland not too far behind.

Or is this the year that one of the less fashionable nations step up and show what they can do? We all know how dangerous Argentina are, but what of Fiji, Georgia and the hosts themselves?

If you want to know where you'll be able to watch every single match, we'll tell you exactly where you can catch it online with a Rugby World Cup live stream and the broadcasters that are showing it absolutely FREE. No matter where on Earth you are, we'll make sure you know where to catch the coverage.

How to watch the 2019 Rugby World Cup from outside your country

You don't have to miss a single minute of the 2019 Rugby World Cup - even if you're abroad and discover that your home broadcaster's online coverage is geo-blocked (we hate it when that happens).

If that happens to you and you're desperate to watch your domestic coverage - whether that be in the UK or Australia (where it's free), New Zealand or the US (where it isn't) or anywhere else in the world - there's still a way to get it that doesn't involve putting your security at risk with some dodgy, illegal stream from Reddit. You can simply use a VPN to login back to your country that is broadcasting the actions, and it's really easy to do:

How to stream Rugby World Cup 2019 live in the UK for FREE

Live stream the Rugby World Cup in Australia for FREE

How to watch the Rugby World Cup 2019 in New Zealand FREE

How to watch the 2019 Rugby World Cup: US live stream 

  • Hulu with Live TV $40 per month - Hulu with Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN.
  • FuboTV $35 for the first month - FuboTV gives you the first month at a discounted rate but after that the price increases to $45 a month. The service includes CBS, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network but does not come with ESPN.
  • DirecTV Now $50 per month - DirecTV Now includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and for $5 extra you can add the NFL Network.
  • YouTubeTV $40 per month - YouTubeTV gives you access to CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN.

Divider

Live stream Rugby World Cup 2019 matches in Canada

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Best phone in the US for 2019: the top 15 smartphones we've tested

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 08:02 AM PDT

The best phone of 2019 in the US is an expensive investment, whether it comes from Samsung, Apple or Google. A lot of these smartphone prices start at $1,000, so you'll want to take your decision seriously. But don't worry: we're here to help guide you.

Today's best phone has a big screen, yet is easy to handle; packs a camera suite capable of replacing a point-and-shoot; and has enough processor power and battery to get work done while you're on the go. You won't find smartphones with slowdown and anything less than all-day battery life on this list.

Tomorrow's top smartphone? That'll probably be a 5G phone, like the Galaxy S10 5G, and then, eventually, a foldable phone with 5G, starting with the Huawei Mate X and Samsung Galaxy Fold. But foldable phones are unproven and 5G in the US isn't in enough cities around the country to recommend. Our list will remain practical.

Not ready to part with your cash right now? It may pay to hold off, as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, new iPhone, Huawei Mate 30 Pro and Google Pixel 4 are all on the horizon in the coming months. And soon enough we might add the brand-new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and perhaps the iPhone 11 Pro Max to this list - after we've reviewed them, of course.

Why we have more than a No. 1 pick: We have a top pick, but not everyone looks for the same smartphone features. Some will demand iOS 13 and cling to Apple's iMessage, while others will want customizations and Google Assistant tools available in Android 10 . Our phone reviews and best phone list reflect that diversity. 

Likewise, your contract with AT&T, Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile is a preference. The best phone for AT&T may not be available on-contract on Verizon, and vice-versa. While we've seen more unlocked phones in the US in 2019, not all are available for every carrier. We have to take that into account when recommending phones, and we favor those that are completely unlocked or available on the four major carriers.

Our pick for best phone isn't just crowning the newest iPhone and calling it a day, though our list does have a lot of familiar names: Apple, Samsung, Google and LG, all in the top 15. Newer companies in the US like Huawei and OnePlus make the list, too, though their limited availability is noted.

The best phone on our list on sale right now

Before we get to our official best phone list below, we mentioned that phones are expensive, so we're updating our list of the best prices for each of the top phones mentioned among the 15 – when they're lower than usual. The iPhone sits at a constant price, typically. Here's how you can save on your purchase.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus is the best phone you can get for Android right now, if you're just going by specs. Naturally, as the first flagship of 2019, its new Snapdragon 855 processor is the big standout here with even better performance than the phones that closed out 2018. Add in a few cool new (but not essential) features, Samsung's stunning-as-ever display and design as well as top specs and you have a true flagship – for a true flagship price, of course, starting at  $999 / £899 / AU$1,499 / AED 3,599.

Screen: The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display is gorgeous, but that's not surprising. it's the same size as the Galaxy Note 9's screen, and far larger than the Galaxy S9 Plus' 6.2-inch display. The 'Infinity O' display ditches the notch for a punch-hole in the top right corner. Yes, it's twice as wide as the hole in the S10 and S10e, but how else will you fit in the extra selfie camera? This choice (and thin bezels) enable a stunning 93.1% screen-to-body ratio, which keeps the phone as slim as possible.

