Apple : Red Dead Redemption 2 performance: you're going to need a beefy gaming PC |
- Red Dead Redemption 2 performance: you're going to need a beefy gaming PC
- Sony WH-1000XM3 early Black Friday deal: $70 off the top noise-canceling headphones
- HP laptop sale: save up to $700 ahead of Black Friday
- World of Warcraft: Shadowlands reminds me why I love the franchise so much
- Microsoft urges users to patch against BlueKeep attacks
- Best laptops for photographers in 2019: Photo editing in Photoshop
- Buy a Huawei P30 Pro deal, get a Nintendo Switch free - thanks to EE and Black Friday
- These are the best Black Friday deals TechRadar staff are looking forward to
- Nvidia Geforce users need to patch their systems now
- Death Stranding PC will release on Steam and the Epic Games Store simultaneously
- The world’s cheapest computer costs a mere $20.99
- Here are the best Walmart Black Friday deals so far
- There’s more to container isolation than the technology
- Best AV receivers 2019: which home cinema AV receiver should you buy?
- Hi-Res Audio: everything you need to know about the lossless music codec
- Beats and the battle for your ears: the changing sound of Dr Dre's cans
- Las rebajas de Amazon Black Friday para Echo, Kindle y Fire TV
- The problem with Alexa: what’s the solution to sexist voice assistants?
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- macOS 10.16 release date, news and rumors
| Red Dead Redemption 2 performance: you're going to need a beefy gaming PC Posted: 08 Nov 2019 01:42 PM PST It's no secret that Red Dead Redemption 2 has had a bit of a rocky launch on PC. When the game first hit the streets, it couldn't even run on our test systems, and we weren't the only ones facing this issue. Now, Rockstar has patched the game to make it playable, which means we can finally ask "how does it run?". Well, the answer is a bit complicated. In general, the game is very demanding, and even the most powerful hardware on the market is going to have trouble running the game at a smooth framerate at 4K. However, we did see playable performance out of every card in our testing lineup, but anyone looking to rock this game on a high refresh rate gaming monitor might end up disappointed. Red Dead Redemption 2 does look incredible on PC, so we weren't expecting 120 fps at 4K anyways. But just to be thorough we collected seven of the best graphics cards on the market, from the AMD Radeon RX 5700 to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, so you can get an idea of how Red Dead Redemption 2 performance will look like on your gaming PC. Red Dead Redemption 2 performanceRed Dead Redemption 2 is a heavy PC game to run, which shouldn't be too terribly surprising. After all, the game made all kinds of headlines upon its console release in 2018 for being one of the most beautiful games ever made, so of course the PC version, with its enhanced visuals, is going to make PC hardware cry out in pain. You simply will not be able to run the game at 4K 60 fps on the highest graphics preset with current hardware, unless of course, you have some exotic setup with 2 RTX 2080 Tis in SLI. Even in 1440p, if you want all the eye candy turned on, you're going to need an RTX 2080 to take advantage of it. In our testing, the RTX 2080 Ti averaged just 43 fps at 4K, and only barely managed to break that 60 fps barrier at 1440p with 66 fps. And, if you have budget hardware, you're going to have trouble even at 1080p. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super, which generally is a 1080p champion, struggled at this resolution, getting an average of just 42 fps. One other thing to be aware of is that the game isn't the smoothest experience on Nvidia hardware. We noticed that even in the canned benchmark, the game would hiccup occasionally, with benchmark scores featuring minimum framerates around 1 fps. Our first time running the benchmark, the RTX 2080 Ti had a minimum framerate of 0.72 fps. However, later tests saw the minimum framerate get to a more respectable level. This isn't an issue that's isolated to the benchmark either: we noticed that when playing through the intro the game would just randomly pause – sort of like watching a scratched DVD back in the day. We're not sure what's causing this issue, but we expect it will be getting patched out. At the time of this writing, the PC port of Red Dead Redemption is a little bit rough, so it may be prudent to wait on buying it for a little while, at least until Rockstar fixes these performance issues. What kind of PC do you need to play Red Dead Redemption 2?Red Dead Redemption 2 is a hard game to run, but the system requirements look pretty reasonable. In fact, we think Rockstar was a little too optimistic when listing these out, as this low-end hardware might have trouble producing a playable experience. We went ahead and listed the system requirements for Red Dead Redemption 2 down below. Minimum:
Recommended:
It should be noted, however, that Nvidia itself came out and said that these system requirements are a little too tame. Team green suggests an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 for 1080p at High settings, and in our testing, that pretty much checks out. So, we went ahead and crafted our own recommended gaming PC specs for Red Dead Redemption, and listed them down below. TechRadar recommended:
We went with the Intel Core i5-9600K because, while the game will pin several cores, we didn't see more than one or two cores hit high usage. That means higher clock speeds will likely benefit performance more. As far as RAM goes, the game peaks at around 9GB of usage, so you don't need to worry about forking over the cash for a 32GB kit. And, because, generally AMD cards fared better than Nvidia in this title, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 is pretty much the perfect card for this game at 1080p, and should provide a good 1440p experience too - just don't expect to be able to max the game out. We went ahead and included our exclusive price comparison tool down below, so that you can get a good deal on the hardware you'll need for Red Dead Redemption 2. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Sony WH-1000XM3 early Black Friday deal: $70 off the top noise-canceling headphones Posted: 08 Nov 2019 01:18 PM PST Of all the wireless headphones we tested in 2019, only one was crowned the best noise-cancelling headphone of 2019 – and that’s the Sony WH-1000XM3. Why? Well, they offer some of the best noise-cancellation in their price range, plus are Hi-Res Audio compatible and sound great. Typically this pair of noise-cancelling cans go for $350 brand-new, but Amazon has them on sale today for $280, meaning $70 off their regular price. This is one of the best deals we’re going to see on the headphones before Black Friday, which starts in another few weeks. In fact, it just be the best price we’ll see all season. We'll continue to watch out for more headphone deals as they pop up ahead of Black Friday, so rest assured, if we see something better in the meantime we'll let you know.
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| HP laptop sale: save up to $700 ahead of Black Friday Posted: 08 Nov 2019 12:07 PM PST Black Friday 2019 is just around the corner and HP is giving us a preview with a 'Holiday Sneak Peek' sale that's happening right now. You'll get early access savings on HP's best-selling laptops, monitors, desktops, and more. Shop more of HP's laptop deals below and keep in mind these offers are ending soon, so you should take advantage now before it's too late. HP laptop deals:Shop more of the best cheap laptop deals that are happening right now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| World of Warcraft: Shadowlands reminds me why I love the franchise so much Posted: 08 Nov 2019 11:56 AM PST I have to admit that I wasn't really paying attention to Blizzcon 2019. I was on vacation, it was the day after Halloween, and I had come down with a cold – all good reasons not to keep an eye on the latest happenings. However, the trailer for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands showed up on my Twitter feed, and I just had to watch it – and I don't regret anything. Seeing Sylvanas walk up to Icecrown and show Bolvar what was what was incredible enough. But, there was a moment after she pulled the helmet from his head that I could have sworn she was going to put it on and become the Lich Queen everyone (ok maybe not everyone) knew she would. But, instead she just rips the helmet in half? She can do that?! It's no secret that there's a bit of animosity going on in the WoW community ever since Battle For Azeroth launched back in August 2018: the story took a decidedly unpopular turn, and there were a ton of gameplay mechanics that weren't exactly beloved – Azerite, anyone? This trailer, however, is reminiscent of some of the best expansions the game has seen. Sylvanas really is taking an even more villainous turn in Shadowlands So many featuresBlizzard hasn't been too specific when it comes to the specifics, but it has painted a pretty clear picture of some of the big features coming to the game in a blog post. And, while I desperately want it to change the global cooldown (GCD) back to where it was before Battle for Azeroth, some of these features sound amazing. First off, there's Torghast, the Tower of the Damned, which might be the coolest-sounding feature I've ever seen worked into the game. Basically, it's this multi-leveled tower that you'll be able to fight through. Each level will be randomly generated, a là Diablo III, and will get progressively more difficult the further you get. And, of course, because this is World of Warcraft, you'll get rewarded with loot that will get better the further you get. The best part? I'll be able to do this by myself, or with a couple of friends, rather than having to carve time out of my busy schedule for raiding. In order to get to this tower, players will have to make their way through a zone called "The Maw", which may end up being the most difficult-to-survive zone ever implemented in the game. Word on the street is that there will be no innkeepers, with little to no NPCs, and the more you interact with this zone, the more monsters you kill, the harder it will be to survive. Could this be the Dark Souls of World of Warcraft? Now, the next expansion is pretty far out, so it's obviously a little too early to say whether or not Shadowlands is going to be the return to form that I'm desperately craving. But, still, I essentially grew up alongside World of Warcraft, so I have a little bit of skin in the game – I really want it to be good. If this is what Minecraft looks like with ray tracing, imagine how World of Warcraft Shadowlands could look All about that technologyNow, I've heard that ray tracing may be coming to World of Warcraft with Shadowlands, and I don't even know how to feel about it. I love pushing my PC hardware to its limits – which may be why TechRadar has me playing with PC hardware all day – but World of Warcraft isn't really about having the prettiest graphics. It's a game for the people, so making the game more inaccessible to folks that don't have the cash to shell out for an RTX 2060 Super kind of rubs me the wrong way. Blizzard obviously says that it intends to keep World of Warcraft accessible for folks on lower-end hardware, but implementing new technology seems to raise the barrier of entry at least a little bit. I guess we'll have to see on that front, though. Either way, World of Warcraft is turning 15 this year, and it doesn't look as old as it really is. That's due in large part to the amazing work the team has done in keeping the game updated over the years, and the recent launch of WoW classic really helped to show how far the game has come (or fallen, depending on who you ask). World of Warcraft: Shadowlands has the potential to be the most exciting PC game release of 2020, at least for me. There will be bigger blockbuster titles, obviously, but I'll never not get excited for a potential return to form for this venerated MMO, no matter how many times it lets me down.
