Apple : Best 4K TV 2019: your definitive guide to the top Ultra-HD TVs |
- Best 4K TV 2019: your definitive guide to the top Ultra-HD TVs
- KSI vs Logan Paul 2 live stream: how to watch today's rematch online from anywhere
- Exclusive Samsung Galaxy S10 deal - get a free Nintendo Switch Lite, 90GB data, £0 upfront
- The best Ultrabooks of 2019
- Liverpool vs Man City live stream: how to watch Premier League 19-20 football online from anywhere
- Black Friday TV guide: are supermarket TVs ever worth it?
- The Fitbit Versa gets a $60 price cut ahead of Amazon's Black Friday sale
- The original Apple TV Plus shows are all getting picked up for second seasons
- Huawei Mate 40: what we want to see
- Disney Plus's She-Hulk and Moon Knight Marvel series now have writers
- Ubisoft Spain raises hopes with Splinter Cell tweet
- TalkTalk just dropped its fibre broadband deal prices (again) ahead of Black Friday
- AMD Radeon graphics cards could soon get much-wanted integer scaling feature
- The next Apple Watch could add Touch ID to the display
- Red Dead Redemption 2’s messy PC launch encapsulates the good, the bad and the ugly of PC gaming
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplay, release date, trailers and news
- Apex Legends Season 3: latest update news, tips, patch notes and more
- Netflix will stop working on older TVs and streaming sticks - are you affected?
- Best Xbox One X games: what to play on the world's most powerful console
| Best 4K TV 2019: your definitive guide to the top Ultra-HD TVs Posted: 09 Nov 2019 02:08 PM PST They weren't popular at first, but now 4K TVs rule the roost in terms of overall sales. In fact, according to the data, over 70% of American households own a 4K TV at this point, with that number set to increase in 2020. So why should you ditch that 1080p TV? Not only do 4K TVs simply look better thanks to the increased pixel density and support for wide color gamut technology, but they're usually just as cheap as a 1080p TV – even if you buy them brand-new. In fact, buying a new 1080p TV is getting harder and harder as more manufacturers continue to phase them out of their product lineups. But with so many options out there, narrowing down a year's worth of high-caliber screens to just eight is a tough job. But that's where we come in. We've viewed the vast majority of the 4K TVs on the market, and have narrowed them down to a list of the top 4K TVs on the market for 2019 with screens from Samsung, Sony and LG leading the pack, and lower-cost options like Vizio, Hisense and TCL following just behind. If you recently bought something from another manufacturer that you love and you don't see it on this list, it doesn't mean we've intentionally snubbed it. Unfortunately best-of lists are tiny and we can only squeeze so many screens on here. That said, we're always adding more screens to this list, so be sure to check back this time next month. Will Black Friday have sales on 4K TVs?Oh boy will it. Black Friday 2019 and Cyber Monday are the premier days for 4K TV shopping with most manufacturers cutting 20-40% off their top-selling screens. That said, you need to be careful and really look at the model number of any TV deals that seem too good to be true. If it's not exactly the same TV you see on this list (or on another trusted reviews website for that matter), it's probably not the same TV. We'd also recommend staying away from any bargain basement priced 4K TV (Insignia, Sceptre, etc...), as these screens usually don't have good upscaling, a high refresh rate or a very good operating platform. Stick with us and we'll hook you up with all the best Black Friday TV deals. What is 4K? Watch the video below to find out: What are the best 4K TVs in 2019?Samsung Q90R QLED TV (2019) Last year, the Samsung Q9FN was the TV to beat. It won award-after-award for its features and image quality, not to mention its excellent, improved smart platform that came with Bixby support and Samsung SmartThings. However it wasn’t perfect and there were legitimate complaints about viewing angles and an over-aggressive local dimming system that crushed black detail. Samsung has clearly taken these criticisms to heart, and directly addressed them in the Q90. The new model has a visibly superior viewing angle that holds its own against OLED, and the local dimming delivers deep blacks without losing shadow detail. To that end, the new Ultra Black Elite filter is nothing short of a revelation, rejecting ambient light in a way that just staggers belief. The Q90 is able to deliver images that can directly compete with an OLED, with natural colors, bright highlights, deep blacks, and well defined shadows. It can also surpass any OLED when it comes to HDR, with images that are often breathtaking in their detail and dynamic range. In fact our only real criticism would be that, unlike some of the competition, the Q90 doesn’t support Dolby Vision. However in all other respects the Samsung Q90 is an absolutely stellar TV that takes QLED to another level. Read the full review: Samsung Q90R QLED TV LG C9 OLED 4K TV If smart features are the most important criteria for you when picking out a new 4K TV, then you can't do any better than the new LG C9 OLED. The 2nd generation Alpha9 processor, which uses AI enhancements to deliver stellar SDR and HDR images, helps make the upscaling and processing second-to-none with incredible levels of detail and image fidelity. Add to that a robust smart platform and new AI sound options that analyze and improve sound quality in real time, and you have one of the smartest – and, in our opinion – one of the best 4K TVs on the market. Not to mention one of the best OLED TVs too. Read the full review: LG C9 OLED (OLED55C9, OLED65C9, OLED77C9) The Vizio P-Series Quantum X is a home run for Vizio. Sure, the SmartCast interface isn’t all the great, and the speakers are worth bypassing, but the TV is packed with awesome features and backed up by an excellent image quality. We’re looking forward to AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, but even without those features the TV is still one of the best options in its price range. If you truly have deep pockets and want the best image quality out there, then it’s still worth going for LG's OLED or Samsung's QLED TVs - but in the absence of a six-figure salary, the $2,199 Vizio P-Series Quantum X PX-65G1 is clearly an excellent option for those that want quantum dot tech in a smart TV at Vizio-level prices. Read the full review: Vizio P-Series Quantum (PQ65-F1) A direct replacement for last year's Sony A9F/AF9 OLED, the Sony A9G/AG9 Master Series OLED is the new flagship of Sony’s TV fleet. It embraces a characteristically minimalist design that disguises a host of cutting-edge features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, plus Netflix Calibrated Mode (of interest to many), and IMAX Enhanced certification (of interest to few). This is a screen that looks premium, and has a spec on the right side of righteous. The Android platform is easy to live with, that vibrating sound system entertaining and picture quality top notch. Offering Dolby Vision is a welcome refinement, but the caveat is a lack of support for HDR10+. That said, it does a fabulous job up-scaling HD/SDR so it's easy to overlook the lack of at least one HDR format. It's undoubtedly expensive but, all things considered, this glass is class. Read the full review: Sony A9G Master Series OLED LG B9 OLED Series (2019) The LG B9 OLED is possibly the most fascinating OLED set in LG’s 2019 TV range – in that it’s the cheapest one. Acting as the successor to last year’s LG B8, the 2019 version of LG's entry-level OLED again offers a beautiful OLED panel housed in cheaper casing and powered by older processors in order to keep the price below that of its more premium siblings, the LG C9, LG E9, and LG W9 OLED. Inevitably there are some corners cut to get there, and you’re not getting the excellent experience of the C9 or E9 – but if the B9 is all your budget allows for, it’s a solid purchase, and one we'd recommend to just about everyone. Read the full review: LG B9 OLED (OLED55B9, OLED65B9) While it's not as impressive as this year's Vizio P-Series Quantum X, last year's Vizio P-Series Quantum still offers an incredible deal for those who can find one. It’s a big, bold and affordable screen that supports most forms of HDR and has the ability to light up the room with its 2,000 nits of peak brightness. It might not be able to hit the inky black levels of OLED, and suffers from slow startup, but it is by far the best value quantum dot TV on the market. That being said, if there’s anything substantial holding the Vizio P-Series Quantum back, it’s Vizio’s smart platform: In just a few words, SmartCast is one of the least robust platforms and one of the slowest, too. Startup from a complete shutdown takes a seriously long time, and navigating around the interface isn’t nearly as snappy as LG’s WebOS or Samsung’s Tizen platform. Still, if you don't mind a slow OS, this is a great budget big-screen TV. Read the full review: Vizio P-Series Quantum (PQ65-F1) Samsung Q70R QLED TV (2019) Samsung’s flagship Q90R QLED TV blew us away recently with its wider viewing angles, deeper blacks, and superior HDR images - sadly, however, not everyone can afford the flagship model. So what can Samsung offer for those wanting to experience QLED picture quality on a budget? Despite sitting lower down in the QLED line-up, the Q70R includes the same comprehensive smart platform, extensive connections, and cutting-edge features found further up the range. This isn’t the flashiest-looking TV that Samsung has ever made, but if your funds are limited the Q70 is a cracking QLED all-rounder that’s worth checking out. Read the full review: Samsung Q70R QLED TV Sony Bravia X950G 4K TV Sporting the upgraded X1 Ultimate processor, Netflix Calibrated Mode and the latest version of Android TV, Sony’s mid-range X950G has a lot going for it. Right out of the box, the best way to describe the image quality of the X950G is… well, natural. It’s not flashy. It’s not overly bright. Colors aren’t oversaturated. It’s just a really natural picture with subdued colors and great black levels perfect for HD/SDR content. That said, if you’re the kind of person that wants a bit more pop to your images all you need to do is turn on Live Color in the picture settings. This mode works on HD/SDR content to add a bit more color saturation to the image and helps to make the image ‘pop’ in a way that really grabs your attention. It’s a shame that poor sound quality ruined such a great 4K/HDR TV, however, taken by itself, the Sony X950G is an immaculate screen with a ton of potential. Read the full review: Sony BRAVIA X950G (XBR-65X950G) TCL 6-Series 4K TV If you have deep pockets and a checkbook filled with blank checks, we’d tell you to reach deep and shell out for only the best 4K TVs on the market – LG’s crazy-thin OLED W8 or Samsung’s ultra-bright Q9FN QLED. But that’s not always realistic: for the vast, vast majority of us, our budget to spend on a 4K UHD TV is limited to somewhere under $1,000 – and often it's even less than that. To that end, it’s absolutely fair to say that the TCL 6-Series is the best TV you can possibly get in this price range. Its performance per dollar is unmatched and its picture quality – despite a few minor flaws – will truly impress you. Said simply, if there’s a better value 4K TV on the market, we’ve yet to see it. Read the full review: TCL 6-Series (R615, R617) Hisense's H8 Series has long offered high quality at a very reasonable price, but these days it's getting harder and harder to make waves in the budget TV market - Samsung and LG now offer plenty of great 4K HDR TVs well under the $1,000 mark, while TCL has been making headlines with its $600 TCL 6-Series. But the H8F is a little different than previous-gen H8 series TVs. It's the company's best value TV yet and offers both Android TV and the company's proprietary ULED TV tech that it claims offers better contrast and performance than rival LED TVs. Sure, it's not going to compete with LG's OLEDs or Samsung high-end QLED models, but this affordable 4K screen is one of the best in its price range, and the only sub-$500 model we feel comfortable recommending to our readers. Read the full review: Hisense H8F (55H8F) review