Battery Life: The S10 Plus' 4,100mAh battery is Samsung's largest yet, just nudging past the Note 9's 4,000mAh and far beyond the 3,500mAh one in the Galaxy S9 Plus. While that didn't lead the new phone's battery life to outpace its predecessors, it still kept it going through the full day with 10%-30% to spare in our casual testing. This is, of course, with standard settings: bump up the resolution from Full HD+ to QHD+, brighten the display or keep it on longer, and the battery will drain faster.

Camera: The S10 Plus has three cameras on the back: a 12MP regular lens, a 12MP optically zoomed telephoto lens, and a new 16MP ultra-wide lens. We found the photo quality to be a bit variable – perhaps due to the dual-aperture main lens – with good but not consistent low-light performance. It's not quite up to par with the Google Pixel 3's Night Vision mode, but it still outpaces most other phone cameras on the market. The two front-facing cameras allow depth for Portrait mode-style photos, which is worth the wider punch-hole gap in the display.

Mini verdict: After some time with the standard Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e, we can say for sure that the S10 Plus beats them out. It has the best specs, cameras and battery life of the whole set, and it's not too much more expensive than the other models. If you want a phone that will blow every other device out of the water in early 2019 – as well as its in-screen fingerprint sensor and reverse charging – this is your only real option. 

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review

The iPhone XS Max is Apple's new big iPhone with an expansive 6.5-inch display that can't be missed if you're looking for the best phone running iOS 12. It's fast, has a brilliant all-screen display, and gives you great photos out of its noticeably upgraded 12MP dual-lens rear camera.

Screen: The 6.5-inch OLED screen is the reason to choose the iPhone XS Max over its smaller 5.8-inch iPhone XS counterpart. The phone is still about the size of an iPhone Plus, but thanks to the all-screen display (minus the notch cut out at the top), you get a lot more real-estate. It looks more color-rich vs the old iPhone LCD displays, too.

Battery life: You'll get the best battery life out of the iPhone XS Max simply because it has room for a bigger battery. The 3,174mAh capacity is by no means the biggest (Samsung's Note 9 is 4,000mAh), but Apple's ownership of both software and hardware means it's smartly optimized. You'll get all-day battery life even with heavy use.

Camera: This is the best iPhone camera ever made, even if the 12MP dual-lens rear camera number hasn't changed in several years. It's all about the software inside and how the A12 chipset interprets scenes with Smart HDR. It's up there with the Google Pixel 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note 9, even if Apple's photos tend to be less vivid in our tests and more true-to-life.

Mini verdict: This is the iPhone for anyone who wants what's new and doesn't care what it costs. The iPhone XS Max is expensive, but it's the best upgrade if you're into big screens and Apple's ecosystem, like the App Store and iMessages.  The iPhone XS is a good choice if you have smaller hands, and the iPhone XR may be better if you have a smaller wallet.

Read more: iPhone XS Max review

The Google Pixel 3 came out in October, offering some internal upgrades, improved camera performance, a second front-facing camera, and a better screen than its predecessor. And, as with past Pixels, when it comes to smartphone cameras, this is a top contender. 

Screen: The Pixel 3 stretches the previous model’s screen to 5.5-inches for an 18:9 aspect ratio. There are no notches taking up any of the screen space either. Colors are rich on the OLED display, and thanks to the dual front-facing speakers, it makes for a handy streaming device.

Battery life: A 2,915mAh battery is nothing to get excited about in a modern smartphone. That said, with conservative us, it’s not hard to get all-day battery life. If you’re not taking a lot of photos, it may be easier to get a full day of battery, but with such a good camera, it may be tough to avoid.

Camera: The Pixel 2’s cameras are its best selling point. On back, the 12.2MP sensor paired with Google’s brilliant software optimization make for stunning photos in most situations. Optical Image Stabilization certainly helps, too. Selfie lovers get a bonus with dual front-facing cameras that can snap photos with different viewing angles.

Mini verdict: The Pixel 3 is powerful on the inside, and even though its design isn’t the most exciting from 2018, nor is its battery, it’s all about the camera in the end. And, with Google’s knack for photo optimization, this phone can almost sell itself with the camera alone.

Read more: Google Pixel 3 review

The Samsung S10e is the littlest (and least pricey) sibling of the S10 line in both size and features. While it loses out on a few of the cutting-edge features like in-screen fingerprint scanner and a telephoto lens, its remaining arsenal of flagship specs, ultrawide camera and good interface make the S10e a standout at a discount. Plus, it's small enough to use one-handed.

Screen: The 5.8-inch AMOLED screen is crisp and sharp, with enough bright colors and customization options to tweak to your liking. While it's nice that the budget flagship of the S10 line has an OLED screen (unlike the iPhone XR with its LCD display), it's not as high resolution as its bigger siblings, capping out at 1080 x 2280 pixels to the S10 and S10 Plus' 1440 x 3040 pixel maximum. 