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| Microsoft urges users to patch against BlueKeep attacks Posted: 08 Nov 2019 11:38 AM PST Following a recent spike in BlueKeep exploit attempts, Microsoft is recommending that all users patch their out-of-date Windows systems to avoid falling victim to an attack. The software giant's Microsoft Defender ATP Research Team published a blog post in which they warned of increased BlueKeep activity, saying: “Microsoft security signals showed an increase in RDP-related crashes that are likely associated with the use of the unstable BlueKeep Metasploit module on certain sets of vulnerable machines.” The researchers also noted that the BlueKeep attacks reported earlier this month by security researcher Kevin Beaumont were connected with a coin mining campaign that used the same command-and-control servers to launch attacks on vulnerable systems. Beaumont even went so far as to create a global honeypot network to detect the development of BlueKeep exploits in the wild. However, the network first crashed at the beginning of October and following this crash, all of the remaining honeypots except for those in Australia were also taken offline.
Security researcher Marcus Hutchins (aka MalwareTech) also confirmed that this series of BlueKeep exploit attacks were still underway. Microsoft worked with both security researchers to investigate the crashes and it was then that they discovered they were caused by a BlueKeep exploit module. BlueKeep attacksIn early September, Microsoft deployed a behavioral detection system for the BlueKeep Metasploit module. The company observed RDP service crashes had increased from 10 to 100 per day in September and a similar spike occurred in early October. BlueKeep is a remote code execution vulnerability that is also wormable which affects Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. The vulnerability itself is pre-authentication and this means that it requires no user interaction to be exploited. As BlueKeep is wormable, it can allow any malware exploiting the vulnerability to spread from one vulnerable system to another, once again without any user interaction at all. However, the attacks that were launched earlier this month did not deploy any wormable malware. Instead the cybercriminals behind this recent wave of attacks scanned the web for vulnerable machines and attacked unpatched systems by deploying a BlueKeep exploit followed by a cryptocurrency miner. Microsoft believes that this is just the beginning and that the worst is yet to come as the attackers will refine their attacks and use BlueKeep to deliver malicious payload which are much worse than coin miners. To avoid falling victim to BlueKeep, it is highly recommended that you patch any older Windows operating systems and consider upgrading to the latest version of Microsoft's operating system.
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| Best laptops for photographers in 2019: Photo editing in Photoshop Posted: 08 Nov 2019 11:03 AM PST Trying to figure out which are the best laptops for photographers? Photo editing software can be pretty demanding, especially if you're working on high resolution raw files and utilizing advanced effects, so you'll want to make sure that you’re investing in a laptop that has all the makings of a powerful photo editing tool. At the end of the day, the best laptops for photographers can rival traditional desktop hardware when it comes to raw horsepower. Additionally, unlike laptops of old, many boast pixel-perfect displays with stunning color, as well as wide contrast to keep highlight and shadow detail consistently visible. We put together a list of the best laptops for photographers and photo editing for you. In this guide, we’ll go through all the best laptops and Ultrabooks that can help photographers, no matter which photo editors you’re using – whether it’s Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. Best laptops for photographers 2019 at a glance:
If you're after the latest and greatest laptop from Apple, then this year's 13-inch Macbook Pro with touchbar is a brilliant choice if you're looking for a laptop to edit photos on. It's the best laptop Apple has ever made, and builds new features into the classic design. Of course the headline feature is the Touch Bar - it's a thin OLED display at the top of the keyboard which can be used for any number of things, whether that be auto-suggesting words as you type or offering Touch ID so you can log in with just your fingerprint. This makes it an excellent laptop for photographers using Photoshop, as it has a number of Photoshop shortcuts, such as being able to quickly select a color or change the opacity of a layer by swiping your finger, features that all the other laptops on this list lack. Read the full review: Apple Macbook with touchbar (13-inch 2018)
Apple's MacBook Pro 15-inch laptops are better and more powerful than ever. With Apple having recently fitted its MacBook Pro 15-inch with Intel’s latest 9th-generation processors, these laptops are better and more powerful than ever, which means it’s just the ticket for demanding post-processing tasks. Of course, the fact that it boasts Touch ID and an improved Touch Bar, and is upgradeable to 4TB of SSD storage means that you can have a more seamless experience doing so. Although you will have to adjust to not having an SD card port and only two Thunderbolt 3, this is still one of the best laptops for photographers. Read the full review: MacBook Pro 15-inch HP Spectre x360 15T boasts the same great features inherent to the Spectre line. Combining elegance with performance, the HP Spectre x360 15T boasts the same great features inherent to the Spectre line, but also takes things to a whole new level. Touting an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics and 8GB of RAM in its base configuration, this 2-in-1 can handle anything your daily workload throws at it – and then some (like a bit of light gaming like playing Anno 2070, for example). The fact that it’s a 2-in-1 and HP Pen compatible means that you can use Lightroom and Photoshop in tablet mode, if that’s more convenient for your workflow. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 15T (2019) Huawei MateBook X Pro comes packed with cutting edge components that allow it to perform brilliantly. The Huawei MateBook X Pro has proved to be a truly brilliant contender to more established brands like Apple and Dell. This is a gorgeously-designed laptop with a stunning screen (albeit with a rather odd aspect ratio). Better yet, it comes packed with cutting edge components that allow it to perform brilliantly, and a battery life that runs rings around many of its rivals. It’s also competitively priced, giving you excellent features, design and performance for less. The combination of brilliant screen, powerful components and (relatively) affordable price makes this one of the best laptops for photographers in 2019. Read the full review: Huawei MateBook X Pro Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) is definitely one of the best laptops for photographers. The Surface Book 2 is Microsoft's followup to its popular 2-in-1 device, and it’s definitely one of the best laptops for photographers. With a full version of Windows 10 installed, it can run Photoshop with any issues. It comes with boosted components, and its screen remains gorgeous. Only Apple's marginally better colour calibration gives the MacBook's image quality the edge, but Microsoft fights back with a superior 3,000 x 2,000 resolution and an ideal aspect ratio for viewing APS-C and full-frame images. The screen's touch-sensitive, but its real party trick is its ability to detach from the rest of the laptop to become a tablet. It's a shame that the Surface Pen stylus doesn't come included, as we'd definitely recommend buying for your photo editing sessions. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) Dell XPS 15's impressive specifications mean it will keep up with all your edits. Packing the same InfinityEdge technology as the smaller XPS 13, the 15-inch screen extends right to the edge of the machine which means it's as small as it's possible for a 15-inch laptop. It's quite expensive, depending on which version you get, but the very top end version has a 4K color-accurate display, which makes it one of the best laptops for photographers. You'll be able to see your photos in crisp detail as you edit them, and the impressive specifications mean it will keep up with all the edits you make to the largest photos in your collection. Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 Dell XPS 13 boasts a similar resolution and pixel density to the MacBook and Surface Book. This laptop's claim to fame is being the smallest 13.3-inch laptop on the market. It's slim screen bezel helps contribute to a svelte 304mm x 200mm x 15mm form that needs to be held to be truly appreciated. But it’s also among the best laptops for photographers. The XPS 13's screen is touch-sensitive, and it boasts a similar resolution and pixel density to the MacBook and Surface Book. Image quality is more in line with the ZenBook though, falling slightly short on colour and contrast intensity compared to Apple and Microsoft's displays. A highly portable package with little compromise other than battery life. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 HP Spectre x360 (2019) takes things to another level, power-wise. Sartorially-conscious photographers will love the look of this 13-inch stunner, sure. But the 2019 Spectre x360 also takes things to another level, power-wise. With its gem cut design and sleek profile, it’s this one of the most beautiful laptops on the market right now. However, HP also fitted this with powerful Intel Whiskey Lake processors and long battery life, which means that you’re getting one of the best laptops for photographers. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2019) Lenovo Yoga C930 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops to date. Sleek, slim and with solid specs to boot, the new Lenovo Yoga C930 not only deserves to be voted one of the best 2-in-1 laptops to date, but it’s also a worthy addition in our best laptops for photographers list. That’s without mentioning the fact that it now touts a 4K display model, which is just excellent for editing those high resolution full-frame shots. This 2-in-1 is a strong contender for photographers on the budget, but if you do decide to go for gold, you might have to break the bank. Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930 Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 boasts updated hardware that brings solid performance upgrades. While it doesn't represent a huge improvement of the original Surface Laptop, the Surface Laptop 2 offers enhancements in all the areas we were hoping for, including updated hardware that brings solid performance upgrades. This is a laptop that finally delivers on what Microsoft set out to do with the original: a pure, powerful Windows 10 laptop experience. If you're not sold on the 2-in-1 nature of the Surface Book 2, but love Microsoft's premium build quality and design, then the Surface Laptop 2 is the laptop for you, especially if you’re looking for the best laptops for photographers. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Key things to look out forWatch the video above for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop. It's easy to get bogged down in the tech and spec soup of computer terminology, but there are a couple of key areas photographers need to think about. The first is the quality of the screen. This used to be more eye-sore than eye-candy, with appalling contrast and viewing angles, but thankfully IPS display tech fixes this and you shouldn't settle for anything less. An SSD (solid state drive) is a must as your primary storage in any new laptop. A conventional hard disk drive will bottleneck performance like flat tires on a Ferrari, and while dedicated graphics cards are great for gaming, they're not a necessity here. Today's processors can fill in for them, and they pack enough pixel-pushing punch for photo editing. The MacBook is favoured by many photographers, and for good reason. But don't rule out comparably priced laptop PCs, which can offer more bang per buck with better upgradability.
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| Buy a Huawei P30 Pro deal, get a Nintendo Switch free - thanks to EE and Black Friday Posted: 08 Nov 2019 10:30 AM PST It feels a bit like déjà vu. When we cast our mind back to Black Friday 2018, possibly the best deal of them all was EE's rather tasty promotion throwing in free Nintendo Switches when you signed up to a Huawei P20 Pro on contract. Well the deal is back, but this time for Huawei P30 Pro deals instead. We're certainly not complaining! The old tunes are often the best, and this is sounding very sweet to us indeed. In fact, EE has actually improved the offer this time around by giving you a choice of freebie - if a free Nintendo Switch this Black Friday doesn't do it for you, then how about a 43-inch Toshiba 4K TV instead? It's entirely up to you. To get this headliner of a deal, you need to pay £50 upfront now. That will secure you the P30 Pro handset (with next day delivery) on EE with unlimited texts and calls and a healthy 10GB of data each month. Monthly bills will be set from £59. After that, the free Switch (or 4K TV) should arrive within 3 weeks or so. That's for you to keep, or play the hero/ine and put it under the Christmas tree for somebody else. £59 a month rather more than you'd hope to pay for your new mobile phone deal? EE's got you covered, as you can opt for a more affordable Huawei P Smart or Huawei P30 Lite instead, for £28/pm or £34/pm respectively.