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| KSI vs Logan Paul 2 live stream: how to watch today's rematch online from anywhere Posted: 09 Nov 2019 12:24 PM PST Are you rrrrrready to rrrrrrumble? After the epic draw they fought out last year, YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul are stepping back in the boxing ring this weekend to see who truly deserves to be crowned the YouTube king of boxing. Don't want to miss any of the action? Read on to find out how to watch a KSI vs Logan Paul live stream - no matter where in the world you are. Last year, 18,000 devoted fans came to watch as America fought Great Britain in one of the biggest events ever organised by YouTubers. Streamed by hundreds of thousands of fans, it was a fight as well watched as the top UFC and boxing fights in history - but are you ready for KSI vs Logan Paul round two? After an epic six rounds in their first head-to-head match, a draw was called leaving fans on both sides wanting a re-match. Since then both Paul and KSI have been in training, improving their fighting styles and stamina and it looks like this year, anyone watching a KSI vs Logan Paul live stream could see a knockout go down. KSI is at a height, weight and reach disadvantage going into this fight but is the more experienced fighter of the two, leaving Paul wobbling a good few times in their first fight. Since then, he's been the bookies favorite for round 2, but it honestly feels like anything could happen. Ready to stream KSI vs Logan Paul live online? We've included everything you'll need to know about broadcasters down below so you can be ahead of the game on the night. Live stream KSI vs Logan Paul from outside your countryIn North America or Canada? DAZN has you sorted and it's Sky Sports for the fans in the UK. Scroll down a bit further to find out the exact details of how to stream from your country. And for those in Australia, below you'll find some bad news and a bit of a work around. But if you're abroad this weekend then you'll need another way to watch and avoid possible geo-blocking. That's where using a VPN comes in. How to live stream KSI vs Logan Paul in the USHow to watch KSI vs Logan Paul from the UKHow to watch a KSI vs Logan Paul live stream in Canada for FREEHow to live stream the fight in AustraliaThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Exclusive Samsung Galaxy S10 deal - get a free Nintendo Switch Lite, 90GB data, £0 upfront Posted: 09 Nov 2019 12:11 PM PST May we blow our own trumpet for a moment? (Thank you). Not only is TechRadar excellent at sniffing out the best Black Friday phone deals every November, we're also pretty good at going off and bagging exclusive offers, too. Mouth-watering mobile phone deals that you'll only find here. And with a few weeks still to go until the massive merchandising meltdown, we've done just that - on one of the world's very best smartphones. We've teamed up with Mobile Phones Direct to offer a big data Samsung Galaxy S10 contract plan and it will send you a FREE Nintendo Switch Lite games console. There's only one tariff included in this exclusive, so you won't have to spend any time uhm-ing and ah-ing over which to choose. This one's very simple...a Samsung S10 deal on O2, with 90GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, for 24 months at £49 per month. While those monthly bills are a little more than we'd usually want to pay (even for all that data), when you consider that the freebie costs around £200 on its own and there's nothing to pay upfront, suddenly this is an S10 deal worth shouting about! Keep scrolling to learn a little more about this exclusive offer and why we rate the Samsung Galaxy S10 so highly. Or continue your handset hunt with our dedicated Samsung S10 deals guide.
Why go for the Samsung Galaxy S10?Fitting perfectly between Samsung's affordable S10e and its mammoth S10 Plus and Note 10 devices, this phone is the perfect middle ground. You're getting a high-quality screen, in-screen fingerprint scanner and a powerful battery/processor combo. A quick glance at our best smartphone guide shows we currently rank it as the joint best phone in the world. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S10 review here This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 09 Nov 2019 09:20 AM PST The best ultrabooks are sophisticated, slim and light, but there’s more to them than just being a status symbol. Within those slim chassis reside some surprising power, making them unusual but welcome workhorses for productive and creative endeavors. Not even considering all that power, the race to be thinnest among the best ultrabooks means that they’re perfect for those constantly on the go. They won’t hurt your back as you cart them around and can easily fit into a messenger bag or backpack. Because they come packed with powerful hardware, you can expect to throw a hefty workload at them and still get results. And while they’re not ideal for heavy gaming or video editing, their performance will still impress you. The best ultrabooks often couple that performance with excellent battery life, meaning you can wait until you’re done gallivanting around town to recharge. The Huawei Matebook 13 packs a ton of powerful hardware into a gorgeous shell, making it among the best ultrabooks in 2019. For some years now, Huawei has been sitting in the shadows, biding its time to take on the best Ultrabooks. But now, their time in the limelight is here. Like the Huawei MateBook X Pro before it, the Huawei Matebook 13 packs a ton of powerful hardware into a gorgeous shell, all while offering it at a price that’s more than reasonable. Those discrete graphics are also worth a mention – the Huawei Matebook 13 may be one of the tiniest laptops out there to come with an MX150 GPU. It’s not hard to see why the Huawei Matebook 13 is the best Ultrabook right now. The Dell XPS 13 remains one of the best Ultrabooks to beat in 2019. The Dell XPS 13 has been king of the Ultrabooks for years, and while it’s been unseated by the Huawei MateBook 13, it remains one of the Ultrabooks to beat in 2019. This time around, Dell has moved the webcam from the bottom of the display back to the top, fixing one of the biggest flaws that held back the XPS 13 for years. Add the updated internal components to the mix, and the Dell XPS 13 still makes the best Ultrabooks list – even in the face of tough competition. The Huawei MateBook X Pro brings high-end components into an elegantly designed package. Sometimes an Ultrabook arrives that totally changes everything. When the 2018 model of the Huawei MateBook X Pro hit the scene, it did just that. This beautiful Ultrabook brings high-end components into an elegantly designed package that puts even the MacBook Pro to shame. It really is one of the best Ultrabooks on the market, even if it's last year's model. It's hard to find a better laptop than the HP Spectre x360. If an arresting Ultrabook housing 2-in-1 functionality and a ton of power satisfies what you’re looking for, it’s hard to find a better laptop than the HP Spectre x360. This slim and light Ultrabook isn’t just filled with the latest Intel Whiskey Lake processors and plenty of RAM. It also might just be the most exquisite laptop you can buy today. The HP Spectre x360 won’t just get you through your workload, but will also make you smart and stylish in the process – leaving no doubt that it’s well-deserving of its lofty spot on our best Ultrabooks list. With the third version of the Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft has made its best laptop yet. While it's not a huge leap over its predecessor, the Surface Laptop 3 does improve on almost every aspect. Best of all, with the 15-inch version you now get a choice of either Intel or AMD hardware. Previously, only Intel tech was included. Elsewhere, the Surface Laptop 3 continues the Surface Laptop's reputation for being a stunningly designed laptop. These are some of the most desirable laptops in the world that don't have a logo of an apple on them, with a new aluminum body that gives it a premium feel, while protecting it from knocks and drops. There are still a few niggles, like the continued lack of ports, but in general this is one of the best laptops in the world right now. The Lenovo Yoga C930 has quite a few of the makings of the best Ultrabook. The Lenovo Yoga C930 has quite a few of the makings of the best Ultrabook – from an absurd 14.5 hours of battery life and dual Thunderbolt-enabled USB-C ports to internal components that will easily handle those daily productivity tasks. That’s without even considering it’s a 2-in-1 that offers form versatility so you can squeeze in some light gaming and movie-watching once you’re done working. It has a few cherries on top as well, specifically the integrated self-charging stylus and the fab speaker system. With the Razer Blade Stealth, Razer wants consumers to know that they're more than just a company for gamers. Razer has made quite a name for itself in the gaming world. Yet, with the Razer Blade Stealth, the green-themed manufacturer wants consumers to know that they’re more than just a company “for gamers, by gamers.” This Ultrabook will absolutely change your mind with its 13.3-inch, QHD+ beauty. You can no longer choose to get a 4K screen, but the performance this Ultrabook provides is more than worth the compromise – especially given how gorgeous the chassis is. The Lenovo Yoga 730 will easily take you through your weekly workload. Durability meets portability and performance in this slim laptop with a reasonable price tag. The Lenovo Yoga 730 isn’t the close-to-perfect machine many premium buyers may be in the market for, with a few less-than-favorable issues like heavier weight, average battery life and weak speakers. However, this laptop will easily take you through your weekly workload. Lenovo then rounds out that performance with a reliable keyboard and trackpad, sturdy hinges to go between tablet and laptop mode, and a display with thin bezels. The HP Envy x360 13 (2019) delivers a performance that will tackle most of your schoolwork and projects with ease. There are so many exciting reasons why the HP Envy x360 should be on our best Ultrabooks list, and its sleek, stylish design is the least of them. This 13-inch 2-in-1 has a premium build quality, touts 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will tackle most of your schoolwork and projects with ease, all without burning a hole in your pocket. The Asus ZenBook UX310UA is just as capable as the MacBook Air. In many cases, a Windows Ultrabook can be just as able as a MacBook Air. Take the Asus ZenBook UX310UA, for example. With decent 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake processors, an astonishing 178-degree viewing-angle QHD+ display, a USB-C port and an aluminum build, it’s still one of the best Ultrabooks on the market, even after all this time. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Liverpool vs Man City live stream: how to watch Premier League 19-20 football online from anywhere Posted: 09 Nov 2019 09:06 AM PST They'll be no shortage of motivation for both teams on Sunday as the Premier League's runaway leading pair go head-to-head at Anfield in the title race's most critical match so far this season. You can watch all the action as it happens, no matter where you are in the world, by following our Liverpool vs Man City live stream guide below. Both teams have been living on the edge in recent weeks with Liverpool having to come from behind in their last three games, while Man City needed a second-half comeback against Southampton last weekend. Liverpool currently hold a six-point lead over City at the top of the table, but Pep Guardiola's side will be absolutely intent on reducing the gap on Sunday. City will be without keeper Ederson, who has failed to recover from the muscular problem that led to his substitution against Atalanta in midweek, and are also likely to be without David Silva with a similar injury. There's better news for Liverpool, who are able to call upon Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk after the pair both missed training earlier in the week. It's a match that's set to have a huge bearing on the title race - check out our guide below on how to obtain a Liverpool vs Man City live stream, regardless of where you are in the world. And to find out how to watch the rest of the season's games, check out our guide on how to live stream the 19/20 Premier League football season. Use a VPN to watch Premier League football from outside your countryIf you're abroad this weekend but still want to watch your home coverage, you'll need a VPN to do so. That's because your normal coverage will be geo-blocked. It's really easy to do and stops you having to tune in to some dodgy stream you've heard about on Reddit. How to stream Liverpool vs Man City live in the UKHow to watch Liverpool vs Manchester City: US live streamHow to watch a Premier League live stream in CanadaHow to live stream Liverpool vs Man City in AustraliaHow to watch Liverpool vs Man City': New Zealand live streamHow to live stream Liverpool vs Manchester City in IndiaThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Black Friday TV guide: are supermarket TVs ever worth it? Posted: 09 Nov 2019 08:00 AM PST There are plenty of avenues to get TVs these days, whether you’re pacing the stacks