Battery life: A 3,100mAh capacity isn't the biggest battery on the market, but it will see you through the day, and may last longer than you think thanks to the phone's smaller screen. You'll need to stretch it out if you plan to use Wireless PowerShare, the S10 line's new feature that lets you donate battery charge to another Qi-charging device. Don't worry, it won't drain yours to oblivion: the feature shuts down when your phone hits 30% battery.

Camera: Considering the standard Galaxy S9 had a single lens, the S10e is a major upgrade with its two useful cameras. The first is the standard 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4 Dual Aperture lens found in the phone's predecessor (switching between the two in day/night shots), while the second is a 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens that manages 123-degree field of view. While the phone misses the 2x telephoto of the other S10 phones, its ultrawide is far more useful.

Mini verdict: The S10e is a fantastic little phone, perfect for anyone who wants to use their flagship phone one-handed – or just wants all the best specs at a lower price. While it's still more expensive than midrange phones or the current value champion, the OnePlus 6T, the S10e has more features and cutting-edge specs to push it beyond the competition.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S10e review

This is the best in phone value if you want an all-screen display and don't want to pay for the Samsung or Apple name. it's a bit cheaper than the Galaxy S10e, though not as affordable as last year's OnePlus 6T. It has almost everything except wireless charging, a microSD card slot and a perfect camera.

Screen: This is the main draw. Thanks to a mechanical pop-up selfie camera, the OnePlus 7 Pro has the best screen we've tested. No notch and punch-hole camera in sight, and it stretches from edge to edge. Even better, its 90Hz screen refresh rate gives it more fluid movement. Samsung's screen has been dethroned.

Battery life: The OnePlus 6T has fairly good, but not great battery life thanks to its 4,000mAh battery. It'll get you through a whole day, but not much more than that. The real news is its Warp Charge 30 adapter that allows this phone to go from 0% to 100% in a little over an hour. It's very fast.

Camera: The camera has always been the weakest part of the OnePlus lineup, but we've experienced better phones from the OnePlus 7 Pro. It's not going to top our best camera phones list, but the triple lens (regular, ultra-wide and telephoto) did a fine job in proper light. Nightscape mode has been improved, but begs for a tripod in mixed light (any lights in dark scene tend to smear). 

Mini verdict: The OnePlus 7 Pro has the wow factor missing from smartphones in 2019 thanks to what's on the screen (90Hz fluidity) and what's not (a camera notch). It looks the part of a flagship phone and acts more expensive than it really in part because of its top-shelf specs. As long as you don't want the best camera phone, this a solid option. 

Read more: OnePlus 7 Pro review

Huawei P30 Pro

Image Credit: TechRadar

Here in the US, Huawei phones are not as familiar to shoppers as Apple and Samsung's best phones. But, that doesn't mean they don't have as much to offer. From Hauwei's Mate line to it's P series, it is making some of the very best phones, and the P30 Pro is is a true champion from the Chinese manufacturer.

Screen: The P30 Pro has a large, 6.47-inch display with only a thin chin bezel at the bottom of the screen and a teardrop notch at the top. It's a sharp OLED display, and though it doesn't have as high a resolution as some others, we'd be hard pressed to see the difference.

Battery life: The Huawei P30 Pro turns up in the battery department with a 4,200mAh cell. That's easily enough for a whole day, and can pull through a day in a half comfortably or even two days with light use. There's enough power there that Huawei enabled reverse wireless charging to let the P30 Pro power other phones.

Camera: While plenty about the P30 Pro is of flagship quality, the cameras are where it really stands out. Its suite of cameras make it among the very best camera phones in the world. It combines a high-resolution main camera, a camera with powerful zoom, an ultra-wide angle camera, and a time-of-flight sensor to handle depth. This makes it incredibly versatile, capable of taking better long-distance and low-light photos than most other phones.

Mini verdict: If you're after a phone with great looks and a camera that's ready for just about anything, then the Huawei P30 Pro is an excellent option. It also offers a price that stays below a lot of its competition. However, availability concerns in the US hold it back a bit.

Read more: Huawei P30 Pro review

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has shown some staying power, even as the Galaxy S10 line launched. It's intro price of $999 was staggering to see, but Samsung's best phones have a way of coming down in price within a few months of launch, and that helps make the Note 9 a bit of a steal.

Screen: Samsung's 6.4-inch Infinity Display is slightly bigger (taller, but actually more narrow than the Note 8) and wraps around the sides for a nice curved look and feel. Samsung is anti-bezel and anti-notch. What you may not see at first is the extreme brightness of this display and the color reproduction. It's impressive when you see it in person.