Black Friday deal: Huawei P30 Pro + free tech giftOr cut the cost with these EE Huawei phone dealsHow good is the Huawei P30 Pro?The Huawei P30 Pro is among the most innovative mobiles out there, with a lot of that praise aimed at its camera. Sporting an incredible 50x zoom camera, smart AI camera features and an overall impeccable quality, nothing can quite match it. Backing up the camera is a high quality inifinity display screen, tonnes of power and a massive battery. In other words the Huawei P30 Pro is here battling for the spot of the world's best smartphone – with a few reservations. Read TechRadar's Huawei P30 Pro review here Why should I get my next phone deal on EE?EE is the UK's fastest network and that fact alone has drawn in a lot of support for their contracts, it has steadily become the most popular network in the UK. You'll also find EE phone deals are frequently some of the best out there on almost every new phone. EE also offers a few incentives to its customers that sweeten the deal. You can get six months of free Apple Music when you pay monthly with EE and the ability to use Wi-Fi to make calls when you just can't find signal anywhere. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| These are the best Black Friday deals TechRadar staff are looking forward to Posted: 08 Nov 2019 10:30 AM PST There's not long now until Black Friday deals take over the internet, and there are many things you can do to prepare for the sales, including making a shopping list of all the products you're interested in, or categories you'll stick to. Well, we wouldn't give advice if we weren't going to stick to it ourselves, and each of the writers and editors at TechRadar has their own 'shopping list' to follow over Black Friday. Many of the entries are tech-related, but there are some other pieces of kit, including toys and essentials, that we're hoping for too. To give you an idea of what we're expecting – and wishing – will be discounted, we've amassed the list below, along with some helping buying advice if you're interested in the same products we are. Gareth BeavisGlobal Editor in Chief LG OLED C8 This year - please, this year - I'll buy my white whale of a TV: a properly good OLED set. I saved up a few years back to buy one, but every year I've missed a great sale because I meant to get around to snapping it up... and the deal had ended by the time I'd refocused. An OLED TV is something I desperately want for my tech collection, as the brightness, contrast ratios and inky blackness - combined with sublime color reproduction - make OLED TVs a real winner. I'm thinking that the OLED C9 could be in the right sweet spot of price, at the lower end of the range but still packing great picture quality and top smart TV capabilities. Now I just need to follow the advice we give every year: set your budget, and if you see the thing you want for a price that you can accept, snap it up. You'll regret it if you don't... trust me. Keith WalkerManaging Director - Prosumer I'm excited by the thought that the Lego Millenium Falcon could be mine this year. I've watched the 71592 Falcon set go up to over £600 and the 10179 set now retails at almost £10k second hand, but if any of the retail partners drop the 75257 set significantly I will probably invest and end the internal debate about whether I need to have 1,351 new pieces of Lego in my life. Victoria HoodGaming Writer This Black Friday, I plan on picking up a bunch of AAA games that I've missed out on this year - because unfortunately I don't get to review every new game that comes through our doors. However, nowadays a new console title would set you back at least £45 so I'm hoping to grab discounts on the likes of Borderlands 3, Resident Evil 2 Remake and MediEvil. The likes of Amazon and Walmart tend to do great deals on games during Black Friday and Cyber Monday but if, unlike me, you're a PC gamer then you may want to keep your eyes set on Steam instead. Henry St LegerHome Technology Writer It is finally, finally time to replace my laptop. My old Asus Zenbook UX305 has served me well for a good five years, but now that the speakers have given out I have no choice but to move on. The Zenbook range is a bit pricey for me these days, so I'll be looking for a mid-range laptop that's small and slim enough to carry around all day without breaking my fragile spine – if I could get even a couple of hundred pounds off a new PC it would make grieving my Zenbook that little bit easier. Joe OsborneSenior Editor Being the curmudgeonly, nostalgia-obsessed 30-something that I am, I'll be hunting down deals on retro mini game consoles and retro arcade machines. I'm dying to get a hold of one of these Arcade 1Up or other modern retro arcade cabinets and modding it to play any arcade games that I wish. (There's a reason why the trackball-based models are all deeply discounted.) With one of these, my ultimate basement would be complete. James PeckhamPhones Editor It's not the most exciting purchase, but the only thing I know I'll definitely buy this November is yet another 12 months of PlayStation Plus. If you subscribe to PS Plus, I can't recommend buying a year long pass over the Black Friday period enough. It's almost guaranteed to be discounted each year - which makes it much less than if you were to subscribe monthly - and you know that by the time it's finished there will be another discount ready and waiting. Who knows, maybe I'll even own a PS5 by 2020's big sales period. Désiré AthowManaging Editor, ITProPortal & TechRadar Pro As a father of two young kids, Black Friday has turned into an early warm up to Christmas. For better and for worse. Top of my daughter's list is something called LOL Surprise Doll House, part of a family of products that currently top Amazon's most wished list for dolls and accessories. It doesn't have a smart thermostat (yet) but comes with a working elevator, a rooftop patio, a pool, 85 surprises and a spa. Its glitzy and over-the-top design (including a moving truck) has won it the Toy of the Year Awards in 2019. Oh and there's also an even more extravagant Winter Disco Chalet version with an ice-skating rink but shhhhh, she doesn't need to know yet. Olivia TambiniStaff Writer This Black Friday, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for a pet camera to keep a watchful eye on my elderly cat and my hyperactive puppy – I want to know what they get up to when I'm at work! There are some really cool models out there at the moment, and I'm particularly keen on the PetCube Bites 2; it comes with two-way audio so you can talk to your pets, as well as a treat dispenser that lets you fling treats using your smartphone. It even has Alexa built-in, so you can ask the camera to dispense treats and even reorder more supplies, without the need for a separate Amazon Echo speaker. Catherine EllisDownloads and Developing Technology Editor When Black Friday arrives, I'll be hunting for a great deal on a set of true wireless earbuds for running. Winter is on its way in the UK, so I'm looking for something that'll stay put and stay charged during those long, cold training sessions. In a perfect world I'd find a brilliant Black Friday deal on the Jabra Elite Sport True Wireless Earbuds. With a snug fit, great audio quality and a heart rate tracker, they'd give me the extra push I need to lace up my trainers with numb fingers and put in those important miles. Matthew HansonUK Computing Editor This Black Friday I'll be on the hunt for a Nintendo Switch, plus loads of games for it, some PS4 games I've missed out, a new TV, bags of Hue bulbs (they are always on sale on Black Friday) and all kinds of things that I love. Oh, wait... I have a newborn baby, so actually it will be bulk packs of diapers, wooden toys, things to make my home safe for the tiny human that's now rolling around in it and other essentials. I might treat myself to some loose leaf tea to help keep me awake, though... Adam MarshallEditor, Subscriptions and Services My mum has been bugging me to help her replace her ailing old iPhone SE for ages, but I keep telling her to wait until Black Friday phone deals start rolling in. Every year we see some ridiculous prices on budget, mid-tier and even flagship smartphones - we're expecting some very attractive Samsung Galaxy S10 and iPhone XR offers this time around. Personally, I'll be directing her towards the likes of the Huawei P30 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A40 and A50. Perfectly decent phones from big-name brands at prices that will suit her bank balance. John McCannDeputy Editor It's time for me to upgrade my PlayStation controllers. One is the bundled controller I got with the original PS4 back in 2014 - after 5+ years of gaming abuse, the rubber on the analogue sticks is almost non-existent. I upgraded to the PS4 Pro in 2016, keeping the original controller as well as getting the updated DualShock 4 alongside it. However, that too is slowly starting to show its age. In previous years we have seen great Black Friday PS4 controller deals, and this year I'll be treating myself to a pair if the discounts flow once again. Gerald LynchSenior Editor: Homes and Lifestyle I'm nearly there - an Amazon Echo for every room. One to give me recommendations when I'm cooking in the kitchen. One to listen to me sing in the shower. One to diagnose my groans from the toilet... you get the picture. Whether wisely or not, I've gone from being a smart speaker tin-foil hat wearing skeptic to a convert, and Black Friday is always one of the best times to pick up a new one from Amazon. With 2019's range now hitting its digital shelves, and it being one of the most consistently discounted lines on the site, I'm looking forward to checking out Amazon's Black Friday sales. Tom BedfordStaff Writer - Phones Something I've been considering for Black Friday is a Sony A7S Mark II camera, great for film projects, but with the Mark III just around the corner (hopefully), and the Mark II pretty expensive still, I may just wait off another year or two. Instead, I'll see if any board games, video games, or LEGO sets on my wishlist are on offer – that's a pretty long wishlist at this point though, so I'm probably going to have to be pretty pick. Honestly though, I may use the usual excuse of 'actually, I may just wait and see if this deal is beaten later on' until all the sales have passed, and I'm left empty-handed. Bill ThomasAssociate Editor - Computing I've wanted to upgrade the RAM in my home PC to 32GB for a while now, but its never been cheap enough to really justify it. I've already got 16GB of speedy RAM (with shiny RGB lighting to boot), but I want to bump that up to 32GB for more bragging rights. Plus, I've noticed plenty of new PC games push up against that 16GB limit, and I just don't want to close any of those Chrome tabs. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Nvidia Geforce users need to patch their systems now Posted: 08 Nov 2019 10:15 AM PST Nvidia has released a patch for a set of serious security vulnerabilities which affect users of its GeForce Experience software and its GPU Display Driver. The company recently published two separate security advisories detailing the vulnerabilities and if left unpatched, the most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow for code execution or information disclosure. Nvidia has resolved three vulnerabilities in its GeForce Experience software. The first vulnerability, labeled CVE-2019-5701 which was discovered by Hashim Jawad of ACTIVELabs, is a problem within GameStream that could allow an attacker with local access to load Intel graphics driver DLLs without path validation. This could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, denial-of-service (DOS) or information disclosure.