of shelves in a local retailer or absent-mindedly clicking whatever Black Friday TV deal comes up on your Google newsfeed. But if you are eyeing up a supermarket television this Black Friday or Cyber Monday, is it really the way to go? The past couple of decades has seen traditional supermarkets vastly expand the kind of products they offer, moving from groceries to clothing ranges, kitchenware, 4K Blu-rays and video games, and even electronic devices such as brand new televisions. You won’t get every new TV in your local supermarket, though, as its only specific types of TV brands that tend to offer their wares in that environment. People tend to have a specific budget in mind when they walk in with their shopping list, and there’s a limit to how much they’ll spend there – while the truly high-end televisions out there, whether QLED, LCD, or the best OLED TVs, tend to be available through specialist retailers who know the ins and outs of the gadgets they’re selling. So, what supermarket TVs can you buy, where are should you get them, and is it a sensible purchase for your home? Supermarket TVs: what and where?What supermarket TVs are available? There are a number of budget TV manufacturers that tend to target these retailers, such as Walmart and Target (in the US) or Asda, Tesco and Aldi (in the UK). These TV brands include the likes of Polaroid, Onn, RCA, Spectre, JVC, Logik, or Blaupunkt. You will see names like Samsung or Panasonic in our Walmart TV deals guide, but their ranges tend to be a step up in price for the TV size, format support, and panel technologies deployed in the set. What are supermarket TVs like?The sets in this category usually fit the following three criteria: they’re cheap, they’re small, and involve a compromise. Why cheap? Supermarket TVs need to appeal to the income bracket of people shopping in that particular outlet – and while you could drop a four-figure sum with your credit card in your local Walmart / Tesco, the most effective targeting strategy for TV manufacturers is to make the TV sale as frictionless as possible with the other purchases you’re making in the store. That means a TV cheap enough to feel at home on your shopping receipt. Why small? Televisions you can pick up or fit in your shopping trolley are the easiest to stock in supermarkets, and easiest to fit into your car or method of transport (though a bicycle basket may be pushing it a bit). Why a compromise? Supermarket TVs tend to gun for the value proposition, meaning you get either bottom-dollar televisions with basic capability – such as HD resolution, little format support, and limited smart TV interfaces – or TVs that offer more premium factors at a reduced cost (i.e. 4K resolution and HDR support). There are exceptions on all three counts: there are certainly some larger sets available, higher-cost options, and sets that really offer fantastic performance for the cost. But this is generally where things lie. So, should I buy a supermarket TV?Whether you buy a supermarket TV or not will depend on your priorities. If you’re on a restricted budget, and you can’t afford a TV approaching $500 / £500 / AU$800, then a supermarket TV is certainly a cost-effective way to get a display into your home. Keep in mind, though, that TVs of this kind boasting advanced technologies like Ultra HD, high dynamic range, or Dolby Vision support will only be providing a limited version of them. 4K TVs vary widely in how well they display high- and low-resolution content. That’s because the internal specs of the television and the quality of its picture processing are crucial to maintaining a smooth, detailed, and visually rich picture. You do get what you paid for, and anyone bringing home a bargain TV shouldn’t be surprised if they find visual issues like shuddering frame rates, blooming around light sources, and unnatural-looking color contrast. It depends how important those factors are to you, but if you only use a TV in a limited capacity – or don’t want to shell out for a quality picture – a supermarket TV can certainly be a sensible use of your money. Just make sure you’re getting a warranty on the set, in case the budget hardware gives out before you’ve got a decent amount of use from it. Some supermarket TVs to consider (US and UK)Other TV shopping advice for Black Friday
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| The Fitbit Versa gets a $60 price cut ahead of Amazon's Black Friday sale Posted: 09 Nov 2019 07:38 AM PST Just in time for the holidays, you can get the best-selling Fitbit Versa smartwatch on sale for $140 at Amazon. That's a $60 price cut and the best price we've found for the feature-rich activity tracker. The Fitbit smartwatch would be a perfect gift for anyone on your list, and this is a fantastic opportunity to not only get a head start on your holiday shopping but also snag a deal before the craziness of Amazon's Black Friday sale officially begins. Learn more about the November sale event with our guide to Black Friday 2019. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The original Apple TV Plus shows are all getting picked up for second seasons Posted: 09 Nov 2019 07:30 AM PST Apple has officially confirmed that its scripted Apple TV Plus shows The Morning Show, See, Dickinson and For All Mankind are all going to be returning for second seasons. It was already widely known that production was continuing on The Morning Show, but now Apple has definitively stated (via Variety and others) that all four shows are going to be back on your screens in the future. If you're still in the middle of your free week of Apple TV Plus and wondering whether it's worth the $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 subscription fee, news of more space, fantasy and literary adventures might seal the deal.
Alternatively, you can just treat yourself to a brand new iPhone or MacBook – new Apple hardware purchases come with a year of Apple TV Plus included, so you can sit back and binge-watch for 12 solid months. Who's watching the watchers?At the same time as confirming the new shows are coming back for second seasons, the media is reporting that "sources close to Apple" are happy with the viewer response so far. In terms of the four series we've mentioned, Apple data is showing that "most" viewers who watched one episode went on to watch at least one more. With the exception of Dickinson, these shows had three episodes available at launch, with new ones appearing each week. In our own review of Apple TV Plus, we described it as a service that "certainly doesn't have the chops to replace anything currently on the market" – though that of course might change as new content appears. And the competition is growing all the time – on Tuesday, Disney Plus is going live in the US and Canada, giving Netflix and Apple TV Plus yet another video streaming service they have to contend with. Via Engadget This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Huawei Mate 40: what we want to see Posted: 09 Nov 2019 05:00 AM PST The Huawei Mate 40 and Huawei Mate 40 Pro could be Huawei’s two best phones of 2020, but many questions surround them. Not just the usual questions of specs and features, but also whether they’ll run Android and whether they’ll even release in much of the world. We don’t have concrete answers to any of that yet, but we can speculate, and as news and rumors start to roll in we’ll update you accordingly. The Huawei P40 launch - that's expected early in 2020 - may give us a clearer answer to that question. In the meantime you’ll also find our wish list below for what we want from the Mate 40 range – it starts with full Android, but there’s plenty more that we’d like to see. Cut to the chase
Huawei Mate 40 release date and priceThe Huawei Mate 30 and Huawei Mate 30 Pro were announced on September 19, 2019, while the Huawei Mate 20 range landed in October 2018. So as there are no release date rumors yet we can’t narrow down the launch to a specific day or week, but the Mate 40 range is likely to land in September or October of 2020. However, that’s not necessarily when you’ll be able to buy them. In fact, you might not easily be able to buy them at all, as due to the Huawei ban the availability of the Mate 30 range is unclear at the time of writing – the US won’t be getting them, but even in the likes of the UK and Australia there’s no confirmed availability right now. So this may well be the case for the Huawei Mate 40 range too. As for price, for now we can only look at the Huawei Mate 30 range, with the standard phone costing €799 (around $880 / £700 / AU$1,300), while the Huawei Mate 30 Pro costs €1,099 (around $1,200 / £970 / AU$1,700). So prices may be similar for the Mate 40 range. Huawei Mate 40 news and rumorsNext to nothing is known about the Huawei Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro yet, and it’s no wonder, with the phones not likely to launch until late 2020. We have heard a couple of things though. Firstly, they’re likely to run Android – albeit without Google Play Services, leaving them in a similar situation to the Huawei Mate 30 range. Huawei has built its own operating system, dubbed HarmonyOS, but has said it isn’t in any hurry to ditch Android for it. It’s also rumored that the Huawei Mate 40 range will use a Kirin 1000 chipset. This chipset hasn’t been announced, but according to Huawei Central it will be the company’s first to be made on a 5nm process (making it smaller and more efficient than the Huawei Mate 30’s chipset) and will land in the second half of 2020, with the Huawei Mate 40 range being the first phones to use it. While this is just a rumor for now it’s very believable, as Huawei follows a pattern of debuting new chipsets on the Mate range. What we want to seeThe Huawei Mate 30 and especially the Huawei Mate 30 Pro are great phones, but with one major flaw and a number of smaller ones. Here’s how the next models could be improved. 1. Full AndroidOur wish list for the Huawei Mate 40 doesn’t end at full Android (complete with Google Mobile Services), but it does start there. Without this, however great the handset is in other ways it will be crippled. So we really hope Huawei can come to an arrangement with the US that allows it to resume using Google’s apps and services. 2. Bring back the volume buttonsThe Mate 30 Pro made some daring design choices, including the removal of any physical volume buttons. Instead, you can use gesture controls to adjust the volume, and while these work well when the display is on, they don’t work at all when it’s off. This is a real annoyance, so for the Huawei Mate 40 range we want either physical volume buttons or for the gesture controls to work when the display is off. 3. The same curves, without the vignettingThis is another problem that only applies to the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, rather than the standard Mate 30, but it has a steeply curved screen that looks great – at least most of the time. Sadly, those curves also create screen vignetting, which is something we’d like to see fixed for the next models. However, assuming Huawei can do that we’d love those sharp curves to be present on both the Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro. 4. No more notchWhile the Huawei Mate 30 and especially the Mate 30 Pro generally look good, they both sport notches, which are looking increasingly dated. So for the Huawei Mate 40 range we want the company to deliver an all-screen design with no notch and ideally no punch-hole either. 5. A sharper screenDespite its generally cutting-edge specs, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro has ‘just’ an 1176 x 2400 screen, while the standard Mate 30 has a similar resolution 1080 x 2340 one. While these aren’t bad resolutions, they’re not quite QHD, and many rivals now have QHD+ displays, so we’d like to see a boost to at least 1440 x 2560 on the Huawei Mate 40 range. 6. A bundled stylusThe Mate range is in many ways a rival to the Samsung Galaxy Note range – bigger alternatives to each company’s ‘main’ flagship line. However, the Note range additionally stands out through Samsung’s S Pen stylus, which is a key component of each model. While the Huawei Mate 30 Pro does support Huawei’s M-Pen, it doesn’t come with it, and the functionality is more limited than with Samsung’s S Pen. So for the Huawei Mate 40 range we want the M-Pen to be a core component. It should ship with the phone, fit into a slot in the phone, and be packed full of features to help you get the most out of that inevitably large screen. 7. An in-screen cameraWe reckon 2020 could be the year that we start seeing in-screen cameras in phones, and we want the Huawei Mate 40 (or at least the Huawei Mate 40 Pro) to be one of them. Not only would that be an impressive feature in its own right, it would also help get rid of the notch we were lamenting above.