Battery life: The Note 9 has a 4,000mAh battery and is the key reason we like it over the S9 Plus. The capacity is 14.2% bigger than the S9 Plus and 33.3% bigger than the S9. It lasts all day with heavy use and deep into a day two with normal use. You can also charge over wireless easily, and fast charging boots in 17% battery in 15 mins.

Camera: The Note 9 camera is impressive, just like the S9 Plus six month before it, and it has the added benefit of remotely capturing photos from up to 30 ft away via the Bluetooth S Pen. Samsung also added AI smarts to the camera that automatically adjusts the white balance and color based on the scene it detects. The camera does as well as the Google Pixel 2 in low-light (sometimes better, sometimes worse, but not by much in either direction), and the default camera app is robust (more so than Google's), yet remains streamlined and initiative. It does lack HDR video recording, seen on other Android phones from Sony and LG.

Mini verdict: The Note 9 is bigger in all ways, including the price. It was one of the most expensive phones in the US when it launched, but that's not the case anymore. And, you're still getting a great camera and ample storage (and a microSD card slot) for your money. The battery is big, too. Samsung packs a lot into its all-day smartphone with a stylus.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review

Apple’s iPhone XR was a little bit late to launch after the iPhone XS and XS Max that launched a bit earlier. But thanks to its lower price point, it makes for a more affordable option than the XS models. For some, the powerful internals paired with the large screen and lower price will make for a compelling buy, especially thanks to the surprisingly good battery.

Screen: The iPhone XR screen isn’t its strongest selling point, as it’s a notable downgrade. It’s resolution falls short of Full HD, and it’s not a battery-friendly OLED. Still, the Liquid Retina LCD display used still has good sharpness and brilliant colors.That said, the 6.1-inch display offers plenty of real estate.

Battery life: Though this is the more affordable iPhone to come out in Apple’s latest batch, its battery life stands out. Thanks to the A12 Bionic and chipset and lower resolution, the battery performance is great, making it the first iPhone that could comfortably get through a whole day of use in our testing without us worrying about.

Camera: While the other iPhones have dual rear cameras, the iPhone XR has just one sensor. For normal photo shooting, it does a great job though. The lack of a second camera also reduces the quality of Portrait Mode photos. But, the detractors came largely in comparison to other top cameras. 

Mini verdict: The iPhone XR has all the performance of its more expensive siblings on the inside. It’s camera and screen may not be as impressive, but where it truly dazzles is in the battery life. If you want an iPhone with a battery you won’t always worry about, the iPhone XR is it.

Read more: iPhone XR review

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is one of the most impressive phones from the Chinese firm to date, offering up a heady mix of design, power and performance with a few party pieces thrown in too.

It builds on the excellent P20 and P20 Pro, offering up even more screen, enhanced triple rear cameras and an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Screen: The Mate 20 Pro packs a huge 6.39-inch display giving you a huge amount of space for gaming and movies, and its QHD resolution and HDR10 support ensures everything looks great. There is a wide notch at the top of the display though.

Battery life: You'll get great battery life from the Mate 20 Pro, and we regularly achieved a day and a half of usage from a single charge during our review time with the handset.

Camera: The Mate 20 Pro comes with three cameras on the rear, nabbing the excellent 40MP wide-angle and 8MP telephoto lenses from the P20 Pro - but the third sensor is new. It's an ultra-wide 16MP snapper allowing you to cram even more of your surroundings into each shot.

Mini verdict: The Mate 20 Pro is a full-featured phone for a full-featured price - it even has a few tricks you won’t see elsewhere, and more powerful specs than most of its competitors.

Read more: Huawei Mate 20 Pro review 

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The bigger S10 Plus is by far Samsung's best phone, but the standard S10 backs almost all the same top-end features into a more compact form factor and slightly lower price tag. And yet, the S10e loses a few of those for even lower cost, putting the standard S10 in an awkward place. This middle child is a great phone, but it's overshadowed by both its siblings, which occupy more desired niches in the smartphone market.

Screen: With a 6.1-inch display you're not exactly getting a small screen with the standard S10, but Samsung has reduced bezels even more over the S9, keeping the dimensions surprisingly compact. You also get a fingerprint scanner embedded in the display, meaning there isn't one on the back for a seamless rear cover.

Battery life: The battery in the S10 has grown versus the one in the S9, but with the increased screen size as well you're still looking at all-day battery life with a nightly charge. The S10 also has Samsung's new Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to wirelessly charge other devices on the rear of the handset.

Camera: Like the S10 Plus, the trio of cameras on the Galaxy S10 are among the best on the market, building on the excellent setup on the S9 series by offering more features, shooting modes and overall clarity. 

Mini verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S10 gets proper under-the-hood upgrades, two more lenses and fun new perks. You’ll like all of these powerful features, while your friends will like the new Wireless PowerShare perk – it helps them out more than you. 

Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S10 review 

iPhone XS is a minor, but important upgrade over last year's completely redesign iPhone. It's noticeably faster and has an improved dual-lens camera to make it a better choice, if you're willing to pay the same launch price. No the look of the 5.8-inch new iPhone hasn't changed on the outside, but if you want a more one-hand-friendly size for a cutting-edge iPhone, this is the one to buy.

Screen: The 5.8-inch OLED on this iPhone is big, but not a turn off for some people who literally can't handle the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max (which we like a bit more in our big mitts). This phone size isn't too much bigger than your old 4.7-inch iPhone 7 or iPhone 6 thanks to its reduced bezel – though you'll miss the Touch ID home button. You'll forget about that when staring into the color-rich OLED that's dreamier than the old iPhone LCD.

Battery life: The iPhone XS has about the same battery life as the iPhone X, so you'll get all-day battery life with normal use. Power users may struggle a bit without one of the best power banks, and although Apple says it has 30 minutes more battery life than the iPhone X, the smaller capacity and our tests show it's shy of that claim.

Camera: This is where you'll see differences in the otherwise familiar-looking iPhone XS. Its dual-lens camera offers Smart HDR and optical image stabilization (OIS). It's not as vivid as the cameras on a Google Pixel 2 or Samsung Galaxy S9, but you'll get true-to-life photos that make the 2018 iPhone's a worthy upgrade.

Mini verdict: Although still expensive, the iPhone XS is our best phone for someone who wants to use iOS 12 and doesn't want to spend even more money on the bigger iPhone XS Max. You have your limits, and that may be 5.8 inches and $1,000.

Read more: iPhone XS review

The Google Pixel 3 XL brings higher end internals and a notched screen to the latest iteration of Google’s larger phone. It’s got the same great cameras as its smaller sibling, but more screen and more battery. Unfortunately that also means a higher price.

Screen: The Pixel 3 XL has a sizable 6.3-inch OLED screen with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. There’s HDR support and a sharp 1440 x 2960 resolution. The viewing experience is good, though this screen does have a rather chunky notch that may not be to everyone’s liking.

Battery life: In our testing, we found the 3,430mAh battery to be plenty. Power users can get a full day, and average users are likely to find themselves getting a day and a half. Some of that battery performance is likely coming from good battery optimization within Android Pie. Fast charging and fast wireless charging just round out the offering.

Camera: The Pixel 3 XL has the cameras to beat. Google knows how to make a good camera that far exceeds what the specs sheet says. It uses a 12.2MP rear sensor, but software optimization helps it outperform other smartphone cameras in just about all cases. The dual front-facing cameras also give selfie-lovers some extra versatility.

Mini verdict: The Pixel 3 XL improves on the previous generations design, fitting more screen into roughly the same size. It also manages a battery life that should satisfy most. Best of all, the camera is better than anything else you’ll find (except the Pixel 3, which is just as good).

Read more: Google Pixel 3 XL review

LG's smartphone prowess feels like it slipped in the past year, as the LG G8's launch was a bit of a bust. What should have been a follow-up to the LG G7 turned out feeling like a minor upgrade that didn't keep up with the progress in smartphone design we've seen in 2019. Still, it has enough to offer to land a low place on this list.

Screen: The 6.1-inch OLED display is certainly a strong point of the LG G8, even if it does still have a hint of the notch. Much like Samsung, LG makes incredible displays, and they show up in its phones. The LG G8's is bright and colorful, and even boasts a higher resolution than much of its competition.

Battery life: The 3,500mAh battery in the LG G8 is nothing to get excited about. It's definitely enough to get through the day, but some newer phones are showing up with significant upticks in battery capacity.

Camera: LG may be using AI to improve the G8's picture taking capabilities, but it doesn't stand up to the competition here. It has a little versatility with both a standard and a wide-angle camera on the rear, but it's not enough to catch up with the Samsung, Google, or Huawei. It does have a neat, though hit-or-miss, feature in the ability to use Portrait Mode for video.

Mini verdict: The LG G8 is a strong phone, powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset. And, if it's available at a discount, it's a good buy. But, at its retail price, it's priced too close to better phones to win a top ranking. 

Read more: LG G8 ThinQ review

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is aging gracefully. It's cheaper and a bit less powerful than its Galaxy S10 Plus successor. But, it's still a big phone with an expansive screen, top-of-the-line camera and all-day battery life. This is still one of the best Samsung phones you can buy in the US if you have large enough hands for its massive size.

Screen: Its 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display that really sells this phone, and not because it has more pixels than before (it doesn't) than last year's S8. It’s the futuristic-looking curved edges, vibrant colors, and high contrast ratio that make the screen pop. It's hard to go back to any other size once you hold this large, beautiful light beam in your hand. 