The second vulnerability, labeled CVE-2019-5689, was found by Siyuan Yi of Chengdu University of Technology and it it exists within the GeForce downloader. An attacker with local access could exploit this vulnerability to create and execute code to transfer and save malicious files. The third vulnerability, labeled CVE-2019-5695, was discovered by Peleg Hadar of SafeBreach Labs inside the GeForce local service provider component. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need both local and privileged access. However, if they obtained these, it would be possible to use an incorrect Windows system DLL loading to cause DOS or data theft. Display driver vulnerabilitiesNvidia's latest patch also resolved six vulnerabilities in the Nvidia Windows GPU Display driver. Of these flaws, CVE-2019-5690 was the most critical and it is a kernel mode layer handler issue where input size is not validated and this could lead to DoS or privilege escalation. Additionally, CVE-2019-5691 was found in the same system in which null pointer errors can be exploited with the same outcome. CVE-2019-5692 and CVE-2019-5693 are also in the kernel mode layer handler but Nvidia has resolved these bugs as well. The first vulnerability relates to untrusted input when calculating or using an array index and this can lead to privilege escalation or DoS. The second security flaw involves how the program accesses or uses pointers and could lead to service denial if exploited. Nvidia also fixed the CVE-2019-5694 and CVE-2019-5695 vulnerabilities in the display driver that led to incorrect DLL loading problems which could be exploited for DoS or information disclosure. Finally, the company resolved three vulnerabilities in the Virtual GPU Manager. Versions of Nvidia GeForce Experience before version 3.20.1 are affected by these flaws and users should update their software as well as their graphics drivers immediately to avoid falling victim to any attacks which could exploit these vulnerabilities.
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| Death Stranding PC will release on Steam and the Epic Games Store simultaneously Posted: 08 Nov 2019 10:11 AM PST We already knew Death Stranding is coming to PC in 2020, but the question remained: which store front would it be coming to? We now know that Death Stranding will release for PC on both the Epic Games Store and Steam - at the same time. In addition, pre-orders on each store are available now, with a base price of £54.99 / $60.
We half expected Death Stranding to land on Epic Games Store, as PC publisher 505's previous title Control was an Epic Game Store exclusive, but a Steam listing is a welcome surprise. Any other PC details?Unfortunately, outside of the already known "summer 2020" release date, neither listing tells us more about Death Stranding on PC. That means we still have no idea of the PC specs or requirements for Kojima's epic - but hopefully this will become clearer in the coming weeks or months. If you're still not sure whether or not to pick up Death Stranding on PC, then check out our full Death Stranding review, where we called the title "a wonderfully ambitious stride in design" and even awarded it five stars. Death Stranding is available on PlayStation 4 now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The world’s cheapest computer costs a mere $20.99 Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:46 AM PST Online retailer Gearbest is now selling the H96 Max, an Android mini PC that can also double as a thin client, for a mere $20.99 including free shipping from China to most countries. That’s far less than even the cheapest Raspberry Pi device, and unlike the latter, it is a fully configured personal computer that can be used out of the box (assuming you have as spare keyboard, mouse and monitor or TV). However the deal is only up for the next few days and limited in quantity, so you'll need to be quick if you want to get your hands on one. You will need to use coupon code L3B4B68014E1D000 to get that price.
BargainThe device itself is easy to use, with a low learning curve thanks to the preloaded Android 9.0 OS. It comes with a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB onboard storage and plenty of connectivity/expansion options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio port, four three ports, an Ethernet port, a card reader and HDMI port that can (and does) deliver 4K content. You even get a remote control and a HDMI cable thrown in for free, and the H96 Max can even hardware decode 4K content, making it perfect as a budget streaming client. At 120 x 120 x 25mm, you will be able to conceal or move it around with ease as well. Since it is compatible with Google Play and offers internet access, you should be able to use it with all the main Android productivity services (G Suite, Office 365). This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Here are the best Walmart Black Friday deals so far Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:34 AM PST Black Friday 2019 is officially three weeks away, and the retail giant Walmart is releasing early doorbuster deals that you can shop right now. Walmart's Black Friday sale is a fantastic opportunity to score record-low prices on a wide selection of best-selling items. You can find massive savings on 4K TVs, tablets, smartwatches, kitchen appliances, toys, and so much more. The best Walmart Black Friday online deals: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 |
| There’s more to container isolation than the technology Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:30 AM PST As the Chief Security Architect at Red Hat, Mike Bursell spends his days talking about security both inside and outside the company. His job, he tells us on the sidelines of the Open Source Summit Europe 2019 in Lyon, France, is to encourage people to think about security. Talking about the security challenges in today’s containerised world, Mike says that there’s more to containers than just the technology and people miss that it’s a cultural change: “It's very easy to forget that security isn't just about runtime. It's about development time and test time and provisioning time and closing down containers.” His advice to people is to follow the age-old rule and think about security right from the design stage: “If you're doing DevOps for doing agile methodology, you can't wait for two weeks before you deploy to put security in because you deploy every two weeks, for instance. So you need to make it a part of the cycle.” The only solution then is to bake security right into the CI/CD process:
“If, for instance, you have a rule that you're only going to accept container images from a trusted repository, you need to make sure that that's automated. You can't expect your engineers to know what those correct things should be. Similarly, you might say, I'm going to make sure that none of my containers last for more than 24 hours, I always restart them. But you want to make sure that when you restart the containers you're taking the latest image because there may be patches that have been provided. So you want to make sure that that's running through your automated test suite.” Thinking beyond roadmapsPart of Mike’s job is to look further out beyond the roadmaps and he works with a number of product managers in Red Hat on “what's coming, what's exciting, what's interesting”, and to think about how they can get the things that make sense into their roadmaps. Talking long-term, Mike talks about the importance of Enarx, a project he co-founded, to enable apps to run within Trusted Execution Environments, completely independent of platforms and SDKs. Besides Enarx, he’s also keeping an eye on quite a few security projects: “Certainly some of the quantum resistant algorithms are becoming important. I think some of the multi-party computation projects are becoming important. I think there's some interesting questions around AI and security. When you're putting your training models together, how you manage, possibly personal data, without sharing with everybody, and there's a crossover between the multi-party computation and some of the trust execution environments and things, lots of different things sort of in the same space at the moment and that certainly keeping me interested.”
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| Best AV receivers 2019: which home cinema AV receiver should you buy? Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:25 AM PST If you love the cinematic experience when you go to the movies but not the huge ticket prices and other people chattering away, then turn your living room into a home cinema instead. You'll just need to make sure you have the right kit, including an AV receiver. That's because buying yourself the best TV on the market may bring that huge cinema screen feel to your home, but it rarely brings the audio to match. That means if you want high-end sound to make the most of your 4K TV you'll need to buy an AV receiver as well. Keep in mind that Black Friday and Cyber Monday will likely have some AV receiver deals worth your while – though we've listed the best AV receivers below for various budgets if you have a certain price range in mind. What is an AV receiver, you ask? It may sound like complex audio equipment, but it's really just a way of controlling your AV setup. AV receivers will take the audio track from whatever TV show, movie, CD or video game you're playing or watching, process the audio and send it through to any connected speakers you have.
AVRs are the only way to power 5.1 and 7.1 speaker setups outside of a soundbar, and they also host a bevy of ports that allow you to keep all your devices connected all the time. This is important because the best AV receivers are essentially the central base that all of your entertainment equipment will need to connect to and communicate with. Even if you have lots of other devices, this means that the transition between them will be seamless, regardless of what you’re trying to play, watch or listen to, you’ll always get an amazing entertainment experience to rival your nearest cinema screen. How to choose the best AV receiver for youIf you have a 4K set-up at home, then you need to be on the lookout for a receiver that has a wealth of HDCP 2.2 compatible HDMI ports. If you want to get really high-tech with your set-up, and invest in multi-room streaming, you need to think about which wireless speaker system is best for you – Chromecast, Heos, or even Yamaha MusicCast. Even if that's not something you're interested in right now, it makes sense to future-proof your set-up. For many people, Dolby Atmos will be the killer app. This 3D audio system is now the gold standard in immersive audio. It may be available on soundbars, but only an AV receiver offers true overhead Dolby Atmos audio. All you'll need to do is decide if you want a seven or a nine-channel system. (However, that said, you may not need Dolby Atmos at all, in which case a standard 5.1 sound system will fill your surround sound needs nicely.) Have we convinced you that you need an AV receiver yet? The next step is figuring out which is the right one for you and luckily we've got a big list of all the best AV receivers you can get your hands on today. Best AV receivers on a budget