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| Disney Plus's She-Hulk and Moon Knight Marvel series now have writers Posted: 09 Nov 2019 04:37 AM PST Two more of the Marvel series coming to Disney Plus have lead writers in place: Moon Knight and She-Hulk. Jessica Gao, the Emmy-winning writer of Rick and Morty's memorable 'Pickle Rick' episode, will be the showrunner of She-Hulk, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Meanwhile, Moon Knight will be headed up by Umbrella Academy executive producer and writer Jeremy Slater, reported by the same outlet. There was no comment from Marvel Studios or Disney on either bit of news, but both writers took to Twitter to share their feelings on being hired to further the stories of the MCU.
Story details for both Disney Plus series are thin on the ground, but Slater did elaborate somewhat on the behind-the-scenes of the show. "And while I won’t be able tell you anything in regards to story or casting, I can tell that you we've assembled a room full of brilliant writers who truly love this character, and we're all hard at work crafting something special for you." What are these series about?Neither show has a release date yet, but we can assume they'll come to fruition at some point after the already-announced live-action Marvel series on Disney Plus. The last one of those, Hawkeye, is scheduled for late 2021, so it might be we see these series roll out in 2022, which feels far away but will no doubt creep up on us as though no time passed at all. We'd speculate that both series will hew towards popular recent portrayals of the characters in the comics. Over the past decade-and-a-half, She-Hulk has notably starred as a kind of superhero lawyer in her comics with a slightly lighter tone. Moon Knight, meanwhile, tends to be about character Marc Spector's fractured personalities. His best recent portrayal came in a six-part series by writer Warren Ellis and artist Declan Shalvey, where his classic cape-and-cowl costume was traded for a more grounded suit and tie look. No doubt we'll find out more about Marvel's Disney Plus efforts at either D23 or San Diego Comic Con next year. Disney Plus, for its part, launches on November 12 in the US, Canada and the Netherlands. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ubisoft Spain raises hopes with Splinter Cell tweet Posted: 09 Nov 2019 04:21 AM PST Ubisoft has been hinting at another Splinter Cell game for a few years now without ever confirming there's one actually coming. Now, we still don’t have any confirmation but, courtesy of Ubisoft Spain, we do have another teasing social media post. Ubisoft Spain posted an image of Splinter Cell protagonist Sam Fisher in his iconic night vision goggles on Twitter this week with a short caption in Spanish alongside it. When translated, the caption reads: “You need to understand the darkness to face it”. In true Splinter Cell fashion, it doesn’t give much away. But in true internet fashion, there are hopes it’s leading up to a bigger announcement.
Staying stealthyThe post hasn’t appeared on the Twitter feeds of any other Ubisoft regions—even the official Splinter Cell Twitter account is keeping characteristically quiet—but the tweet hasn’t been removed from the Ubisoft Spain account, either, so it's unlikely to have been a slip up. It's worth noting that this isn’t the first Splinter Cell rumor we’ve seen in recent times; back in early 2018 fans were excited by a listing on Amazon Canada that came to nothing, while earlier this year (via PCGamesN) The Division 2’s Julian Gerighty actually tweeted that he was working on the next Splinter Cell only for it to later be dismissed as a joke. In July 2019, it was even reported that Facebook is trying to secure a Splinter Cell VR game for its Oculus headsets. Thus far, none of these rumors have resulted in any kind of official announcement. However, Splinter Cell remains one of Ubisoft’s most beloved franchises and in previous interviews CEO Yves Guillemot has said (via Gamersky) that the publisher still has plans for the brand. Taking all of this into account, it’s hard to tell whether this particular post is something to be taken seriously, or whether it’s simply another case of Ubisoft teasing the franchise for fun and reminding fans that it holds their future Splinter Cell-related happiness in its hands. There are still a couple of big gaming events this year, such as The Game Awards, that could be an ideal place for Ubisoft to make an announcement, if there actually is one to be made. At this point, though, it’s just a case of watching, waiting and hoping. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| TalkTalk just dropped its fibre broadband deal prices (again) ahead of Black Friday Posted: 09 Nov 2019 04:01 AM PST There's still three weeks left to go until Black Friday but the best fibre broadband deals are already dropping. And TalkTalk has just announced its latest bid to beat off the Black Friday fibre broadband competition. For a mere £21.95 per month, the provider is offering superfast unlimited broadband usage with average download speeds of 38Mb. Along with including line rental, TalkTalk guarantees no price increases throughout the whole 18 month contract - a rare sight for broadband deals. That means you know that your next year-and-a-half of fibre internet will be the same low price. And if you're looking for even faster fibre broadband TalkTalk also has on offer its Superfast Fibre Broadband deal. That's come down below the £25/pm mark. Below we have outlined and explained in full these two Black Friday fibre broadband deals from TalkTalk. And if you're not looking for fibre broadband or you want TV with your broadband, make sure you check out our best broadband deals guide. TalkTalk's great value fibre broadband deals:
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| AMD Radeon graphics cards could soon get much-wanted integer scaling feature Posted: 09 Nov 2019 03:57 AM PST AMD is getting ready to add support for integer scaling to its Radeon graphics driver, at least going by references uncovered in Linux driver patches. As PC GamesN reports, there have been multiple references in such patches for Linux throughout October, most recently on October 31, with a reference to “guarantee integer scaling ratio for all scaling modes”.
Integer scaling, for the uninitiated, is a method of implementing sharper upscaling for pixel art games such as Hotline Miami and Terarria. The problem with these kind of games is that their pixel art graphics can look offputtingly blurry on higher-resolution monitors, but what integer scaling does is ensure they still look crisp – hopefully incredibly crisp – on these kind of screens. Most-wanted featureIt’s something of a niche feature, then, but it will make a huge difference to these kind of games. And in actual fact, it’s the single most popular requested feature going by AMD’s own survey which seeks to determine the favorite features that should be introduced with the big Adrenalin driver update due in December (it just beats the expansion of Radeon Image Sharpening to more GPUs beyond those currently supported). Anecdotally, we’ve also seen quite a lot of clamor for integer scaling online, and Nvidia already introduced the feature for Turing graphics card back in August. So in a way it’s a necessary introduction to keep up with the Joneses, as it were. And it does indeed look to be AMD’s plan to implement this given not just the obvious demand, but the amount of reoccurring references in those aforementioned patches for Linux drivers.
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| The next Apple Watch could add Touch ID to the display Posted: 09 Nov 2019 03:30 AM PST By all accounts the Apple Watch is an impressive bit of kit, but Apple continues to look for ways to make it better – including, perhaps, adding Touch ID to the display in future versions of the wearable. That's based on a new patent spotted by Patently Apple this week. In it, Apple suggests that "a touch sensing device, force sensing device, temperature sensing device, and/or a fingerprint sensor" could be put behind the screen. While the Apple Watch can already be used to make Apple Pay purchases, unlock Macs and more, Touch ID would add an extra level of security to prove you really are who you say you are while you're wearing your Apple Watch.
And although Touch ID has disappeared from the latest iPhones, it's still very much present on the cheapest iPads and Apple's MacBook Pro laptops. There's even talk of the fingerprint-reading tech making a return to the iPhone line in the future. The main focus of the new patent is actually the idea of moving the watch's wireless antennas to the strap, leaving more room for other components (and perhaps a bigger battery) under the screen. Embedding Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth antennas into the Apple Watch strap would be a tough challenge, considering how much bending and other wear and tear that these straps are put through. It would also mean your choices would be limited when it came to replacing the default watch band with another. Still, Apple obviously thinks the concept is viable enough for it to file a patent about it. As with every tech patent, this is no guarantee that these features will ever be introduced into an Apple Watch – but it does give us an idea of the sort of innovations Apple is thinking about for the future. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Red Dead Redemption 2’s messy PC launch encapsulates the good, the bad and the ugly of PC gaming Posted: 09 Nov 2019 03:00 AM PST Red Dead Redemption 2 is finally out on PC! At long last, PC gamers can play Rockstar’s cowboy simulator! Well … that was the plan. For many PC gamers, the long wait to play Red Dead Redemption 2 on their PCs ended up being a whole lot longer. Instead of being able to jump into Rockstar’s beautifully detailed world of cowboys, lowlifes, button mashing and seemingly endless horse riding, many people were instead left staring at a message that reads "The Rockstar Games Launcher exited unexpectedly." Boy, howdy! Now, the less charitable amongst us who have already played the game might say that this level of frustration offers PC gamers a pretty accurate Red Dead Redemption 2 experience. After failing a mission because you walked the wrong way, or died in an ambush because the game decided to lose all your weapons, you may actually wish for the beautiful simplicity of a simple old fashioned crash to desktop error. When it works, Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC can look stunning – especially with mods. Saddle upJoking aside, if you’ve just bought a game, you should expect to be able to play it. That’s kind of the point. And, the messy PC launch of Red Dead Redemption 2 has reminded many of us why gaming on PC can be so frustrating. While we’d love to say that games crashing because of outdated drivers, or throwing up incomprehensible error messages that leave even the more technically minded of us utter confused about what went wrong – and how to fix it – no longer happen, sadly it does. And, for console gamers who have sworn off PC gaming because it’s too complicated … they might well feel their prejudices have been justified. It’s a shame, because the PC is undoubtedly the best platform to play Red Dead Redemption 2 – when it works. We had our share of problems, with the Rockstar Games Launcher, the piece of software you need to install to play the game, taking forever to decrypt the 100GB file we’d just downloaded. And once, it had finally installed, the game refused to load. This cowboy is still trying to get Red Dead Redemption 2 to load. Thankfully, Rockstar released an update that seemed to fix the issue – after we updated our graphics driver. And once we were in, it was definitely worth the wait. The graphics quality of the PC port puts the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro versions to shame. Not only does the PC version support a huge range of resolutions, including 4K and above (as long as your hardware can handle it), but it also supports ultra-wide aspect ratios. And, as we found, this super-wide view is quite possibly the definitive way to play this game if you’re after a truly cinematic experience. Add in a multiplayer mode you can play for free (remember that?) and an already promising collection of mods that will make the game look – and play – even better, and the PC is clearly the ultimate platform to play Red Dead Redemption 2 on. It’s just a shame that, at the moment the port is so messy, that it’s detracting from that fact.