Battery life: Samsung's 3,500mAh battery is large enough to last all day and a little bit more. It's better than the normal-sized S9, though other phones out of China are maxing out at 5,000mAh these days. It's the one area this handsets seems adequate and not Plus-sized. Luckily, it support Samsung's very quick fast charging standard.

Camera: Low-light scenarios are no match the the Galaxy S9 Plus dual-lens, dual-aperture. It does a fine job at amping up dark environments without adding noise that you'll see from other camera phone. It does smooth out textures in the process, but it's on par with, and at times better, than the Google Pixel 2.

Mini verdict: The Galaxy S9 Plus is Samsung's answer to the iPhone X, but better in several ways. It too has stereo speakers, face unlock, AR Emoji and vertically stacked 12MP dual cameras. What's better? Its better low-light photos, 3.5mm headphone jack and larger 6.2-inch curved all-screen display – without a notch. No one else has this combination right now. 

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review

The iPhone X has been surpassed by the iPhone XS, but not too much has changed since the former launched in late 2017. The phone is still fast, has good cameras and looks great – and you'll be able to get it a bit cheaper than its successor from retailers and carriers (Apple discontinued it from its store).

Screen: The 5.8-inch OLED is Apple flagship, alright: sharp and bright, with a better display than its budget successor, the iPhone XR. The X abandoned a home button for flat screen and Face ID for login and authentication in its quest for ultimate screen-to-body real estate, so expect edge-to-edge glory...aside from the notch.

Battery life: At 2,716mAh, the X's battery is nothing to brag about. Careful use will get you a bit over a day before the phone keels over, but that's not flattering for modern phones.

Camera: The iPhone X's dual 12MP shutters were the top of their day, but have since been surpassed by plenty of flagships. It's still a venerable rear camera system, especially for Portrait mode, and its 4K video shooting is nothing to scoff at. Expect good selfie performance, too.

Mini verdict: The iPhone X is still a quality phone, especially since the iPhone XS added little to its predecessor. Don't expect it to outrace this year's best phones, but a year-old flagship is still only a year old.

Read more: iPhone X review

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AMD RDNA 2 graphics cards may be out in 2020, according to leaked roadmap

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 08:00 AM PDT

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 and 5700 XT have been out for a few months at this point, but we've now seen some leaked roadmaps that suggest their successors could be hitting the streets sometime in 2020.

These leaked roadmaps appeared on Guru3D, and seem to be slides that are part of a financial briefing. They suggest that not only are Zen 4 processors in the design stage of development, but so are RDNA 2 Radeon GPUs.  We already knew that these Zen 4 processors were coming, but it looks like the rumored AMD Navi 20 graphics cards that will take on Nvidia's best graphics cards will be based on a refined architecture, rather than the same design that the RX 5700 XT is based on. 

Its also worth noting that the next-generation Xbox Project Scarlett will be launching in 2020 – as is the PS5 according to internet gossip – and will be powered by AMD Navi graphics.  So, that begs the question: will the first-generation RDNA graphics be powering these next-generation consoles, or will it be RDNA 2? 

We do know that next-generation consoles will support ray tracing, and we even saw a Gears 5 developer mention that Project Scarlett will have dedicated ray tracing hardware in an interview with Gamespot, something that current Navi graphics cards definitely don't have. So, will RDNA 2 have dedicated ray tracing hardware like Nvidia Turing? We have no idea.  

Now, because this is all based on a leaked roadmap, you should take this potential release window with a grain of salt. AMD will surely spill the beans on its next graphics cards when the company is ready. Either way, we'll be here waiting for all the juicy details when they come.  

Via Hexus

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Best earbuds 2019: the best earbuds, earphones and in-ear headphones for any budget

Posted: 12 Sep 2019 07:58 AM PDT

Best Earbuds and In-Ear Headphones Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best earbuds, in-ear headphones and earphones you can buy in 2019.

Earbuds. Earphones. In-ear headphones. Whatever you call them, they're undoubtably one of the most convenient ways to listen to your music, whether you opt for wired, wireless, or true wireless earbuds. 

They can be found in check-out counters, airports and gas stations worldwide – but just because you can find them down at your local convenience store doesn't mean that's where you should buy them. Instead, the best earphones are often found online from manufacturers like 1MORE, RHA, Shure and Nuforce. 

True wireless earbuds have really come into their own recently, with the Sony WF-1000XM3s and the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s joining our roundup of the best earbuds. 

If you've got some money burning a hole in your pocket, you might want to check out Audeze's latest earphones, which cost a staggering $899 / £849 (around AU$1300 – there are plenty of cheap earphones on the market, though. 

Of course, there are plenty of big brands making some of the best in-ear headphones, and with Apple rumored to drop its second generation true wireless AirPods 2 in 2020, there could soon be even more to choose from. 