Gone are the days when buying a surround-sound-supporting receiver with multiple HDMI ports meant spending an arm and a leg. These days, you can get a great receiver with support for a surround sound setup at well under $500/£600. Like, for example, the Onkyo TX-NR676. It's not the only receiver in its price range with a great set of features features or a plethora of inputs, but there are few comprehensive packages that are as easy to assemble, set up and use as Onkyo's. In terms of expected sound performance, Onkyo has long offered a great sound-quality, and this receiver is no different. The receiver supports DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, which helps give sound a much more immersive feel to it. We found that the receiver was generally great-sounding at all volumes. At low volumes, there was still plenty of clarity and detail, while higher volumes produced little distortion, which was nice to hear. Extremely tuned ears might miss a little detail in the high end at louder volumes, though the receiver still shoots well above its price range when it comes to sound quality. If you’re looking for a great A/V receiver and have a maximum budget of $400/£600, the Onkyo TX-NR676 is the way to go. Read the full review: Onkyo TX-NR676 It might be late to the party, but Sony’s debut Dolby Atmos AV receiver entertains with some cool functionality. While it’s ostensibly a seven channel design (which means it can run in a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration) there are also two phantom rears which create a pseudo seven channel surround soundstage. The receiver can even virtually relocate the physical position of your speakers, to create a better sonic balance. Build quality is commensurate with its price tag. This is no heavyweight, and the fascia looks overly fussy, but the hairline finish is a premium touch. Connectivity is good. We get six HDMI inputs, all HDCP 2.2 enabled. There are also two HDMI outputs, for combi TV and projector use. There are also two analogue AV inputs, plus a pair of stereo phonos and two digital audio inputs. The AVR connects via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth with NFC for quick pairing, plus Airplay. The AVR also boasts Chromecast Built-in. That’s all the main wireless boxes ticked. Setup is helped along by the latest iteration of Sony’s Auto Calibration software, which now features a 31-band graphic EQ and a stereo calibration microphone that adjusts phase, distance and level. Usability is average. The receiver relies heavily on its UI, which is pretty but sometimes a little frustrating. Performance is excellent for the price. Tonally the STR-DN1080 may not be particularly warm, but it is exciting. Movies benefit from seamless panning and pronounced dynamics. Power output is quoted at 7 x 165W into 6 ohms. The biggest surprise is the effectiveness of the phantom rears, which really do help fill out the rear surround stage. This sonic trickery positions the STR-DN1080 somewhere above a standard 5.1.2 design, but below a true nine channel amp. Overall, this is an innovative, exciting AV Dolby Atmos receiver. Consider it a brilliant value home cinema offering. The latest update to the popular slimline NR line, Marantz’s Dolby Atmos enabled NR1607 packs a load of features into a low profile frame. Choose from either a 5.1.2 Atmos configuration, or 7.1 flatbed surround. Wireless connectivity comes via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or AirPlay. All seven rear-side HDMI inputs support 4K with HDCP 2.2. There’s only one HDMI output though. This is joined by two digital audio inputs (one coaxial, one digital), plus three AV analogue inputs. On the front panel, there’s another HDMI input and USB with iOS Digital Direct. Auto room correction is provided by Audyssey, viaa supplied microphone. It does a reasonable job EQing the receiver to the listening room. The 50W p/c power rating may be modest, but this little box can slam loud and hard when it needs too. The subtle, immersive 3D audio of Atmos is also well handled here; audio panning around and overhead is thoroughly engaging. The receiver is more than confident with two channel sources, although it lacks the sparkle of some of more expensive rivals. While the power output is plenty good enough for smaller rooms, larger theater spaces could be a challenge. Edge past 80 on the volume gauge and the mid-range dries out. Overall, the NR1607 can be considered a potent slimline Dolby Atmos receiver. HDMI connectivity is class leading, and our only grumble is the solitary output, which could limit options if you want to run both a screen and a projector. Best AV receivers under $1,000 / £1,000
The Yamaha RX-A880 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a powerful, affordable receiver. Not only does it sound great, but it boasts a ton of ports, support for a range of wireless standards, and works with MusicCast, too. If you’re looking for a receiver that boasts Dolby Atmos support and can be calibrated to your room, and have the money to spend, then the Yamaha RX-A880 is the way to go. If, however, you’d prefer to save some cash but still want support for 7.1 channels, then we recommend the Onkyo TX-NR676. New and improved for 2018, the RX-A880 boasts a whopping seven input HDMI ports - all of which support HDCP 2.2 as well - which solves one of the biggest issues with the receiver’s predecessor, the Yamaha RX-A860, and there are also a few other analog input ports, so even older sources should work. The receiver is capable of outputting audio at 110W per channel at 8Ω which is plenty of volume for those that want a powerful and loud overall sound. Even in larger rooms, this receiver should have no trouble filling the room with powerful audio, as long as you have a decent set of speakers too. Plus, don't forget the RX-A880 supports Dolby Atmos. If you have enough speakers to set up the full system, you’ll find that you’re intensely immersed in whatever you’re watching thanks to the Dolby features. But, even when we had just a 5.1-channel setup, we felt like we never needed to go to a cinema again. It’s not often we see something radically different in the world of AV receivers, but this HEOS model definitely qualifies. For starters, it looks fundamentally different to the herd. There’s no front panel display. Rear connectivity has also been stripped back. Standing just 90mm tall, it’s refreshing compact. Build quality is superb. Only a volume knob on the extruded aluminium fascia gives the AVR game away. There are four HDMI inputs, and a single output, all with HDCP 2.2 support. There's just two digital audio inputs (coaxial and optical), plus analogue stereo, 3.5mm minijack, lone USB and Ethernet LAN. Wireless connectivity covers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Perhaps surprisingly, this is a 5.1 channel design and doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. Key to the receiver’s appeal is HEOS wireless speaker integration. While there is provision for wired rear speakers, the system is designed to work with wireless HEOS rears. In most systems, only the front L/C/R will be tethered. It can also partner with a dedicated wireless HEOS subwoofer. While a remote is supplied, it’s a basic zapper. There’s no onscreen display either. Setup and control is done through a HEOS app. For our audition, we partnered the AVR with a pair of HEOS 1s at the rear, and the wireless HEOS subwoofer. With speakers grouped, the package becomes a working 5.1 system. There’s no further calibration required. The HEOS AVR may not be a powerhouse, but it’s a bright, lively listen. The receiver delivers multichannel movie soundtracks with gusto. It’s crisp and exciting, particularly when there’s plenty going on around the soundstage (try it with Edge of Tomorrow Blu-ray, then duck as the DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack unloads chaos in every corner). This isn’t a particularly musical AVR though. Pop and rock are entertaining enough, but throw a throw it something classical or jazzy and its spatial delineation turns a bit mushy. Using wireless rears can invite some problems. While latency isn’t an issue, we were aware of occasional low-level pops and fizzes. As an ambitious reworking of the classic home theater receiver, we rate this first HEOS AVR as an qualified success. The cosmetics are admirable, and for dedicated HEOS multiroom users the wireless interactivity is a boon. Employing an app for control seems to make perfect sense, the only snag comes if your streaming audio sources are also app controlled and need to be juggled outside of the HEOS app. This may not be the future of AV receivers, but it’s a refreshing rethink nonetheless.
Best AV receivers, whatever the price
If you want a no-compromise Atmos experience, then stepping up to a nine channel AV receiver is well worth the premium. With this big Denon, you can opt for 5.1.4, or 7.1.2 - and that makes a big difference to the overall performance. There’s actually processing for eleven channels if you want to add additional amplification. But there’s more than just wraparound audio to this beast. The H suffix denotes that it’s also HEOS multiroom compatible. It can play, or route, content to and from other HEOS connected components. Spin a CD on your Blu-ray deck, and you can Party Zone the music through both your cinema system and any connected HEOS speakers. Build quality is stellar. The receiver has a copper plated chassis with monoblock construction. There are seven rear HDMI inputs, plus one on the front fascia. All support 4K HDCP 2.2 sources. There are also three HDMI outputs. There’s also a forest of other inputs, including four digital audio inputs (split between digital optical and coaxial), six analogue stereo pairs and phono (MM) turntable support. You can also stream over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Power output is prodigious, at 9 x 200w into 6 Ohms. This doesn’t mean you should go super-loud, more that it can effortlessly bludgeon without strain or distortion. The user interface is slick, with high-res graphics guiding you through the setup routine. Auto calibration is via Audyssey. The Denon’s performance is outstanding in every regard. It does a fabulous job with multichannel Dolby Atmos soundtracks, both explosive and atmospheric, and is no slouch when it comes to music either. Beneath the hood are fourth-gen SHARC DSP processors. Spatial imaging and transient attack is excellent. Overall, we rate this class-leading Denon as a home cinema superstar. It’s feature heavy, and massively powerful. But there’s agility behind the brawn. In short, it’s a fabulous home theater performer.
While the Arcam AVR850 is unlikely to win any Best Value accolades – it’s unashamedly expensive for a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos design – its overarching musicality is hard to beat. This is arguably the UK audio specialist’s best sounding AV receiver to date. The AVR850 uses Class G power amps, conservatively rated at 100W-per-channel. The design is understated, with a nice matte cabinet finish and big central volume knob. It tips the scales at a reassuringly heavy 16kg. Connectivity is good. There are seven HDMI inputs, all with HDCP 2.2 support, plus three HDMI outputs. Audio options include six analogue inputs, and six digital audio inputs. The really significant difference here, compared to previous Arcam home theater boxes, is the provision of Dirac Live room calibration. Arguably the most sophisticated auto calibration technology available, it does a extraordinary job fine tuning the receiver to the listening room. Dirac tuning is not carried out by the receiver with a microphone, but via a laptop. Sounds complicated? Don’t fret. Buyers will have room calibration done by the dealer that supplies the receiver. While Dirac is the height of sophistication, the user interface is pretty basic, just a plain text box. Arcam isn’t even trying to impress here. Still, the receiver sounds sensational, with precise imaging that really makes the most of Dolby Atmos encoding. It’s tight and forceful with action sequences, and delicious melodious with two channel music. That feature count may look frugal for the price, but when it comes to performance, your investment will be repaid in spades. The Arcam AV850 may be ruinously expensive for a seven channel amplifier, but tuned with Dirac, it’s clearly a premium performer. We’re prepared to forgive it any foibles. Image Credits: TechRadar