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| Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplay, release date, trailers and news Posted: 09 Nov 2019 01:50 AM PST Hold on to your lightsabers: there's a new Star Wars game on the way, and it's called Jedi: Fallen Order. In development by Respawn Entertainment (the studio behind Apex Legends and Titanfall), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was announced during E3 2018 but we didn't get a proper look at the game until early in 2019, during a special panel at the annual Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, before EA lifted the covers completely at E3 2019. While the official reveal only gave us a glimpse at a story trailer, it was more than enough to get us hyped for the upcoming game. E3 2019 gave us a far more meaty look at the game - including some lightsaber-fueled gameplay - before the developer dropped an extended demo at the end of the month. Now we only have to wait mere weeks before getting our hands on the game for ourselves. While fans of the galactic franchise have seen official tie-ins in the form of Star Wars Battlefront I and II, the new entry takes on a different tack, focusing on a single-player experience more in line with 2008's The Force Unleashed – and we have all the concrete news and wild speculation you could want below. [Update: Early Access will not be available for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Read on to find out more.] Cut to the chase
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release dateEA has confirmed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will release on November 15, 2019, just in time for Christmas and the long-awaited release of Star Wars Episode IX: Rise of Skywalker. If you pre-order the Deluxe Edition ahead of the game's launch, you'll get two exclusive in-game lightsaber colors plus an exclusive hilt, in addition to skins for your droid and star ship. EA and Respawn will also include a digital art book in the Deluxe Edition and a few behind-the-scenes videos. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order trailers and storyYou'll take the role of Cal Kestis, a former Jedi padawan (AKA, a student of the Force). The game is set in the period following Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith – the fateful time when the evil Emperor Palpatine executed Order 66, which saw the Jedi ambushed and killed by their own supporting Clone Trooper soldiers. Few survived and were forced into hiding. And that seems to include Cal! A youngster only partially through his training, Cal has been forced into hiding, working construction sites and trying to keep a low-profile as the Jedi-hunting Imperial Inquisition continues to track down any remaining survivors. The reveal trailer shows Cal having to use his Force powers to defend himself against rogue troopers, and to save a friend from falling from an accident. The trailer suggests the game will have some lavish set-pieces and environments, and hinted at a very-story-driven experience to enjoy. A story trailer released in September gave an even better idea of what to expect from the game's main story, showing that Cal is not only on the run from the Empire, he's actively racing them to get to an item related to the Jedi Order. Check it out both trailers below: You can also watch the EA Play 2019 gameplay reveal for the game below, but note that you're going to have to jump into around the 30 minute mark to skip the build up portion, that's basically just 30 minutes of an EA logo! If you just want to see the game in-action, there's a brand-new official gameplay trailer that should provide everything you need to know about the game - including a few surprises. (Spoiler warning!) This is the same demo that journalists and attendees saw at the EA Play event. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplayEA Play 2019 showed us a 15 minute slice of gameplay from the game, roughly 3 hours into the game. We were shown Chewbacca's homeland Kashyyyk, where Jedi Cal is trying to kickstart the rebirth of the Jedi order. But the poor Wookies are enslaved by the Empire! So Cal has to try to help them out. Walking through a tech-filled jungle corridor, gameplay at first doesn't look unlike Uncharted 4, with a tool that lets you swing from beams, and some wall-running ala Respawn's other game, Titanfall. Cal's pretty nimble, able to clamber up walls and climb as if he was Assassin's Creed's Ezio. He moves weightily. After meeting up with some resistance fighters, he carves his way through a door and comes across a burning refinery, using his lightsaber as a torch in the darkness. A battle ensues below and Cal needs to reach a troop of Stormtroopers , so force-pushes a tree below to make a path to them. Here we see our first glimpse of lightsaber action. Cal can force pull and push troops, as well as throwing his lightsaber at them for a ranged attack. Combat is lock-on focussed, not unlike Dark Souls for one-on-one combat, but seems massively more forgiving. There also seems to be finishing animations that trigger when you've took a baddie to low health. Lightsaber combat, thankfully, looks weighty and measured – this will be a tactical fighting game, rather than a hack and slash, with the classic ability to slash blaster bolts back at an enemy. Cal also seems to have the ability to focus the force and slow time, letting him take on dangerous foes, like flamethrower stormtroopers with a little more ease, as well as avoiding environmental hazards like spinning blades. One cool moment had him slow time, and force pull a stormtrooper towards him in time to use it as a human-shield against the very same blaster bolt it had fired at Cal moments earlier. The same technique can be used to halt a foe momentarily in its tracks – very Kylo Ren. So far, levels, though expansive, seem fairly linear – you're very much set along a path from one action scene to another, although the densely-designed levels prevent it from appearing too much like a series of corridors, back to back. Each scene has lots of AI interactions between NPCs, too – you'll see stormtroopers battling the native, giant-beetle-like creatures of Kashyyyk, and timing your attack against them could help to swing the odds in your favor. Cal acquires upgrade points as he defeats enemies, and also seems to be able to complete side missions if he goes off the beaten path and explores levels in detail. C The timing of the story, set after Revenge of the Sith, also means there was a familiar face or two turning up. Rogue One's Saw Gerrera, aka actor Forest Whitaker, was present, as was a bot that looked like K2SO. You'll have to fight this one, though. Skill points will go into your force abilities, letting you upgrade force pulls and push, double jumps and force slowing tricks. You'll get a droid, too, BD1, to help you on your way, offering the ability to hack terminals, heal your player and manage your hologram map, as well as being your buddy. You won't be able to turn to the Dark Side though – Cal's good to the core. So far then, so good. This is a classic-era Star Wars game, giving you a taste of the most-loved period in Star Wars history. Rather than the original reveal's suggestion that Cal will be a weak newbie Jedi, he's going to be fairly advanced in his training. And, it's all cannon – these characters are going to turn up in the wider Star Wars universe. It looks visually impressive... except for the Wookies. They looked like the plastic figures from the 70s. A bit more free-flowing, walking-carpet Wookie hair please, EA! Minimum and Recommended PC specsThe minimum specs required to play Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order aren't too bad, and most older gaming PCs should be able to scrape by without a problem. Here's what you'll need:
That said, the recommended specs are a bit... loftier. If you want to run the game at the recommended spec, you'll apparently need 16GB of RAM (*originally EA said it would be 32GB before dialing the number back), an AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU plus an AMD Ryzen 7 1700 or Intel Core i7-6700K. Here's all the details:
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order news and rumorsNo Early Access EA has confirmed that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will not have any Early Access options, even for subscribers to EA Access Premier who traditionally get access to games 5 days before release. They will still, however, still get the Deluxe version and access to pre-order items. The reason for the early access block is, apparently, that the publisher doesn't wish to risk any story spoilers leaking out before the wider audience gets to play. Releasing on Steam And it's not the only EA title coming to the platform. The publisher has confirmed we will see the likes of Unravel Two, The Sims 4 and "other major titles" appearing on Steam in the next few months, with big-hitters FIFA 20, Apex Legends and Battlefield V all arriving next year. If that's not enough, players on Steam and Origin will be able to play together. PS4 Pro and Xbox One X enhancements Gone Gold New story trailer Those Sekiro Comparisons The team readily admitted to being fans of From Software's games, though given Jedi: Fallen Order was in development before Sekiro's release the similarities can't be much more than coincidence. Game director, Stig Asmussen, said that he and his team had a look at previous Star Wars games to determine what worked in them and how those fun elements could be brought forward. The Jedi Knight games, for example, were singled out as being good examples of lightsaber combat because they "really sold the lethality of the lightsaber" and served as better inspiration than the kind of heavy-handed combat found in Force Unleashed. Protagonist potential While Asmussen admitted that he would be interested in an alien protagonist, he said the team wanted to make sure that “there was a real human connection to the character”. Having an alien protagonist in a Star Wars title certainly has the potential to offer a new and interesting perspective on the universe so it seems a shame that the opportunity was passed by. Fingers crossed it’s something that will be re-explored in the future. That said, Fallen Order has made a good impression thus far and hopes are high ahead of the game’s November launch. EA doesn't plan to release Fallen Order on Switch You can check out Ingram's reply to a fan tweet below: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was livestreamed – check it out But luckily for fans that couldn't make the trek to the event, EA livestreamed it. Check out EA's announcement tweet below for a chance to replay it: The galaxy-wide premiere saw the head of Respawn Entertainment, Vince Zampella, and game director, Stig Asmussen (whose previous work includes God of War 3), revealing the much-anticipated details of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order toys -confirmed A Padawan called Cal? Confirmed It's set after Revenge of the Sith This places it after the Galactic Empire hunted the 10,000-strong Jedi Order practically to extinction, leaving only a small fraction of Jedi alive (aka Order 66). With the promise that the game will be set 'in the dark times', it sounds like our Jedi protagonist may be more the hunted than the hunter. Could famous Jedi appear? The single-player mode comes first – and there will be no microtransactions It looks like a multiplayer component won't be available at all in the game – surprising given EA's focus in recent years on games that extend beyond a single play session. Even more surprising is the fact that there will be no microtransactions at all, ever, in Fallen Jedi. It's great news considering the industry falls over itself to offer chunks of games piecemeal these days – but don't be surprised if that means there will be an aggressive DLC system instead. I find your lack of faith disturbing Jedi: Fallen Order has been handed to a different studio, albeit one that's still a subsidiary of EA. But Respawn has garnered a lot of respect as the studio behind Titanfall and Titanfall 2, two critically acclaimed sci-fi action games that pit players against each other in giant mechanized suits, and which both came with strong single-player and multiplayer offerings. (Image credits: Respawn Entertainment) Keep checking back here for all the latest Jedi: Fallen Order news This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Apex Legends Season 3: latest update news, tips, patch notes and more Posted: 09 Nov 2019 01:40 AM PST EA surprised many with the sudden announcement of Apex Legends back in February 2019, a free-to-play battle royale shooter that sees the publisher going toe-to-toe with genre mammoths PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite Battle Royale. Developed by Respawn Entertainment and set in the Titanfall universe, Apex Legends is a squad-based battle royale shooter where teams of three go up against 57 other players to try to gather loot and be the last person (or squad) standing. However, unlike Fortnite and PUBG, Apex Legends sees players take on one of eight classes, each represented by a unique character (imagine Fortnite mixed with Overwatch and you’ll be on the right track.) As of October 1, Apex Legends has entered its third season. Called Meltdown, this season is introducing plenty of changes, big and small. From new weapons, to a new character to a brand spanking new map there's plenty to enjoy in Season 3 of Apex Legends for old and new players alike. Meltdown is seriously building on some of the much-needed and successful improvements that Respawn Entertainment made to Season 2 in a way that gives us great hope for the future of this game that's now very close to being one year old. If you're new to Apex Legends and looking to see what you're missing or you've dropped off the map for a while and you'd like to catch up on the latest, we're here to keep you up to date on what's fresh in Apex Legends.