If those names don't sound familiar, don't worry - we've got information on all of the best buds and their manufacturers. 

Can't decide which type of headphones to buy? Check out our guide video below: 

To that end, not only are the best pairs of in-ear headphones ultra-comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, but newer models can be completely wire-free and support Hi-Res audio codecs like LDAC and aptX HD. 

Our current favorite true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM3 go one step further, combining truly wireless sound with high quality noise cancelation tech.

While you won't find any discount-bin earbuds on our list, you can rest easy knowing that the 'buds you see below are durable, long-lasting and sound (for the most part) out-of-this-world. As we review more models this list will change, which means you can expect that you're getting the best headphones on the market at any point and any time you buy them. 

The best earbud and in-ear headphones FAQ: quick questions answered

Which brand's earphones is the best? That totally depends on what you're looking for. But we're careful with our lists. That means all of the earbud and in-ear headphones below come from brands we trust – you can't go wrong with our picks below.

What are the best cheap earbuds? At least half of the buds in this list are below the £80/$80 mark, which makes them ideal for those who need a new set of headphones but can't justify a splurge. We recommend taking a good look at the RHA MA390 Wireless, as well as the 1More Triple Drive In-Ear Headphones. If they're still too pricey for your current budget, then check out our guide to the best cheap headphones of 2019.

Which is better, earbuds or headphones? It's up to you. Some people love the feel and immersive sound experience of over-ear headphones, others prefer the freedom and compact size of in-ear headphones and earbuds. It all depends on what your priorities are. 

How do I keep my earbuds from falling out? Although most of the high-end in-ear buds and headphones are designed to stay put, everyone's ears are different. Which means there's still a chance they'll fall out – especially if you're running or moving. If this keeps happening, we recommend opting for a pair built with sports in mind, these tend to have better support and even a different design that anchors them into your ear better.

Should I buy wireless earphones? Wireless and true wireless earbuds are a great option for those who want to listen to music on the go without the hassle of tangled cables getting in their way. However, some audio purists think that the sound quality afforded by Bluetooth connections still doesn't compete with traditional wired models.

The best earbuds and in-ear headphones of 2019:

After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones we were blown away at just how much value each one gave in their prospective price ranges. 

For $100 (£100, about AU$168), it’s hard to think of a better sounding and built headphone than the 1MORE Triple Driver. That said, if you want just that little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price. 

There’s very little we can fault the Triple Drivers for. Their rubber cable is annoying and its remote control feels cheap but these are just nitpicks. But, for their price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE's Triple Driver in-ear headphones. 

Read the full review: 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone

Best earbuds

Image credit: TechRadar

Sony WF-1000XM3

Considering it's still rare to get noise-cancellation in wired earbuds at all, the fact that Sony has managed to pack it into a pair that are not only wireless, but true wireless is very impressive indeed. 

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

That being said, in spite of a few minor problems we feel that Sony has knocked the ball out of the park with the WF-1000XM3: Not only are these hands down the best-looking True Wireless headphones out there, but they combine serious noise cancelling tech with fist-pumping musicality. If you don’t want the inconvenience of carrying full-size cans, they’re a persuasive alternative.

Battery life is above average, and that compact charging case is pretty slick too. On-ear volume controls similar to the PowerBeats Pro would've been nice, but again, that's really not a deal-breaker in our books.

Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3

While truly wireless earbuds are undoubtedly the future of portable audio, they still present compromises in battery life and wireless reliability. Plus, they’re easy to lose if you’re not careful. Neckbuds, or earbuds that are worn around the neck, are a great alternative to true wireless earbuds as they offer longer battery life for continuous listening and stronger wireless performance. 

That being said, if you're interested in picking up a pair, it's hard to do better than the RHA MA390 Wireless, which easily stands as one of the best neckbuds on the market. After spending several weeks with them, we came away impressed with the package RHA has come up with: The headphones are built extremely well, have a fun sound signature, can take a beating and still remain relatively affordable. 

It’s main rival, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless (featured below), are also excellent, however the RHA MA390 offer more dynamic sound and better build quality. 

 Read the full review: RHA MA390 Wireless

cambridge audio melomania 1


Cambridge Audio is known for its high-end audio equipment, but until now, hasn’t ventured into the world of true wireless earbuds. Enter the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s: with an outstanding 45 hours of battery life, they combine the brand’s award-winning engineering with the convenience of truly wireless listening. 

For a pair of true wireless earbuds, the sound quality offered by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s is sensational. In fact, it rivals some of the best over-ear headphones, which is all but unheard of for buds of this size. 

They may not have the noise cancelation technology offered by the Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds, but they are $100 (around £80) cheaper – and have a superior battery life. 

Read the full review: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1

Best earbuds

Image credit: TechRadar

Good sound is subjective, yes, but there are things that we can all agree on that make a headphone sound good: Bass should be tight and impactful, highs detailed but not harsh, and mids that are smooth like honey. 