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| Hi-Res Audio: everything you need to know about the lossless music codec Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:20 AM PST As UHD TVs become more popular, consumers increasingly expect high-resolution content to match, whether they’re streaming from Netflix in glorious 4K, or upscaling old films on a state of the art Blu-Ray player. Visual quality clearly matters. But can the same be said for audio? When you take the number of people on the hunt for fantastic televisions, audiophiles on the lookout for Hi-Res Audio seem rare by comparison. However, that could be about to change, with developments in the world of hi-res audio like Sony’s new LDAC technology and music-streaming websites like Tidal, making quality audio more attractive than ever. Here's why, and how, Hi-Res Audio could be the upgrade that makes perfect sense for superior sonics across all your devices, including your phone. [Update: Tidal Masters has arrived on the iOS app, so you can now listen to hi-res Tidal tracks on your iPhone.] What is Hi-Res Audio?Hi-Res Audio (HRA) is lossless audio capable of reproducing the full range of sound from recordings that have been mastered from better-than-CD quality music sources, a sound that closely replicates the quality that the musicians and engineers were working with in the studio at the time of recording. Despite HRA recently gaining popularity, it isn't new. It has actually been around for over a decade and has a growing number of dedicated fans willing to fork out a bit more cash for the privilege of listening to Hi-Fi quality tunes both at home and on the go. The difference is that it’s becoming more accessible than ever. Despite sounding pretty amazing, it's not hard to understand the slow update of HRA – after all, the music files are a fair bit larger than MP3 or iTunes' AAC so they take longer to download and can gobble storage on mobile devices like penguins tucking into a fish supper. Compared with iTunes and Amazon MP3 files too, HRA tracks are more expensive to buy and most popular digital music vendors don't even sell Hi-Res Audio tunes (yet). Image credit: Burst / Pexels There's also the fact that to listen to HRA you need the right hardware and software, with most playback devices including mobile phones, portable music players and laptops not equipped as standard to get the full benefit. Even the world's most dominant multi-room music provider Sonos resolutely refuses to embrace Hi-Res Audio - because it says it's not mainstream enough - but others including the likes of Bose do. But the barriers are starting to crumble. Fuelled by increasingly more affordable storage, better-quality playback hardware and faster, more affordable broadband and 4G downloading, HRA is arguably no longer prohibitively too expensive, nor are its files too large to download and store when compared with MP3. Of course, it's important to choose your equipment carefully and to understand what it is that makes HRA different. Oh, and if you're put off by the nay-sayers who claim humans can't hear anything beyond 20kHz just take the opportunity to listen to some HRA tracks and see – or hear – for yourself what a difference it makes. What difference does Hi-Res Audio really make?Let's look at some numbers: the highest quality MP3 track has a bitrate of 320kbps, CDs are transferred at 1,411kbps and a 24-bit/192kHz file is transferred at a rate of 9,216kbps - the latter being the level now considered HRA. The increased bit depth of HRA improves the dynamic range, basically giving you a greater breadth of things to actually hear from the recording. The best way of describing it is to imagine looking at a beautiful countryside scene on a sunny day through a smeared window. That's the MP3 version. Clean the windows and you have the CD with much greater detail and clarity. But open the window and you’ve got the Hi-Res version, where the eye can pick out pinpoint detail that you didn't realize was missing with the windows shut. Once you're equipped with some decent Hi-Res gear the thing most likely to spoil the party will be poorly recorded or mastered music, like a great black cloud blocking out the sunshine. Play your favorite tracks however and expect to be taken to unprecedented levels of enjoyment and make emotional connections you never imagined possible. How can I stream/download Hi-Res Audio?There are more options for streaming and downloading HRA than ever, and while these subscriptions and files will cost more than standard audio, the difference in quality is astounding. Click through the gallery below to see some of the best places to stream and download HRA: What equipment do I need to play Hi-Res Audio?Choosing the right file type/streaming service for you really depends on how you listen to your music. For example, an Apple Mac can play most HRA files in iTunes but it won't accept FLAC. For this you need audio player software like VLC, which is free to download and, according to Home Theatre Review, it's "capable of 24/96 and 24/192 native Hi-Res output". If you're looking for something less 'bare-bones', check out Audivarna Plus, which costs $74 (about £55 / AU$100) and comes with Tidal, Qobuz, and other Hi-res streaming services integrated. Using a PC? Check out JRiver Media Center, which costs around $60 (£45 / AU$80) and works on Windows, Linus, and Mac OS. If you’re taking your music on the go, you’ll need a Hi-Res supporting smartphone or portable music player. The Samsung Galaxy S9, S9 Plus and Note 9 all support HRA, as well as Dolby Atmos. iPhones unfortunately don’t support Hi-Res Audio out of the box, but you can get around this by downloading a Hi-Res Audio app like Onkyo Music and using an external DAC (digital-to-analogue converter). DACs (digital-to-analogue converters)The Chord Mojo Any device that outputs music contains a DAC in some form. This is what allows your digital music file to be converted to the analogue signal that ends up driving your speakers or headphones. But in order to get the most out of your music, you'll want to buy an external DAC to replace the low-quality audio chip contained within your device. This will need to be 'asynchronous' if you want your hi-res audio to really sing. Without an asynchronous DAC the chances are you'll have timing errors, or jitter, present in your audio. Good examples include the Chord Mojo ($599 / £399 / AU$899), which bypasses the computer's built-in DAC and converts the files to analogue at high resolution to massively improve your computer's tinny output. For smartphones like the iPhone, try the Chord Hugo 2 . Portable music playersThe HiFiMan SuperMini If your phone doesn't support Hi-Res Audio, you could get yourself a portable music player. While MP3 players aren't as popular as they were a decade ago, that doesn't mean the technology is outdated. In fact, modern MP3 players do a significantly better job at storing your entire music library at a higher bitrate than your 2009 iPod Shuffle ever could. One of the best portable music players is the Onkyo DP-X1A, which supports a range of music formats, including FLAC, OGG, WAV, MP3, ALAC, and more. In terms of hardware, the device has two chipsets, one to power the overall device, and one to handle the DAC and amplifier – resulting in a noise-free experience. It's by no means cheap however, and the $799 (£559 / AU$649) price tag may be enough to put off even the most seasoned audiophile. If you're looking for something cheaper, you could try the HiFiMan SuperMini. With a price tag of $399 (£400 / AU$399), it doesn’t have any onboard storage – you’ll have to buy a microSD card separately. It does, however, support a pretty huge range of audio formats, including FLAC, DSD, WAV, MP3, and AIFF, and audio with a sample rate of up to 192kHz. HRA HeadphonesThe Sony WH-1000MX3 If you're taking your Hi-Res Audio out and about, you'll of course need a fantastic pair of headphones. Currently, our favorite pair are the Sony WH-1000XM3, a dominant noise-cancelling pair of headphones that can beat out anything Bose has with both arms behind its back. That’s because, while Bose has done a tremendous job working out its noise-cancellation algorithm over the years, Sony has spent that time perfecting audio playback while simultaneously creating an adaptability algorithm that doesn’t just create a single sterile sound barrier, but multiple kinds that can adapt to whatever situation you’re in. Beyond being exceptional at keeping external noises at bay, Sony's headphones are Hi-Res Audio-ready, sporting aptX, aptX HD and LDAC codecs, plus offer will offer Google Assistant support right on-board. If you need a headphone that can live up to any challenge and excel in any environment, these are them. They are a bit more expensive than your average non-noise cancelling headphone at $349 (£300 / AU$499), but they do make great commuting headphones. The Grado GW100 Wireless headphones If you do most of your music listening at home, you could try some open-back cans like the Grado GW100 Wireless headphones. The GW100s feature an open-back design, which means the grilles are completely exposed on the outside of the earcups, allowing the drivers to direct sound both in and out of the cups. In closed cup headphones, this sound is trapped inside the cup, which is fantastic for noise isolation, but can lead to a narrow soundstage that makes it feel as if your music is coming directly from your own head – not exactly a natural mode of listening. In contrast, the free movement of sound in and out of the cups of open-backed headphones means the soundstage feels far wider, as if you’re listening to a musician play in a normal room. This is heightened by the supra-aural design of the GW100s, which further reduces the closed-off feeling you can get from closed-back headphones. With the GW100s, the effect of the open-backed design is to deliver a stunningly natural representation of your music, with a warm, expansive soundstage - and with aptX Bluetooth, the audio is of high quality. Again, they aren't cheap at $249.99 (£199.95 / AU$365), but they are less expensive than the Sony WH-1000MX3s. HRA stereo speakersThe KEF LSX Wireless System Now onto speakers; while there are lots of fantastic smart speakers on the market right now, you can't beat a stereo speaker setup for high quality sound. You can of course spend $4000 dollars on our favorite stereo speakers, the Definitive Technology BP9080xs. Right off the bat we want to make it clear that this stereo pair is a luxury item that is made only for the most avid audiophile on the market – most of us will likely be looking for something a little cheaper. One fantastic set of stereo speakers is the KEF LSX Wireless System, which is available at a recommended retail price of $1099 (£1000 / AU$1895). When we tested them, we were impressed by the separation among the different frequencies , and the well-balanced sound. If you're really looking after the pennies, check out the Edifier R1280T speakers. These compact desk/bookshelf style speakers back an impressive sonic punch and look good doing it, all while keeping the price tag under $100 (£90 / AU$140) for the pair. HRA Streamers and Hi-Fi SystemsThe Ruark R5 H-Fi System If you're really dedicated to high quality audio, you could invest in a state of the art Hi-Fi system like the Ruark R5, which features a multi-format CD player, DAB/FM and internet radio tuners, as well as support for aptX HD Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi streaming. You can even hook it up to your turntable thanks to a dedicated RIAA turntable input, or charge your devices using the USB playback/charging port. There’s no word yet on an official release date, but Ruark says the R5 will be available to buy in the next few months for £999 (around $1300 / AU$1800 based on current conversion rates.) Another option is to get yourself a dedicated music streamer like the Cambridge Audio CXN. A review of the streamer by What Hi-Fi? says "All digital inputs on the CXN are capable of playing high-resolution files of up to 24-bit/192kHz, and they can be upsampled to 384kHz, too. That includes the USB type B input for your laptop, and the optical and coaxial inputs. There’s also a pair each of RCA and balanced XLR outputs, along with two digital outputs." Like the Ruark M5, it doesn't come cheap at $899.99 (£700 / around AU$1275), so you might want to stick to streaming from your laptop, smartphone, or tablet – which, thanks to the increasing accessibility of Hi-Res Audio, can still sound fantastic. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Beats and the battle for your ears: the changing sound of Dr Dre's cans Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:14 AM PST You’ve heard of Beats headphones – whether you’ve used its products or not. Founded by rapper Dr Dre and record producer Jimmy Iovine in 2006, Beats has been a power player in the world of consumer audio since its inception, fast becoming a market leader in terms of sales alongside the likes of Sony, Sennheiser, Skullcandy, and Bose. Beats’ enormous market share is likely what attracted tech giant Apple to the company, which acquired Beats in 2014 for an astonishing $3 billion. So how has that acquisition changed Beats as a company, and more importantly, the quality of its headphones? We spoke to Beats President, Luke Wood about the company’s first true wireless earbud, the Powerbeats Pro, which he tells us is “the culmination of the full integration of [Beats and Apple] working together from a technological standpoint.'' “We thought we were pretty good until we got to Apple, and then we started learning what ‘good’ really was”, he admits between sips of green tea. What was Apple doing that Beats wasn’t? “Apple had so much incredible discipline and rigor around product quality” Wood says. Does that mean Beats headphones were sub-par in the past? They’ve certainly been dealt their fair share of criticism for being too bass-heavy, too brash, and ultimately unsuitable for any true discerning audiophile. The Powerbeats Pro are set to be launched in May (Image credit: Apple) Turning down the bassThat bass-heaviness didn’t just spring up out of thin air. Bass has been creeping up in the balance of popular music genres for decades now, infiltrating the charts through disco, funk, soul, hip-hop and R&B in the late 20th century. Then, the 2000s saw in an explosion of dancehall and grime traditions into mainstream popularity, particularly in the UK and the US. Nowadays, chest-thumping sub-bass lines are present in even the most saccharine pop songs. In short, bass was everywhere, and Beats wanted in.