As we said in our full Apex Legends review: "Truth be told, the Battle Royale movement has never quite grabbed me. I dabbled in PUBG and spent a dozen hours or so with Fortnite, yet nothing ever quite stuck the landing. Apex though, has got me hook, line and sinker. Featuring intuitive controls, an outstanding comms system and remarkable rogue’s gallery, Respawn has created what feels like the AAA outing for the genre." Apex Legends update news
As of November 5, Duos Mode is available in Apex Legends. This long-awaited game mode is mixing up the usual three-person squads by allowing players to team up with one other player and take on other pairs. As with other Limited Time Modes, Duos isn't around forever. It'll disappear on November 19. Firing Range Unlike, Duos, however, Apex Legend's new Firing Range appears to be here to stay. This long-requested feature is pretty much what it sounds like—it's a space to practice your shooting. You can enter the arena on your own or in a team and practice using a range of weapons and attachments on the poor dummies that litter the area. Firing Range is a great opportunity for players who feel they could use a bit of aiming practice but find timed and pressured matches just isn't a good way to do it. Apex Legends MeltdownSeason 2 of Apex Legends has now wrapped up and as of October 1 Season 3: Meltdown is underway. So what's new? Well, the most important thing is that brand new map you've probably heard about. World's Edge In Meltdown players are waving goodbye to the classic King's Canyon and saying hello to World's Edge. This new map is only the second ever introduced in the game but it's a dramatic departure from its predecessor, offering a massive, bright world that combines fire and ice. There's plenty to explore in World's Edge and we're sure it's keeping secrets that will be revealed later in the Season. Not only that, its diverse terrain that will see you dodging geysers, contending with lava fields and riding atop a moving train among other things offers a great opportunity to experiment with different combat styles. Battle Pass Apex Legends isn't exactly known for having mind-blowing Battle Passes but Season 3 does offer an improvement on its predecessors in some ways. Like the others, this Battle Pass is brand new for the Season and it brings with it 110 levels to climb by completing daily and weekly challenges, with more than 100 exclusive items including Legendary Skins, Apex Packs, Loading Screens and Gun Charms to earn. New weapons and character The new weapon for Season 3 is the Charge Rifle and it's making its debut alongside the new hacker and surveillance expert, Crypto. This new Legend can be purchased for 750 Apex coins and is great for those seeking some long-distance combat options as he uses his surveillance drone "to stay in the fight and out of the spotlight". He'll be a great addition to any team looking for some recon and of interest to any player looking for a more refreshing style of play. Ranked League Series 2Alongside Season 3, Ranked League Series 2 also launched on October 1. Like Series 1, Series 2 uses a score-based system with the developers feeling pleased with how it went the first time around. Tiers and Divisions also remain the same along with the level 10 entry requirement for ranked play and the fact that playing with friends will see matchmaking up to the highest ranked player. So what will players see that's a little different? Well, in Series 2 all ranked players will see their ranks be soft reset. That means all players will drop 1.5 Tiers. This is being done instead of a hard reset to 0, which would really stop any feeling of progress for those who were invested in the previous Ranked League. After deactivating leaver penalties in Series 1, Series 2 has them enabled so players who abandon their teammates during a match are hit with a matchmaking penalty in regular and Ranked matches. Penalties mean players are stopped from entering new matches for escalating amounts of time based on how often they drop out of matches before they're finished. Penalties range from 5 minutes to an entire week. While the Series 1 score-based system remains it has been improved in some ways. For more "granularity in the points spread" all the points in the system have been multiplied by 10. Match entry RP costs have also been updated. Bronze matches remain free but Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Apex Predator matches now cost 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 RP respectively. Assists have also been added to Ranked play's kill count score. An assist in Apex Legends is defined as doing damage to a player within 5 seconds of them being knocked down by a teammate. If the player is revived the assist doesn't count. Completely new to Ranked League Series 2 is the Apex Predator Ladder Position which now allows Apex Predator ranked players to see their worldwide standing as well as their RP. The ladders positions are split by platform so three players on PlayStation, Xbox and PC are all able to claim a number 1 ranking. Cosmetic rewards for rankings have also been introduced. All players receive badges indicating the highest level they've reached while players that reach Gold tier and higher receive a gun charm. Reach Diamond or higher and players receive a custom dive trail. Recently there have been rumors that players could soon see cross-play and cross-progression introduced to Apex Legends. We're taking these rumors with a pinch of salt since Respawn hasn't made any comment on them. But if there is anything to be announced it's likely we won't hear until Season 3 is underway or perhaps even past. Apex Legends tips and tricksApex Legends can be difficult to get to grips with. There are a lot of different characters each with their own abilities and skills, plus this battle royale arguably leans more heavily on strategy and teamwork than some of its competitors. Get ahead of the pack with our selection of Apex Legends guides, designed to help you become a champion.
How to download Apex LegendsApex Legends can be downloaded for free from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Origin Store or Apex Legends website. Simply search for the title, download the game and enjoy! But do keep in mind that a good internet connect and subscription to either PS Plus, Xbox Live or Origin Access is required to play. The good news is that Apex Legends is also coming to mobile in the future, following in the footsteps of Fortnite and PUBG. Apex Legends roadmap - what's next?Respawn Entertainment has shared the season roadmap for Apex Legends. Apex Legends Battle Pass seasons run for approximately three months. Currently four seasons have officially been announced:
Is Apex Legends coming to mobile?Yes. In EA’s quarterly earnings report, the publisher announced that it’s looking at bringing the Respawn Entertainment-developed game to mobile platforms and to both South Korea and China. “We’re in advanced negotiations to China and mobile”, EA’s CFO Blake Jorgenson stated, before later mentioning South Korea as another expansion point. We shouldn't expect to see Apex Legends on mobile for at least a year, though. According to EA Chief Executive, Andrew Wilson, the game won't launch until the fiscal year 2021.
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| Netflix will stop working on older TVs and streaming sticks - are you affected? Posted: 08 Nov 2019 02:54 PM PST As technology progresses supporting legacy platforms becomes… well, practically impossible. Image sizes get larger and take up more room, software becomes bigger with new features and system processes that at one time worked at lightning speed have since slowed to a crawl. For all those reasons and more, Netflix has decided to stop supporting older Smart TVs and some first-gen streaming players, specifically targeting older models Samsung, Vizio and Roku for deprecation. So which TVs are getting the axe from Netflix and are you going to be affected? Netflix has apparently already begun notifying folks who still use a Samsung Smart TV from 2011 or earlier that they will no longer be able to access the service starting in December, and a similar message has apparently gone out to people who are still using a Vizio Smart TV that’s more than four years old. Unfortunately, streaming video player owners aren’t out of the clear, either: Netflix will no longer be accessible on first-generation Roku players, though, according to Cord Cutters News, it’s only the first two players ever made that will be affected. All we are is dust in the windThose aforementioned TVs and players will lose access to the streaming service starting on December 2, 2019, according to the emails sent to users, meaning most folks will only have a month or so to find another way to access the app. The situation is unfortunate as no one likes to lose access to a service on a device they've paid good money for. But, that said, after eight or nine years, technology changes so much that it becomes ridiculously difficult to make sure every device still works exactly as it did when you first got it. The silver lining to this situation is that it's happening around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, giving the folks who are losing access both a reason and a golden opportunity to pick up new devices that won't lose access anytime soon. Know someone who might be affected by the outage? We've got guides to the best 4K TV deals as well as a round-up of the best Smart TVs in 2019 that can help you find your next great TV.
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| Best Xbox One X games: what to play on the world's most powerful console Posted: 08 Nov 2019 02:16 PM PST Since the Xbox One X's release two years ago, the powerful console has changed the limits of gaming – improving graphics to a true 4K resolution. It offers the best you can get on a console, at least until next-generation Xbox Project Scarlett launches. We now know of over 250 Xbox One X enhanced games for the new-ish console, including new titles such as Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Forza Horizon 4. While we'd love to tell you all of these games are going to ooze visual fidelity when you pop them onto your TV, not all of them are going to look like they're fresh out of the developer's oven. You see, even though the Xbox One X is capable of 4K/HDR at 60 frames per second along with Dolby Atmos sound, not all games are guaranteed to have all of these improvements. Some will support all of them, while some will support HDR and nothing more. With this in mind, we've created a list of the best Xbox One X games that push the console to its limits. Here you'll find the games with patch details that confirm they'll push at least two of the console's capabilities, whether that's 4K, HDR or Dolby Atmos. We've also included details on some upcoming titles with confirmed Xbox One X enhancements in the works in an effort to keep you informed of what's on the horizon for the 4K-ready console. It's worth noting that you'll be able to pick up most of the games on this list for cheap during Black Friday and Cyber Monday - so keep an eye out. Want to see more on the Xbox One X? View our video below!