Most headphone manufacturers shoot for these specs, but what if you want a little more bass or want to increase the energy of the highs? For most headphones, your only option is to mess with equalization. But RHA has a different idea. 

The RHA T20i is an excellent sounding pair of in-ear headphones with a neat party trick: customizable filters. These filters thread into the headphone housings and let you choose from Bass, Treble, and Reference. Each filter makes an audible impact and are easy to swap out on the go. 

As a package, the build quality, sound, and customizable filters make the RHA T20i a must-have for audiophiles on the go. In fact, they sound so good, they made us want to give up our wireless headphones.

Read the full review: RHA T20i

best in-ear headphones

Image credit: Optoma 

The NuForce BE Sport4 wireless earbuds are that rare find: earbuds that are good for basically all situations. While they're specifically designed for use in the gym and on the track, the BE Sport4 do an awesome job isolating audio in a crowded city environment and are even good enough for home listening.  

The BE Sport4 earbuds have claimed 10-hour battery life, which we found to be pretty close to the mark in our time with them, and from empty you can get two hours of use from just a 15-minute charge – ideal for those needing a quick top-up while they put on their trainers and pack a gym kit. 

Consider this a warning shot fellow audio manufacturers: build and audio quality do not need to be sacrificed in order to keep earbuds affordable. 

Read the full review: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4

Best earbuds

Image credit: TechRadar

OnePlus is most known for its “flagship killer” phones like the OnePlus 6, but the company also makes headphones - the best example of which are the company’s excellent Bullets in-ears.  

For $70 (£70, about AU$124), the OnePlus Bullets Wireless offer an incredible value in the neck-bud headphone category. Sure, true wireless headphones are en vogue now, but tethered wireless headphones offer better battery life and signal strength for much less money. 

Read the full review: OnePlus Bullets Wireless

Best earbuds

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NuForce knocked it out of the park with the BE Sport3 headphones. They're an incredible value for a pair of wireless headphones that sound good, last all day, have a bulletproof build and incredible noise isolation. 

While they're not the most dynamic or resolving headphones, NuForce shows us that the future of wireless headphones is a bright one.

Read the full review: Optoma NuForce BE Sport3

Best earbuds

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If you want a pair of high quality truly wireless earbuds that aren’t the Apple AirPods, then the Jabra Elite 65t should be at the top of your list. 

After spending over a month with them, we came away impressed with the well-rounded package that Jabra managed to create: The earbuds offer a subtle, mature look and a reliable wireless connection, which isn’t always the case with truly wireless earbuds. Plus, they sound great compared to the competition. 

While the Jabra Elite 65t are easily one of the highest scoring true wireless headphones we've reviewed, there are a few others on the market worth considering: If you want a pair of exercise earbuds, there’s the Jabra Elite Sport which has a higher water resistance and handy sports-oriented features. For audiophiles who don’t mind stretching the budget, the active noise cancelling Sony WF-1000X are an excellent choice. Bassheads will want to try the SOL Republic Amps Air.  

If you only have the budget for one of these, though, go for the Elite 65t.

Read the full review: Jabra Elite 65t

Best earbuds

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With the appealing candy apple detailing, Sennheiser gets you in the door. But once you're in, you'll stay for the killer sound quality that comes from the Momentum In-Ear earphones.

These are the among the best deals in the headphones market as it stands today. The company has a version available for each flavor of mobile OS –Android and iOS – so everyone can get in on the goodness.

Read the full review: Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear

Best earbuds

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They're expensive, but the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones are worth every penny. 1MORE hit it out of the park with this flagship pair of in-ear headphones with its balanced sound build quality, smartphone compatibility and price. These in-ear headphones will make mobile audiophiles very happy. 

The only reservation that we have is that the Quad Drivers face tough competition from 1MORE’s own cheaper Triple Driver sibling which costs half the price (which sit pretty at the number one spot on our list). 

In terms of value, the 1MORE Triple Driver headphones are the winner but for those who want just a bit better build and more detailed sound, the 1MORE Quad Driver headphones are worth the extra money. 

Read the full review: 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones

Best earbuds

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While they can't quite top other in-ears like the exceptional1MORE Triple Driver or RHA's T10i, Optoma's NuForce HEM6 does bring a lot to the table. Namely, that includes a great-sounding – and ultra-comfortable – pair of headphones. 

So, why are they so far down the list? 

While the NuForce BE Sport3 strikes the perfect balance between performance and price tag, the HEM6 skews a bit towards the expensive side without offering enough of a difference in performance to warrant the sticker price. That's not to say these are a bad pair of headphones – they're quite the opposite – it's just that we feel there are better values out there in the headphone world.

Read the full review: Optoma NuForce HEM6

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