“No one was making headphone products to articulate the bottom end” Wood says – but he concedes that Beats’ reputation for overly bass-heavy products was “absolutely taken into consideration” when creating the new PowerBeats Pro. Since then, Wood says Beats has “got better and learned the tools of [its] trade” in the years after it released its first studio headphones in 2008. “Hopefully people will respect the fact that we learned and grew.” The Beats Solo 3 Wireless headphones (Image credit: TechRadar) "Sonically, they're super dope"It’s clear that Wood is extremely excited by the PowerBeat Pro true wireless headphones as he explains the inner workings of their all-new “pistonic drivers” and improved acoustic housing. “Sonically, they’re super dope”, he says giddily, “a beautiful acoustic instrument”. Does that mean the new buds boast a better sonic balance than previous models? Wood thinks so, describing the company's "evangelical, almost zealot approach to sound". "We’re trying to religiously get back to articulating the album as it would have sounded in the studio”, he explains. It's not only about the sound quality; first and foremost, the PowerBeats Pro are a pair of true wireless workout earbuds. As such, they’re water-resistant, and are designed to fit snugly and comfortably in your ear, no matter how vigorous your training session gets. And, like the new Apple AirPods (2019), they’re powered by Apple’s new H1 chip, which offers fast connection times and hands-free Siri voice control – the Powerbeats Pro are unmistakably an Apple product through and through. Luke Wood in the studio (Image credit: Beats) Looking to the futureIt’s been rumored that the Apple AirPods 2 will be a health and fitness device as well as a pair of true wireless earbuds, after Apple filed a patent for biometric sensors that would allow them to monitor the user’s heart rate. Is this something Beats would consider for future fitness earbuds? Wood thinks it’s unlikely. “We never want to labor customers with a bunch of useless, borderline avant-garde tech”. “If you have a smartwatch that’s giving you all that information, do you really need to replicate that in your headphones?” he asks. Perhaps it is necessary, if you’re claiming to have made the “number one fitness headphones in the world”. Whether Wood’s position on biometric sensors would change should Apple start using this kind of ‘avant garde tech’ in its own headphones remains to be seen, but it’s clear that his company has benefited immensely from its acquisition by the tech giant. As he puts its, it has allowed Beats to “take advantage of [Apple’s] great research and development and innovation, and put it into our products”. Ultimately, to what extent Beats and Apple's partnership has been successful won't become clear until the Powerbeats are released next month – but we’re excited to find out. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Las rebajas de Amazon Black Friday para Echo, Kindle y Fire TV Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:10 AM PST Estamos a unas semanas del día de acción de gracias pero los descuentos de Black Friday nos llevan invadiendo durante días. Sin duda, los más esperados son los del Amazon's Black Friday. Pues ya están aquí — por lo menos en lo que a los gadgets de Amazon se refiere, de los altavoces inteligentes Echo hasta los lectores Kindle pasando por auriculares y cámaras de seguridad Ring. Y todos con la fecha en la que estarán disponibles. Precios Amazon Black Friday y disponibilidadDesde el 22 de noviembre: Fire HD 8 | Descuento $30 – sólo $49.99 Fire HD 8 Kids Edition | Descuento $50 – sólo $79.99 Fire 7 Tablet | Descuento $20 – sólo $29.99 Fire 7 Kids Edition | Descuento $40 – sólo $59.99 Fire HD 10 Tablet | Descuento $50 - sólo $99.99 Kindle Paperwhite | Descuento $45 – sólo $84.99 Ring Video Doorbell Pro + Echo Show 5 bundle | Descuento $149.99 – sólo $189.00 Desde el 24 de noviembre: Fire TV Stick with 4K with Alexa Voice Remote | Descuento $25 off – sólo $24.99 Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote | Descuento $20 off – sólo $19.99 Fire TV Cube | Descuento $30 – sólo $89.99 Desde el 27 de noviembre Blink XT2 3 Camera Kit | Descuento $65 – sólo $184.99 Ring indoor cam 2 pack | Descuento $40 - sólo $99.99 Amazon Smart Plug | Descuento $20 – sólo $4.99 when purchased as a bundle with Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock, Echo, Echo Show 5, or Echo Studio Desde el 28 de noviembre Echo Dot With Clock | Descuento $25 - sólo $34.99 Echo Dot | Descuento $27.99 – sólo $22.00 Echo Auto | Descuento $20 – sólo $29.99 Echo (3rd gen) | Descuento $40 - sólo $59.99 Echo Show 5 | Descuento $40 – sólo $49.99 Echo Show | Descuento $80 – sólo $149.99 Como era de esperar, los descuentos más potentes están en las ofertas multi-producto. Si te comprar algo como una Ring Video Doorbell con un Echo te puedes ahorrar cientos de dólares. También está bien para nuestras ansias consumistas que productos nuevos como el Echo Dot con Reloj también vayan a tener un descuento. Las mejores rebajas de Amazon hoy:Mientras esperas a que lleguen estos descuentos, aquí tienes todas las ofertas del día de hoy, por si necesitas darle cera a tu tarjeta de crédito ahora mismo.
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| The problem with Alexa: what’s the solution to sexist voice assistants? Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:06 AM PST If you have a smart speaker in your home, you probably interact with an AI-enabled voice assistant fairly regularly – and chances are you’re speaking to what sounds like a woman. Your voice assistant may have even been given a woman’s or feminine-sounding name, like Alexa, Cortana, or Siri, depending on which brand you bought your smart speaker from. Sure, some of these voice assistants can be configured to have a male-sounding speaking voice, including Google Assistant and Siri, but most smart speaker users are interacting with virtual women. At face value that may not sound like a problem – but society’s equating of women with voice assistants could have some worrying societal implications. A female voice is the default choice for smart assistants, including Alexa on the Amazon Echo In May 2019, a groundbreaking report by UNESCO suggested that the default use of female-sounding voice assistants in our smart home gadgets and smartphones perpetuates sexist attitudes towards women. The report, titled I'd Blush if I Could, takes its name from Siri's former default response to being called a ‘bitch’ by users – and criticizes the fact that Apple's Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft's Cortana, are "exclusively female or female by default, both in name and in sound of voice". Sympathetic and agreeableSo, why do voice assistants sound like women? Julia Kanouse, CEO of the Illinois Technology Association, explains that the companies behind these voice assistants based their choices on consumer feedback. She explains: “Research shows that women women’s voices tend to be better received by consumers, and that from an early age we prefer listening to female voices”. Indeed, in an interview with Business Insider, the head of Amazon’s Smart Home division, Daniel Rausch, explained that his team “carried out research and found that a woman’s voice is more sympathetic”. So far, so plausible – and as Kanouse concedes, the use of female-sounding voice assistants is clearly grounded in research. Research has shown that from an early age we find female voices more sympathetic than male ones However, the choices made by voice assistant creators could have far-reaching consequences for women at home, and in the workplace. “The use of female voice assistants may reinforce the stereotype that we prefer to tell a woman what to do, rather than a man,” says Kanouse. “Only recently have we started to see men move into what were traditionally viewed as female roles, and, conversely, see women fight to ensure these roles (such as flight attendants, nurses, paralegals, executive administrators) are seen as more than ‘just an assistant’.” This progress could potentially be undone by the proliferation of female voice assistants, according to UNESCO. Its report claims that the default use of female-sounding voice assistants sends a signal to users that women are "obliging, docile and eager-to-please helpers, available at the touch of a button or with a blunt voice command like ‘hey’ or ‘OK’". It’s also worrying that these voice assistants have "no power of agency beyond what the commander asks of it" and respond to queries "regardless of [the user's] tone or hostility". These may be desirable traits in an AI voice assistant, but what if the way we talk to Alexa and Siri ends up influencing the way we talk to women in our everyday lives? Researchers say the use of predominantly female voices in smart speakers can feed into subconscious biases One of UNESCO’s main criticisms of companies like Amazon, Google, Apple and Microsoft is that the docile nature of our voice assistants has the unintended effect of reinforcing "commonly held gender biases that women are subservient and tolerant of poor treatment". This subservience is particularly worrying when these female-sounding voice assistants give "deflecting, lackluster or apologetic responses to verbal sexual harassment". While Kanouse doesn’t think this has led to overt cases of sexual discrimination, she does believe it creates “a level of unconscious bias”, adding that “the prevalence of female voice assistants may feed into subconscious biases against women in the workplace and home, making it more difficult for women to overcome these obstacles”. Should voice assistants be gender-neutral?One solution could be to make voice assistants sound gender-neutral – and it's something that’s entirely possible, as demonstrated by the makers of Q, the world’s first gender-neutral voice assistant. Speaking to NPR, Julia Carpenter, an expert on human behavior and emerging technologies who worked on the project, explained that one of the team’s goals was to “contribute to a global conversation about gender, and about gender, technology, and ethics, and how to be inclusive for people that identify in all sorts of different ways”. To create the voice of Q, the team recorded “dozens of people”, including those who identify as male, female, transgender, and nonbinary, although in the end they chose just one voice, and pitch-altered it until it sounded neither male nor female. You can hear what Q sounds like in the video below. The result, while perhaps a little more synthetic-sounding than Alexa or Siri, is a truly inclusive voice assistant for everyone – and the goal is to convince tech giants to adopt Q as a third option for their assistants. Sadly, this isn’t likely – after all, brands like Apple, Google and Amazon are notoriously rigid when it comes to the design of their products, and we can’t see them agreeing to use the same voice as their rivals. Diversity is keySo, instead of making voice assistants sound homogenous, could the answer lie in making them super-diverse? This diversity doesn’t have to be focused on gender either; why can’t our voice assistants have regional accents? Why couldn’t they sound young or old, use slang, or pidgin-English? The news that the BBC is working on a voice assistant called Beeb, which will understand all the diverse regional accents of the UK, has stoked hopes that it will also speak with some of these accents. Dr Matthew Aylett, Chief Scientific Officer at speech technology company Cereproc, thinks this could set Beeb apart from the other voice assistants on the market. “No other organization could boast of the resonance and importance of voice compared to the BBC,” he says, explaining that choosing a synthetic voice to represent the organization is “a big challenge”. The relatively low number of women working in tech fields means they have less input into the design of voice assistants Discussing brands like Apple, Google, and Amazon he explains that, “in many cases decision-makers are choosing a default, neutral, well-spoken female voice without even considering that this is a major design decision”. And the BBC could be in the perfect position to challenge this. With its encouragement of participation from its vast audience, Aylett believes that the use of a diverse voice for Beeb “could lead to some ground-breaking new perspectives on voice interaction”. Aylett thinks the BBC could even call on this audience to select well-loved BBC presenters and create an amalgamated voice from the results – imagine how soothing a David Attenborough / Joanna Lumley hybrid could be. However, Aylett doesn't think that global voice assistant developers will support third-party diversity from the likes of the BBC, or be “courageous enough to offer much diversity themselves”. Why? Well, the teams behind our most popular voice assistants just aren’t that diverse themselves. Women to the frontAccording to UNESCO, Alexa’s sexism problem is largely down to the lack of women in the room when tech companies are designing their voice assistants. This is an issue that affects the entire industry, with just 7% of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) patents generated by women across G20 countries; UNESCO says the overuse of female-sounding voice assistants is “a powerful illustration of gender biases coded into technology products, pervasive in the technology sector and apparent in digital skills education”. The solution? We need more women in the STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Maths) industries, and that, says UNESCO, requires “recruiting, retaining, and promoting women in the technology sector” – after all, how can our voice assistants effectively represent their users if a huge percentage of those users have no say in their development? Whatever the answer is, it’s clear that we need more choice when it comes to the voices in our smart speakers. As Kanouse says, “whether it’s a male voice, or gender-neutral, or a mimicked recording of someone famous like Morgan Freeman for example, there are creative solutions that these companies could implement that would ensure we aren’t reinforcing gender stereotypes”. She adds: “Making that switch could be a very powerful statement from these influential companies”. “And wouldn’t it be fun to tell Morgan Freeman what to do every day?”