What are its enhancements? Native 4K and 60fps As the first non-Resident Evil title built using Capcom's RE Engine, the Xbox One X version of Devil May Cry 5 astonishes with its incredibly gorgeous presentation. Though every version of Hideaki Itsuno's hack-and-slash masterpiece targets 60fps, the Xbox One X version is able to deliver that framerate consistently, making it the ideal way to experience Devil May Cry 5 in a living room setting. Along with its buttery-smooth framerate, Devil May Cry 5 is also presented at a native 4K resolution on One X, which is a huge improvement over the standard Xbox One's 900p resolution. As you would expect, detail is extraordinary here, with the game's vibrant HDR-enhanced art design showcasing the power of Microsoft's premiere console to magnificent effect. Characters exhibit incredible definition, as do the game's many outrageous environments and grotesque demon creations. One of the most visually spectacular games currently available, Devil May Cry 5 is highly recommended for those looking to take advantage of the Xbox One X's immense graphical prowess. Check out our Devil May Cry 5 review What are its enhancements? Native 4K (3840x2160 at 30fps) While it doesn't boast the PC version's cutting-edge ray tracing effects, it's hard to fault what developer 4A Games has accomplished with the Xbox One X version of Metro Exodus. Locked at 30fps, the 4A Engine never seems to falter during intense shootouts, with a smooth consistency that keeps the action moving at all times. Of course, there are those who might've hoped for a 1080p/60fps option to be included in the final release, but rest assured, Metro Exodus looks and feels great at 30fps. As has become common with all big game releases these days, Metro Exodus offers HDR settings regardless of which Xbox One console it is installed on – from the original base model, to the 4K-ready Xbox One X. Of course, you'll find that the game's high-dynamic range looks best on Microsoft's premiere console, with its additional resolution allowing you to see more subtle color gradations and an added level of detail within shaded areas. Although the world of Metro Exodus brutal and unforgiving, there are moments of extreme beauty to be found within the game. During the open-world desert section, we continually found ourselves blown away by the glowing sunlight peering through the clouds or reflecting from the sandy terrain. Easily the best way to play the game on a home console, the Xbox One X-enhanced version of Metro Exodus' 4K resolution truly accentuates the immense level of detail in both its claustrophobic interiors and vast, wide-open areas. More than just an arbitrary number of vertical and horizontal lines, the Xbox One X's Ultra HD resolution does a fantastic job of fully immersing the player within the greatest world that 4A Games has created to date. Check out our Metro Exodus review What are its enhancements? Native 4K and HDR (3840x2160 at 30fps or 1920x1080 at 60fps) The only word that can be used to describe Forza Horizon 4 is stunning. The latest addition to the open-world racing title is a testament to the power of Xbox One X enhancements. Racing through Great Britain at 4K is a truly breathtaking experience, further boosted by the game's dynamic seasons. If the the native 4K mode isn't graphically impressive enough, the new 60fps mode will blow you away with its smooth transitions and its picture perfect take of every pothole, lavender field and pebble dash wall in Britain. Make sure to check out our full Forza Horizon 4 review What are its enhancements? 4K Ultra HD and HDR Assassin's Creed games are known for being visual masterpieces and Odyssey is no different. Xbox One X enhancements truly bring Odyssey's Grecian world to life, with higher resolution textures, denser crowds, improved depth of field and an overall richer environment. Check out our Assassin's Creed Odyssey review diary for more What are its enhancements? Native 4K / 30fps or 1080p / 60fps If you've previously had a chance to play Rise of the Tomb Raider on the Xbox One X, then you probably have a pretty good idea of what to expect from its follow-up, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, in terms of enhancements. Like its predecessor, Shadow of the Tomb Raider can be played using settings that favor either resolution or performance — the former allows the game to regularly display at a native 4K resolution, while the latter drops the game down to 1080p, but offers much smoother gameplay targeting 60fps. Needless to say, Shadow of the Tomb Raider benefits greatly from the additional detail afforded by its 4K resolution uptick. Environments (particularly foliage, water and mud) are utterly jaw-dropping in 4K, making this entry the best-looking in the series to date. That said, it's not an entirely flawless presentation, with occasional screen tearing issues and framerate drops cropping up during some of the game's more graphically intense sections. Still, it's highly likely that developer Eidos Montreal is working on a patch to iron out these problems — we'll check back on the game in the near future to see if they've been addressed. While Shadow of the Tomb Raider's performance mode shows a noticeable drop in visual fidelity when compared to its resolution mode, the game still looks exceptional. There's a smoother framerate that gives players an additional level of responsiveness, making its controls feel more tactile in the process. It's clear that a lot of effort has been put into Shadow of the Tomb Raider's enhancements, and barring some occasional performance hitches that will likely be addressed in an update, the game really shines on Xbox One X. Check out our full Shadow of the Tomb Raider review What are its enhancements? Native 4K / 30FPS or 1800p / 60FPS Though it's almost ten years old, Red Faction Guerrilla arrives on Xbox One X with some impressive visual enhancements that serve to make the game's destructive architecture and enormous explosions all the more satisfying. In the game's display options, you'll find two video options: High Quality and High Performance. The former sees the game target a 4K resolution at 30FPS, while the latter drops the resolution slightly to 1800p, delivering a smoother 60FPS experience. To the naked eye, the High Quality resolution benefits aren't immediately apparent, given that the Xbox One X will automatically upscale to 4K anyway. However, the buttery-smooth framerate of High Performance mode is immediately apparent, looking especially great while driving around Red Faction Guerrilla's vast Martian landscapes. As part of its 'Re-Mars-tered' package, the game also receives improved textures and lighting — both of which work hard to enhance the game's visual appeal. Of course, there's no denying that Red Faction Guerrilla looks like a remaster of a last gen title, with very little color variation in environments and shadows that are just a little too dark (the inclusion of an HDR mode might've given the game's endless browns, reds and oranges a little more life and variety). Still, this is as good as Red Faction: Guerrilla is ever likely to look on a console, and if you're a fan of the game from its original release, we heartily recommend that you pick up this stellar remaster and get your ass to Mars again as soon as possible. What are its enhancements? 4K and 60fps What is it? It took a 'Hell' of a long time, but Doom has now been updated for Xbox One X. While the game always looked incredible, it now looks sharper than ever, thanks to a native 4K update. Like before, the game still runs at 60fps, meaning the Xbox One X version of the game offers the best of both worlds. Admittedly, we'd have liked it if a HDR mode had been added, given how long this update was in gestation, but we can't argue with the 4K update we've received. Seriously, Doom looks incredible in Ultra High Definition, and its buttery smooth framerate is just the icing on the cake. What are its enhancements? Native 4K and HDR A contender for prettiest open-world shooter to date, Far Cry 5 receives a number of impressive enhancements when played on the Xbox One X. Unlike many enhanced games that employ dynamic scaling techniques to keep their resolutions as close to 4K as possible, Far Cry 5 boasts a full and unwavering 3840 x 2160 resolution that never dips. It also manages to retain the temporal anti-aliasing that made Ubisoft's own Assassin's Creed Origins look so spectacular on Microsoft's high-end console. HDR settings are also available on Far Cry 5, though you won't be able to tweak them as thoroughly as you could with Origins' 'paper-white' and 'maximum luminance' sliders. Still, the game looks and runs gloriously on Xbox One X at 30fps. On top of this, users playing on the console will also receive improved terrain detail and shading. We can only hope that every Ubisoft title going forward looks as good as this on Xbox One X. Check out our full Far Cry 5 review What are its enhancements? 4K and HDR Though its art-style is simplistic, there's an incredible beauty to be found in the presentation of Rare's newest IP, Sea of Thieves. This massively multiplayer online pirate adventure is available on both Xbox One and PC, and while the latter offers unlocked frame rates and ultra-wide monitor support, the console version ultilizes HDR to really bring the game to life — sunsets have never been more breathtaking in a video game. Thankfully, Sea of Thieves supports crossplay between Windows 10 and Xbox so you can play with everyone. Along with its stunning HDR-enhanced visuals, Sea of Thieves' cartoonish art style is bolstered by a native 4K resolution on Xbox One X. As you'd imagine, the water is especially beautiful in Sea of Thieves — we'd even go as far as to call it the most realistic water in any video game to date. That said, Sea of Thieves is most impressive when you're standing on the deck of your ship, looking out as the sun sets over an island brimming with the promise of treasure. Weather can change on you in an instant, with a dynamic cloud simulation and storm system that really ups the intensity as you sail the game's vast ocean. If you want a game that shows off just how much the Xbox One X can enhance a visual experience, we suggest you set sail for the Sea of Thieves. Read all about it in our Sea of Thieves hub What are its enhancements? 4K and performance enhancements Bethesda's epic post-apocalyptic role-playing game has received an Xbox One X update which brings it more in line with the PS4 Pro version of the game. We now have a native 4K resolution, though the game still exhibits horizontal scaling during more graphically intense moments. That said, at its lowest, it still delivers an impressive 3264x2160 resolution, which is much higher than the PS4 Pro's 1440p target. Elsewhere, improvements have been made to Fallout 4's framerate on Xbox One, hitting its target of 30fps more consistently than it did at launch, though you'll still find dropped frames on occasion – a problem the PS4 Pro version does not have. Still, even with the odd framerate hiccup, Fallout 4 looks glorious on Xbox One X, making it the best way to experience the game on consoles. Check out our full Fallout 4 review What are its enhancements? 60fps, 3K, enhanced graphics What is it? Following behind Forza Horizon 3, Project Cars 2 is another racing game taking advantage of the Xbox One X's power. Developed by Slightly Mad Games and first released in September 2017, this is a racing sim that prides itself on striking visuals and accurate simulation. Players will have a choice of three modes on Xbox One X: Enhanced Visuals, which will put the game in 1440p resolution while having shadow, track and vehicle details as high as possible; Enhanced Resolution will bump the game's resolution up to 3K; and Enhanced Framerate that sets the game's resolution to 1080p while ensuring the game maintains a smooth 60 frames per second. What are its enhancements? 4K or 60 fps and HDR. What is it? The Witcher 3 is one of the older enhanced titles on this list but it still stands as one of the best. Believed by many to be the RPG to end all RPGs, this fantasy adventure will take you through incredible vistas and through thrilling adventures. Using the Xbox One X's power, CD Projekt Red has created two enhanced modes: One offers 4K resolution and runs at a solid 30fps, while the other uses dynamic resolution and promises a smooth 60 frame per second. Both modes will allow you to enjoy HDR - a technology that will truly shine in the game's dynamic world. What are its enhancements? 4K and HDR What is it? As one of the biggest games this year, it's natural that Destiny 2 appears on this list. With its original game, Bungie managed to create a huge triple-A success as well as a cult hit. Now, however, it's opening up to the masses and anyone that felt like they couldn't jump on the Destiny band wagon the first time shouldn't miss the opportunity to do so now - this huge online multiplayer shooter will reel you in with its universe, single-player story, satisfying gameplay and addictive online modes. If you're just getting started, it's also worth taking a peek at our handy tips and tricks guide which will allow you to hit the ground running. Check out our full Destiny 2 review What are its enhancements? 4K and HDR What is it? Right from its opening chapter, which takes place during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, Call of Duty: WWII astonishes with its graphical presentation. We’ve all come to expect the Call of Duty series to provide 60 frames per second gameplay, regardless of platform, but when that framerate is used in conjunction with the Xbox One X’s 4K resolution boost and HDR functionality, the game takes on an extraordinary level of detail and visual clarity. Like many other Xbox One X-enhanced games, Call of Duty: WWII has HDR sliders that allow you to tweak the game’s brightness and white balance to your liking – a much-appreciated addition that we hope carries over to all enhanced games going forward. Quite frankly, we want all games on the console to look this good. Check out our full Call of Duty WWII review What are its enhancements? 4K, HDR, and 60fps What is it? Forza Motorsport 7 was Microsoft’s poster-child for the power of the Xbox One X and thus far it’s the game that’s received the most attention in terms of performance assessments. As a first-party title, the game's development team has been able to take full advantage of the Xbox One X’s power. The game’s patch promises 4K resolution at 60 frames per second with HDR support. Thanks to HDR, the sunlight hitting the track and our vehicle looked brighter than ever. The 4K resolution also allows developer Turn 10 Studios to recreate the cars and their interiors to an astonishing degree of detail. This is especially evident in cars with Alcantara upholstery (pictured) – the fuzziness of the suede-like synthetic material looks just like the real thing! The combination of 4K, HDR and locked 60 frames per second brings with it some incredibly detailed and realistic visuals with crisp and responsive gameplay. Buckle up for a truly show-stopping Xbox One X demo disc in Forza Motorsport 7. Read our full Forza Motorsport 7 review What are its enhancements? 4K and HDR What is it? As you’d probably expect, Assassin’s Creed Origins uses the power of the Xbox One X to make some serious visual impact. The game renders at 4K (although those without 4K screens will still benefit from an oversampled 1080p resolution) and supports HDR, too. The high resolution support means that the game’s environments and characters are seriously detailed with highly realistic textures and the console’s CPU power means the quality is maintained from longer distances. However, It’s HDR that makes the game really shine, creating greater contrast between bright sunlight and flames and shadows. This adds real depth to the game world, capturing the blinding brightness of the Egyptian sun and making the shade of tombs feel mercifully cool. As with most Xbox One X-enhanced games that we’ve tested, Assassin’s Creed Origins has an HDR slider that allows you to manually adjust the game’s paper white balance level, as well as the television’s brightness nits. Having played several hours of the game on Xbox One X, we found the game to be visually impressive with wonderful textures and a remarkably consistent frame rate given everything that was happening on screen at once. Read all about it in our Assasins Creed Origins hub What are its enhancements? 4K and HDR What is it? Continuing the trend of giving users the option of how to use the X’s extra graphical horsepower, Shadow of War features two different graphical settings: You can either have the game favor resolution or favor quality. Choose to favor resolution, and the game will attempt to get as close to 4K as possible (falling back on dynamic scaling when this isn’t possible). Opt to favor quality and the improvements will be wider-ranging, but won’t bring the same benefits to resolution. Textures will see enhanced detail, draw distances will be improved, there’ll be more vegetation and shadows and lighting will be improved. Both modes will feature HDR, and will unfortunately only run at 30fps rather than the 60fps of some of the other titles on this list. Check out our full Middle-earth: Shadow of War review What are its enhancements? 4K and HDR What is it? You've probably heard of the JRPG phenomenon that is Final Fantasy and XV is its latest addition. The games are already stunning but we're looking forward to seeing what has been done with the Xbox One X's power here - the open world of Eos is sure to be a treat in 4K. What are its enhancements? 4K, HDR, 60 FPS What is it? Bungie might have left the Halo series to focus on Destiny, but the blockbuster Xbox series is still alive and well thanks to developer 343 Industries. The most recent entry, Halo 5: Guardians, was released back in 2015, but it will be receiving the Xbox One X treatment via a patch that’s available now. When patched for Xbox One X, the game will continue to run at 60fps as it did originally, but with the added bonus of a 4K resolution boost. Unfortunately, due to the age of the original release, the game won’t be receiving an HDR upgrade alongside its 4K one. Still, a native 2160p resolution and rock-solid 60 frames per second is nothing to be sneezed at. What are its enhancements? 4K, HDR and 60 FPS What is it? Minecraft is a game that needs no introduction, and its 'Super Duper Graphics Pack' is set to make its polygonal world the sharpest its ever looked. We got to have a look at the Xbox One X-enhanced version of the game and it was quite fun to see a more beautiful version of what is essentially a very simple looking game. While the game keeps its famous blocky appearance (we obviously wouldn't want that to change), it does receive vastly improved lighting thanks to the inclusion of HDR support. For instance, your creations can now be viewed with the added bonus of a glorious sunset. Colors also receive a boost, looking less flat in the process, and vegetation also looks more detailed than before. Still, you can rest assured that the Xbox One X version of the game doesn't mess with the winning formula too much – it simply makes it better. What are its enhancements? 1440p (upscaled to 4K) and HDR What is it? We hope you’ve got plenty of space on your hard drive, because the patches required to play the Xbox One X-enhanced version of Quantum Break, combined with the game install itself, will take up a staggering 178GB of your console’s storage. Welcome to gaming in the future! So what do the huge patches give you exactly? Well, since the game is incredibly demanding from a hardware perspective, even on high-end PCs, Quantum Break technically runs at true resolution of 1440p but is displayed as 2160p in its video settings. According to Digital Foundry, the game makes use of a ‘temporal reconstruction’ technique that gives the illusion of 4K by cloning frames and using the information to make the resolution look much higher than it is. The original Xbox One version did the same thing, taking its native 720p resolution and applying the same technique to provide the illusion of 1080p. Aside from this, the game has received a texture boost, making its visuals look much crisper in the process. Funnily enough, the film grain effect seen in the standard Xbox One version of the game has been dropped entirely for the One X, giving Quantum Break much more depth and clarity in its presentation. It’s a shame that 60 frames per second is unavailable, but given the game’s cinematic styling based on film and television, it seems like developer Remedy would probably prefer it that way regardless. Either way, Quantum Break looks downright beautiful on Xbox One X. Read our full Quantum Break review What are its enhancements? HDR What is it? Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is something of a reset for the bestselling FPS franchise – removing the frills of zombies, jetpacks, double-jumps and futuristic gadgetry for a grounded take on what military engagement actually looks like in the 21st century. The name is no coincidence, either; 2007's Modern Warfare was a landmark entry in the Call of Duty series, and Activision is looking to recreate what made the game of the same name so successful. Modern Warfare is all about the gritty realities of war this time out, with the ‘modern’ of the ‘Modern Warfare’ title referring to the gear, weapons and gadgetry being used today in the Middle East and Russia, rather than the far-flung fantasies of science fiction. While Modern Warfare has some glaring issues with regards to its campaign, it's still the best installation the series has seen yet - with tight shooting and more multiplayer modes than you can shake a stick at. And with Xbox One X enhancement, it truly looks spectacular. Read our full Call of Duty: Modern Warfare review What are its enhancements? HDR What is it? For the uninitiated, the Borderlands franchise is built upon the pursuit of gear. Players earn loot at an almost obscene rate, constantly unlocking new weapons and abilities with which to battle through stylized environments - which look even better with Xbox One X enhancements. While Borderlands 3 doesn't offer that much in terms of new few, those who have played they previous installments are unlikely to be disappointed Check out our Borderlands 3 review. What are its enhancements? 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos and 60fps What is it? The fourth entry in the Gears of War series already looked great on the original Xbox One, however, it looks damn-near astonishing when enhanced for the Xbox One X. Once patched, new advanced video options appear in the game’s settings which give the player control over every major area of its presentation. You can choose whether you want to place preference on detail (offering native 4K resolutions and textures at 30 frames per second) or performance (locked 60 frames per second and increased graphical detail). While the jump in detail is noticeable when playing the game at 4K, the performance mode looks nearly as good in terms of textures, with the added bonus of running at a buttery-smooth frame rate. And, while the Xbox One S already provided Gears of War 4 with HDR settings, they’ve received a boost here to work in conjunction with the game’s 4K rendering, allowing for its wider color gamut to be displayed in much greater detail. You’ll find a much-appreciated HDR brightness slider in the settings, and if you want to get a real picture of the difference between standard and high dynamic range, you can split the screen and see them both side-by-side while playing the game. Although it's a slightly older release, The Coalition has done a great job to turn Gears 4 into a poster child for what the Xbox One X is capable of. Read our full Gears of War 4 review What are its enhancements? 4K Ultra HD and HDR What is it? We've been waiting a while to see a new Gears title, and Gears 5 certainly didn't disappoint. Players step into the shoes of Kait Diaz for the first time who, following the events of Gears of War 4, is trying to come to terms with the death of her mother, unravel the twisted roots of her family tree and deal with her own personal baggage. Meanwhile, humanity is being threatened once more - this time by the Swarm, the successor to the Locust horde. Gears 5 looks particularly stunning on Xbox's powerful platform - making the most of what Xbox One X enhancements have to offer. Check out our full Gears 5 review What are its enhancements? 4K Ultra HD and HDR What is it? FIFA is, for many console owners, a highly anticipated annual event. The latest and arguably greatest installment in the football sim series has arrived in the form of FIFA 20, and it's straight into our list of the best Xbox One games. With this year's iteration of the stalwart series, EA appears to have made some bold strides in the right direction, especially when it comes to giving players what they’ve been asking for in terms of game modes and statistical tinkering. Add to that a fantastic new way to play in Volta, a light-hearted set of modes for couch co-op and some clever, nuanced gameplay tweaks that coax out a more fair and rewarding game of soccer, this is definitely not an in between year or an easy skip if you’re a franchise fan. In fact, it might be the best FIFA game in a good few years, achieved mainly by responding to fan feedback with healthy design decisions. Read our full review of FIFA 20 and make sure you're the best on the pitch using our tips and tricks guide What are its enhancements? Xbox One X enhanced What is it? Disappointed by Fallout 76? Don't worry, Obsidian Entertainment's The Outer Worlds is here to scratch your Fallout itch. Set on the frontier of space, The Outer Worlds sees you awakening from hibernation amidst a conspiracy to destroy Halycon – a colony residing at the edge of the galaxy driven by big-brand corporations. What follows is a wacky, satire-rich RPG that injects loads of fun into the classic Fallout formula we've grown to love. Don't take our world for it, check out how The Outer Worlds escaped the shadow of Fallout, according to its creators. What are its enhancements? 4K Ultra HD and HDR What is it? Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 took 2018 by storm, giving us the gun-toting, western open-world we were hoping for. You play as Arthur Morgan, a gunslinger in the notorious Van Der Linde gang as he navigates the trials and tribulations of the changing west. Red Dead Redemption 2 is certainly game which will keep you busy. Between story missions, mini-games, activities and side quests, you will find yourself sinking plenty of hours into this title without even noticing it. The Xbox One X truly makes RDR2's open world even more beautiful. So much so, you may just want to explore and let it sink in. What are its enhancements? HDR What is it? FromSoftware's latest offering is not to be scoffed at. If you thought the Dark Souls series was hard, then Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is extreme mode. Sekiro is more punishing than any title we've seen from FromSoftware before, but actually achieving those rare moments of success is extremely rewarding. Set against a background that balances brutality and beauty, Sekiro is one of this year's must-have titles – if you have the patience for it. Check out our full Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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