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| Are smart speakers really safe for children? Posted: 08 Nov 2019 09:05 AM PST Smart speakers with A.I. assistants are constantly listening to the world around them, waiting for commands while soaking in whatever dialogue is within earshot—some of which is actually screened by employees at Google and Amazon. Unfortunately, that means Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri are constantly recording the conversations of users of all ages, including your kids. As you might expect, that doesn't sit right with a lot of people. Parents and advocacy groups have voiced their issues with the ability of Alexa and her ilk to record kids without explicit consent, not to mention the lack of an easy ability to purge that data at will. In June, a lawsuit was filed in Seattle federal court that alleges that Amazon specifically is violating child privacy laws in at least eight U.S. states by capturing audio from millions of children. Amazon, for its part, denies any wrongdoing. And the company has gone a bold step further by recently releasing a new Echo Dot Kids Edition, a candy-coated, rainbow-plastered version with extra parent-pleasing perks such as a free subscription to its FreeTime content service and replacements for damaged units. As appealing as that might sound for parents, are devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home really as kid-friendly as their makers want you to believe? We asked a couple of kids' tech experts for their take. Convenience at the expense of privacyBy their very nature, smart speakers have to constantly be listening with their far-field microphones to be useful. If you had to go up to your Echo and press a button every time you had a question, needed to set a reminder, or wanted to ask about the weather, would you even use it half as much? Would you even need it at all, given the myriad smartphones, tablets, and computers that might be in your home?
It's part and parcel of owning a smart speaker, but according to Dr. Pamela Roggeman, academic dean of the University of Phoenix College of Education, many parents aren't adequately aware of the unseen downsides of that kind of unfettered data collection. "Parents have been inundated with advice on how they should nurture a healthy relationship between their kids and technology for years now, but not much of that discussion has included technology that kids are accessing without their parents' consent, or even awareness such as smart assistants/speakers that quietly 'listen' to the room," says Roggeman. "These devices collect information that can be helpful in carrying out the simple demands for which the devices were intended, but it is important to understand that this information can be stored and possibly shared or hacked." Amazon and Google need to do betterThe tide may be turning on that front, as efforts such as the aforementioned lawsuit draw more attention to privacy concerns with smart speakers: The Amazon Echo and other similar devices quickly became commonplace in millions of homes, but there's growing pushback to the idea that such constant "surveillance" is worth the provided benefits and convenience. Deral Heiland, internet of things (IoT) research lead at technology security firm Rapid7, believes that such devices provide a learning experience for children and that included parental tools should be harnessed to make them as kid-friendly as possible. However, he also says that Amazon must be able to rapidly tackle concerns and put parents' minds at ease. "The issues pointed out by privacy and safety advocates are concerning. Amazon should immediately address these issues," says Heiland. "Consumers should have full control of their personal data and voice recordings and have the ability to remove/purge this data at will. If some data is needed for improving the product, this data should then be immediately anonymized to prevent associating. "Also, while this data is in Amazon hands, they must take all actions necessary to protect that data from unauthorized access. This should apply to all IoT technology, whether it's an Amazon product or not. Privacy issues are important and must be addressed to consumer's satisfaction."
No product will ever be perfect, and there are lessons to be learned along the way—but Heiland's takeaway is that Amazon must be extra-careful when it comes to kids' technology. "With children-based technology, extra precautions should be taken by both Amazon and parents," he says. "Like any product, our good intentions will often fail, but when it does there is no need to throw the baby out with the bath water, figuratively speaking. Amazon must work harder and faster to make their products capable of keeping children safe, protect their privacy, and not expose them to anything that is inappropriate." Can smart speakers be 'kid-proof'?Continued advocacy for privacy enhancements and changes may ultimately result in action, but whether or not that happens, Roggeman suggests that parents consider the full picture of what they're bringing into their homes.
If you're comfortable with the potential privacy tradeoff and feel pretty confident that there's no real danger, that's entirely your decision to make. On the other hand, if you're left feeling uneasy about the situation, are the perks really worth it? "The easiest way to kid-proof the smart speaker is one of the hardest things to do: get up out of your recliner and push the 'mute' button on the device," she says. "But this is counterintuitive for why the device was purchased in the first place." And for all that Amazon and other companies might do to make their smart speakers safer for kids, Heiland suggests that there's no foolproof solution to every dilemma—and that children are uniquely poised to find their way around such restrictions anyway. "'Kid-proof' is an oxymoron. Place any technology in front of a child and say, 'You are not allowed to do this or that,' and watch what happens," he says. "I find children to be some of the most amazing hackers, capable of always finding ways around controls and restrictions. So good luck with this one. Maybe Amazon needs to hire a few to test their tech security controls." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| macOS 10.16 release date, news and rumors Posted: 08 Nov 2019 08:52 AM PST Apple's latest operating system (OS) for Macs and MacBooks, macOS Catalina, has been released, but what about its follow-up, macOS 10.16? You can be pretty sure that Apple is already hard at work on macOS 10.16, which will likely release in 2020. In fact, it's a pretty safe bet that the macOS 10.16 release date will be September or October 2020. We can make that prediction based on the release date of previous versions of macOS. macOS 10.15 (Catalina), launched in October 2019, while macOS 10.14 (Mojave) launched September 2018. So, we're still a long way off macOS 10.16's release date, but if you can't wait to find out what Apple has in store for its future operating system, this guide will gather up all the macOS 10.16 news and rumors we've found, along with a list of what we want to see in macOS 10.16. While you wait for the launch of macOS 10.16, make sure your Mac or MacBook is running macOS Catalina. Check out our how to download macOS Catalina guide for advice. If you're having issues, check out our macOS Catalina problems: how to fix the most common issues guide for help. Cut to the chase
Upcoming MacBook Pros could come with macOS 10.16 already installed. macOS 10.16 release dateWe don't know the official macOS 10.16 release date, and we're unlikely to hear anything from Apple until well into 2020. Still, we can at least make a guess, and in our opinion it's very likely that the macOS 10.16 release date will be September or October 2020. As we mentioned above, we're reasonably confident in this prediction as Apple has been sticking to a yearly release schedule for its macOS updates, with recent macOS releases happening in either September or October every year. Going by previous macOS releases, we could see an official unveiling of macOS 10.16 at Apple's WWDC event in June 2020. WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) is (as the name suggests), aimed at software developers, and this is where Apple usually shows off its upcoming macOS (and iOS) operating systems. In previous years, a new version of macOS is announced, along with a rough release date. Apple also usually releases an early beta version of the software not long after, allowing developers and other brave users to test out the software and help spot any problems or bugs before the eventual release. While this doesn't mean Apple will definitely stick to this sort of schedule for macOS 10.16, we'd be surprised if it deviated too far. macOS 10.16 news and rumorsWe've not heard any rumors about macOS 10.16 just yet, but as soon as we do we'll add them here. When it comes to Apple rumors in general, we've been hearing a lot about a likely MacBook Pro 16-inch, which would be a larger version of Apple's iconic MacBook Pro laptops with a new and improved keyboard. The latest rumor suggests that the MacBook Pro 16-inch could come in 2020,. If that's true, there's a change that it could come with macOS 10.16 already installed. Even if it launches before macOS 10.16 comes out, it should be free to upgrade to macOS 10.16 when the operating system does release. We expect macOS 10.16 to bring changes to all sorts of Mac computers. macOS 10.16: what we want to seeSo, with macOS 10.16 still some time away, what would we like to see in the next version of Apple's operating system? A stable releaseThe release of a new operating system can sometimes bring issues, and while Apple has certainly had more luck than Microsoft in this regard (recent Windows 10 updates have caused more problems than they've fixed), we've also seen a fair number of macOS Catalina problems since its launch as well. People have been having issues with downloading and installing macOS Catalina, others can't use their mouse, or check emails, plus plenty more. So, we'd love it if Apple really took its time with macOS 10.16, thoroughly testing it and making sure that it's free from as many bugs and issues as possible. Of course, a major OS update is always going to have a few issues, but we'd love it if everyone could upgrade to macOS 10.16 without worrying that it might break something. Better AirPod supportYou can use your AirPods with your Mac already, but there's plenty of scope for better AirPod support in macOS 10.16, especially with the new AirPod Pros out. Current support is a little basic, and the setup procedure could be refined to make it even easier to connect your AirPods to your Mac, and this is something we hope Apple addresses in macOS 10.16. Check out our guide on how to connect AirPods to a Mac to find out the current way of doing things. An exciting new look and interfaceWe like the look of macOS already, but while it's tempting to argue that if it ain't broke, don't fix it, we would like Apple to be a bit more adventurous. For all the stick we give Microsoft about its Windows 10 updates, at least it tries new things when it comes to the interface. It's slowly been tweaking the look of Windows 10 with each new release, and for the most part we like what it's done. Maybe it's time for Apple to have a bold new vision for macOS. Ray tracing supportWe'd also love to see ray tracing support in macOS 10.16. While ray tracing is primarily associated with improving the graphics of the best PC games at the moment (and therefore not of interest to Mac owners), it's also a vital tool for creatives who want to create and render 3D scenes and animations with realistic lighting. These creatives often rely on Macs and MacBooks, so to include ray tracing support would be a big boon to them – especially as rivals such as the Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition feature Nvidia RTX graphics chips that can handle ray tracing.
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